Audi tools & data

By CarWhere Research · Updated

CarWhere’s Audi hub collects free research for Audi shoppers and owners: 9 engine and transmission guides from the 2.0 TFSI to the 4.0 TFSI V8 and R8 V10, 127 trim levels with dated base MSRPs, 128 known issues and recalls with NHTSA complaint counts by model year, Audi history, plus VIN tools. Every page lists its sources.

Two Audis with the same badge can differ in engine output, drivetrain, suspension and a long list of packages, and the trim and power-band badges are easy to misread. These pages explain what each engine, trim and generation offered, what tends to go wrong, and what to check on a specific car before you buy it.

Decode an Audi

Start from the VIN or the factory build record.

Free Audi VIN decoderYear, model, body, engine and assembly plant from any 17-character Audi VIN.Audi build sheet by VINFactory colors, options and packages for a specific VIN, checked free before you pay.Audi option codesWhat the three-character PR codes on an Audi build record mean.Audi paint codesFind and read the paint code on an Audi.Dealer invoice price by VINEstimate what the dealer paid for a specific new Audi.

Audi engines and transmissions

Years, Audi-rated output, known problems and recalls.

Audi engines guideNew9 Audi engines and transmissions with years, ratings and known problems.2.0 TFSI (EA888)NewThe turbo four in most A3, A4, A5, Q3 and Q5 models, by generation.3.0 TFSI V6NewSupercharged vs turbocharged 3.0 TFSI compared.3.0 TFSI superchargedNewThe supercharged V6 in S4, S5, A6, A7, Q5 and Q7 models.3.0 TFSI turbo (EA839)NewThe turbo V6 in current S and 55 TFSI models.2.9 TFSI twin-turbo V6NewThe RS 5 engine.2.5 TFSI five-cylinderNewThe TT RS and RS 3 five-cylinder.4.0 TFSI twin-turbo V8NewThe V8 in S6, S7, S8, RS 6, RS 7 and RS Q8.4.2 FSI V8NewThe high-revving V8 in the RS 4, R8 and S5.5.2 FSI V10NewThe R8 V10.3.0 TDI dieselNewThe V6 diesel sold in US Audis through 2016.

Audi trim levels

Current and previous-generation trims with dated base MSRPs, engines and equipment.

Audi trim levels explainedNew127 trims across 17 Audi models.A3, S3 and RS 3 trim levelsNewFor 2027 the Audi A3 family is three cars: the A3 quattro ($40,700, 201 hp), the S3 ($52,500, 328 hp) and the RS 3 ($67,500, 394-hp five-cylinder), before a $1,395 destination charge.A4 and S4 trim levelsNewThe 2025 model year was the last for the Audi A4 in Audi's US lineup releases.A5, S5 and RS 5 trim levelsNewThe 2027 Audi A5 is a five-door lift-back sedan sold as one trim with packages: the A5 starts at $50,400 with a 268-hp 2.0L, and the S5 at $63,600 with a 362-hp 3.0L V6, before $1,395 destination.A6, S6 and RS 6 Avant trim levelsNewThe 2027 Audi A6 sedan comes in one trim at $64,900 with a 362-hp 3.0L V6, quattro and S tronic, before $1,395 destination.A6 Sportback e-tron and S6 Sportback e-tron trim levelsNewThe 2027 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron starts at $66,700 for the 375-hp rear-drive model, $68,700 for the 456-hp quattro and $79,600 for the 543-hp S6 Sportback e-tron, before $1,395 destination.A7, S7 and RS 7 trim levelsNewFor 2026 Audi's A7 line is just the RS 7 performance, priced at $132,700 before $1,395 destination, with a 621-hp twin-turbo V8.A8 and S8 trim levelsNewThe 2027 Audi A8 comes in two versions: the A8 L 55 TFSI at $95,100 with a 335-hp 3.0L V6, and the S8 at $130,000 with a 563-hp 4.0L twin-turbo V8, both before $1,395 destination.Q3 trim levelsNewThe 2027 Audi Q3 comes in one version, the Q3 S line quattro, at $44,400 before $1,395 destination, with a 255-hp 2.0L turbo four, 7-speed S tronic and quattro.Q4 e-tron trim levelsNewThe 2026 Audi Q4 e-tron starts at $50,600 for the rear-drive Q4 45 e-tron (282 hp), $56,000 for the dual-motor Q4 55 e-tron quattro (335 hp) and $59,000 for the Q4 Sportback 55 e-tron, before $1,395 destination.Q5 and SQ5 trim levelsNewThe 2027 Audi Q5 starts at $53,300 with a 268-hp 2.0L, the SQ5 at $65,900 with a 362-hp V6, the Q5 Sportback at $55,600 and the SQ5 Sportback at $67,300, before $1,395 destination.Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron trim levelsNewThe 2027 Audi Q6 e-tron quattro starts at $64,500 (456 hp) in Premium, $69,500 in Premium Plus and $73,700 in Prestige; the 509-hp SQ6 e-tron starts at $73,200, before $1,395 destination.Q7 and SQ7 trim levelsNewThe all-new 2027 Audi Q7 starts at $70,900 with a 429-hp 2.9L twin-turbo V6, and the SQ7 at $98,700 with a 591-hp 4.0L V8, before a $1,295 destination charge.Q8, SQ8 and RS Q8 trim levelsNewThe 2027 Audi Q8 55 TFSI costs $76,900 (Premium), $82,100 (Premium Plus) or $87,500 (Prestige) with a 335-hp V6.Q8 e-tron trim levelsNewIn 2025, its last year in Audi's US lineup releases, the Audi Q8 e-tron started at $74,800 with 402 hp and a 114 kWh battery; the Q8 Sportback e-tron at $78,200; and the three-motor, 496-hp SQ8 e-tron at $90,200, before $1,295 destination.e-tron GT trim levelsNewFor 2026 the Audi e-tron GT came as the 670-hp S e-tron GT ($127,700 Premium Plus, $137,000 Prestige) and the 912-hp RS e-tron GT performance ($170,500), before $1,395 destination.TT trim levelsNewIn its last US years the third-generation Audi TT came as the TT Coupe ($52,200 for 2023), TT Roadster ($56,300) and TTS Coupe ($61,900), all quattro with a 2.0L turbo four.R8 trim levelsNewThe 2023 Audi R8, its final US model year, came as the V10 performance RWD Coupe ($158,600, 562 hp), V10 performance quattro Coupe ($209,700, 602 hp), matching Spyders ($171,000 and $222,100) and the 602-hp rear-drive R8 GT ($249,900, 150 US units).

