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By Craig Hale
Do Audi cars hold their value? It’s a question many prospective buyers will want the answer to when considering whether buying an Audi is a good long-term investment.
This premium German brand has spent years building itself a reputation for quality and technology, but is buying an Audi over any other car a smart decision?
In this guide, we explain what it means to make a good long-term investment in a car, and whether Audis hold their value.
In general, an Audi might lose as much as half of its value once it reaches three years old, with depreciation levelling off thereafter, but how does that compare with other brands?
Compared with premium options like BMW and Mercedes, an Audi might lose a touch more, but the good news is it might be cheaper to begin with.
Where it gets interesting is when you compare with non-premium brands, because these might lose another 10% or more.
Resale value depends on far more than just which brand you’re buying into, but buying an Audi is one way to ensure you’re going to lose less than average. Other factors include:
If you’re wondering whether Audi Q7s hold their value, we’re here to assure you they do.
In fact, the Q7 holds onto its value well, so while it may be one of the priciest Audi cars you can buy, you’ll likely be able to sell it on for a good amount.
Other top performers include the smaller Audi Q5 family SUV and the ever-so-popular Audi A3 Sportback – a practical five-door family hatchback.
Performance editions also hold onto more of their value for longer – S models are desirable on the second-hand market, but RS models like the RS 3 and RS 6 are rarer and therefore better investments.
In terms of cash lost due to depreciation, buying used almost always wins. The biggest chunk of depreciation will already have happened, and the curve will start to flatten after a few years.
However, buying new can also be a smart choice in some circumstances, such as if you want access to the latest fuel efficiency, tech or full manufacturer’s warranty.
If you’re financing a new car with PCP, this depreciation will already be factored into your monthly payments, so you can just return your car (in good condition) penalty-free if you don’t want to pay the optional final payment to buy it outright.
Nobody knows exactly which cars will become future classics, and for the most part, it’s about being in the right place at the right time.
However, high performance, limited-run and enthusiast demand all contribute to the chances of a car becoming a future classic.
For example, the Audi RS 3 is pretty rare compared with the regular A3 hatchback, and the 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine is far from common in this type of car, so it’s really appealing for many factors.
The RS 3 competition limited, announced in 2026, will almost certainly retain more of its value because only 11 of them ever went on sale in the UK (and 750 globally).
Electric cars are still evolving and battery tech is getting even better, so resale values can be slightly less predictable when it comes to electric cars like the Audi Q4 e-tron.
Don’t be put off by battery degradation, because Audi offers an eight-year/100,000-mile high-voltage battery warranty to protect against high charge loss.
Although we haven’t got enough long-term data yet, early tests have already shown EVs lasting as long as – if not longer than – petrol and diesel models.
As for the Q4 e-tron in particular, is has strong brand appeal, plenty of tech and a good all-electric range. So with growing demand for EVs, it should be positioned quite well.
Don’t forget that buying a used Audi Q4 e-tron for sale can also help you to avoid that initial depreciation hit that affects virtually any car – so you can lessen the amount of money you’re likely to lose.
Audi running costs are no different to any other brand, so you’ll need to factor in things like:
If you’re wondering do Audi Q7 cars hold their value, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. They’re among the slowest-depreciating Audis out there, so while buying one will cost more than a smaller SUV like the Q5, you’ll get more back when it’s time to sell.
This is because there’s high demand for SUVs, seven-seaters and premium, high-end cars – the Audi Q7 ticks all these boxes.
If you’re considering an Audi as a long-term investment, remember that not every model out there goes up in value unless they’re very limited-run supercars.
However, with strong resale values, you’ll be able to sell your Audi for a fair price when it’s time to upgrade, so buying an Audi might be a pretty smart decision in the long run.
Whether you’re looking for a new Audi, a performance RS model, an efficient electric car or a cheaper used Audi, we’re here to help you find the right fit.
By Craig Hale
Do Audi cars hold their value? It’s a question many prospective buyers will want the answer to when considering whether buying an Audi is a good long-term investment.
This premium German brand has spent years building itself a reputation for quality and technology, but is buying an Audi over any other car a smart decision?
In this guide, we explain what it means to make a good long-term investment in a car, and whether Audis hold their value.
In general, an Audi might lose as much as half of its value once it reaches three years old, with depreciation levelling off thereafter, but how does that compare with other brands?
Compared with premium options like BMW and Mercedes, an Audi might lose a touch more, but the good news is it might be cheaper to begin with.
Where it gets interesting is when you compare with non-premium brands, because these might lose another 10% or more.
Resale value depends on far more than just which brand you’re buying into, but buying an Audi is one way to ensure you’re going to lose less than average. Other factors include:
If you’re wondering whether Audi Q7s hold their value, we’re here to assure you they do.
In fact, the Q7 holds onto its value well, so while it may be one of the priciest Audi cars you can buy, you’ll likely be able to sell it on for a good amount.
Other top performers include the smaller Audi Q5 family SUV and the ever-so-popular Audi A3 Sportback – a practical five-door family hatchback.
Performance editions also hold onto more of their value for longer – S models are desirable on the second-hand market, but RS models like the RS 3 and RS 6 are rarer and therefore better investments.
In terms of cash lost due to depreciation, buying used almost always wins. The biggest chunk of depreciation will already have happened, and the curve will start to flatten after a few years.
However, buying new can also be a smart choice in some circumstances, such as if you want access to the latest fuel efficiency, tech or full manufacturer’s warranty.
If you’re financing a new car with PCP, this depreciation will already be factored into your monthly payments, so you can just return your car (in good condition) penalty-free if you don’t want to pay the optional final payment to buy it outright.
Nobody knows exactly which cars will become future classics, and for the most part, it’s about being in the right place at the right time.
However, high performance, limited-run and enthusiast demand all contribute to the chances of a car becoming a future classic.
For example, the Audi RS 3 is pretty rare compared with the regular A3 hatchback, and the 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine is far from common in this type of car, so it’s really appealing for many factors.
The RS 3 competition limited, announced in 2026, will almost certainly retain more of its value because only 11 of them ever went on sale in the UK (and 750 globally).
Electric cars are still evolving and battery tech is getting even better, so resale values can be slightly less predictable when it comes to electric cars like the Audi Q4 e-tron.
Don’t be put off by battery degradation, because Audi offers an eight-year/100,000-mile high-voltage battery warranty to protect against high charge loss.
Although we haven’t got enough long-term data yet, early tests have already shown EVs lasting as long as – if not longer than – petrol and diesel models.
As for the Q4 e-tron in particular, is has strong brand appeal, plenty of tech and a good all-electric range. So with growing demand for EVs, it should be positioned quite well.
Don’t forget that buying a used Audi Q4 e-tron for sale can also help you to avoid that initial depreciation hit that affects virtually any car – so you can lessen the amount of money you’re likely to lose.
Audi running costs are no different to any other brand, so you’ll need to factor in things like:
If you’re wondering do Audi Q7 cars hold their value, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. They’re among the slowest-depreciating Audis out there, so while buying one will cost more than a smaller SUV like the Q5, you’ll get more back when it’s time to sell.
This is because there’s high demand for SUVs, seven-seaters and premium, high-end cars – the Audi Q7 ticks all these boxes.
If you’re considering an Audi as a long-term investment, remember that not every model out there goes up in value unless they’re very limited-run supercars.
However, with strong resale values, you’ll be able to sell your Audi for a fair price when it’s time to upgrade, so buying an Audi might be a pretty smart decision in the long run.
Whether you’re looking for a new Audi, a performance RS model, an efficient electric car or a cheaper used Audi, we’re here to help you find the right fit.