Buying a used Audi

What goes wrong, which years drew complaints, and how values hold up.

Audi known issues by modelNew128 documented problems and recalls across 12 models.A3 problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.A4 problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.A5 problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.A6 problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.A7 problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.A8 problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.Q3 problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.Q5 problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.Q7 problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.Q8 problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.e-tron problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.Q4 e-tron problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, NHTSA recall numbers and complaint counts by year.Is Audi reliable?Audi reliability from NHTSA complaints per vehicle sold, by model.Q5 years to avoidModel years ranked by owner-complaint volume.Best Q5 yearsThe strongest model years to buy used.How long do Audis last?Share of used Audis past 150,000 and 200,000 miles, by model.Q5 depreciationMedian asking price by model year vs new.Q5 dealer invoice priceWhat dealers pay, by trim.Audi specs by modelDimensions, capacities and powertrain specs for Audi model years.Find an Audi for saleSearch live Audi listings from dealers nationwide.

Audi history

quattro, the rally and Le Mans years, RS models and every major model line.

Audi history: from August Horch to quattro, the A8 and e-tronNewAudi history from August Horch (1899) and the first Audi (1910) to the 1932 four rings, VW's 1965 revival, quattro in 1980, the A-model names and e-tron.Audi quattro all-wheel driveNewHow Audi quattro evolved: the 1980 original, Torsen (1986), crown-gear (2010), sport differential, quattro ultra and electric quattro, and how to spot it.Audi TTNewAudi TT history: the 1995 concept, 8N (1998), 8J (2006) and 8S (2014) generations, TTS and TT RS, US model years 2000–2023 and the 50-car Final edition.Audi A4 (and Audi 80/90)NewAudi A4 history: the Audi 80/90 (B1–B4), A4 generations B5–B9 with US engines and S4/RS 4 notes, and why the new A5 replaced the A4 sedan for 2025.Audi A6 (and Audi 100/5000/200)NewAudi A6 history: the Audi 100, 5000 and 200, A6 generations C4–C9 with US engines, S6 and RS 6, the allroad and the 2026 362 hp ninth-generation sedan.Audi A8 (and Audi V8)NewAudi A8 history: the 1988 Audi V8, the 1994 aluminum Audi Space Frame A8 (D2), the D3, D4 and D5 with US engines, the W12 and every S8.Audi quattro (Ur-quattro) and Group B rally carsNewAudi Ur-quattro history: the 1980–1991 coupe, the 214-unit Sport quattro, world rally titles in 1982–1984 and Audi's Pikes Peak wins.Audi at Le MansNewAudi at Le Mans, 1999–2016: 13 overall wins with the R8, R10 TDI, R15 TDI and R18 — the first diesel and first hybrid winners — then Formula 1 in 2026.Audi RS modelsNewAudi RS history: the 1994 RS 2 Avant built with Porsche, then each U.S. RS model by first model year: RS 6, RS 4, RS 5, RS 7, RS 3, RS Q8, RS e-tron GT.Audi R8NewAudi R8 history: 45,949 built 2007–2024, the 4.2 FSI V8 and 5.2 V10, Spyder, RWS, RWD and the 150-unit U.S. R8 GT; the last car was built March 22, 2024.Audi e-tron electric vehiclesNewAudi e-tron EV history: the 2019 e-tron (204-mile EPA range) to the Q8 e-tron, e-tron GT, Q4, Q6 and A6 e-tron, with EPA ranges and battery recalls.

Audi research by model

Audi models with links to their trim levels, known issues, years to avoid, depreciation and specs
ModelTrim levelsKnown issuesYears to avoidDepreciationSpecs
Audi A3A3 trimsA3 problems——2027 A3 quattro specs
Audi A4A4 trimsA4 problems——2025 A4 quattro specs
Audi A5A5 trimsA5 problemsA5 years to avoid—2027 A5 quattro specs
Audi A6A6 trimsA6 problemsA6 years to avoidA6 depreciation2025 A6 quattro specs
Audi A7A7 trimsA7 problemsA7 years to avoid—2025 A7 quattro specs
Audi A8A8 trimsA8 problemsA8 years to avoid—2027 A8 quattro specs
Audi Q3Q3 trimsQ3 problems—Q3 depreciation2027 Q3 specs
Audi Q4 e-tronQ4 e-tron trimsQ4 e-tron problems——2023 Q4 e-tron quattro specs
Audi Q5Q5 trimsQ5 problemsQ5 years to avoidQ5 depreciation2025 Q5 quattro specs
Audi Q6 e-tronQ6 e-tron trims———2025 Q6 e-tron quattro specs
Audi Q7Q7 trimsQ7 problemsQ7 years to avoidQ7 depreciation2026 Q7 quattro specs
Audi Q8Q8 trimsQ8 problems——2027 Q8 quattro specs
Audi e-tron (Q8 e-tron)—e-tron problems——2023 e-tron quattro specs
Audi e-tron GTe-tron GT trims———2024 e-tron GT specs
Audi TTTT trims———2023 TTS coupe specs
Audi R8R8 trims———2023 R8 coupe specs

Know exactly how your Audi was built at the factory.

See what a specific Audi VIN was factory-built with. The CarWhere Audi build sheet reconstructs factory colors, options and packages from licensed VIN-level build data — availability is checked free, and it is $9.99 only when detailed build data is found for that VIN.

Audi build sheet by VIN

Frequently asked questions

How do I find out what options my Audi has?

Audi does not offer a public lookup of the original window sticker by VIN, so the paperwork that came with the car is the first place to look. If it is lost, a build sheet reconstructed from the VIN shows factory colors, options and packages where detailed build data exists, and the free VIN decoder shows basics such as engine, body and plant.

What do Audi trim names like Premium Plus and 45 TFSI mean?

Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige are the equipment levels on most US Audis, from base to fully loaded. The number before TFSI (40, 45, 55) is a power band, not engine size: a higher number means more output. S and RS models are the performance versions.

Is quattro all-wheel drive standard on every Audi?

No. quattro is standard on many US Audis but front-wheel drive versions of some compact models have been sold, and the R8 was also offered with rear-wheel drive. The trim-level pages and the build sheet for a specific VIN show which drivetrain a car has.

Which Audi engine is the 2.0T?

The 2.0T is the 2.0 TFSI, Audi’s turbocharged four-cylinder from the EA888 family. It has run through several generations with different ratings and known issues; the engine guide lists output by year and what to check on a used car.

How do I check an Audi for recalls?

Enter the 17-character VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup or the myAudi owner site, or ask an Audi dealer to run it. Recall repairs are free. CarWhere’s known-issues pages list major recall campaign numbers by model and generation.

Sources

Each linked page lists its own detailed sources. The hub's figures come from these datasets and references.

  1. CarWhere Audi engines dataset (9 engines and transmissions) — CarWhere
  2. CarWhere Audi trim-levels dataset (127 trims) — CarWhere
  3. CarWhere Audi known-issues dataset (128 issues) — CarWhere
  4. Audi of America media — Audi of America
  5. NHTSA recalls, complaints and vPIC VIN decoding — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by AUDI AG or Audi of America. Audi, quattro, TFSI, S tronic, e-tron and the model names are trademarks of their owners.