5 Best/Worst Audis Ever Made
It was the best of Audi times, it was the worst of Audi times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness... what are your favorite and least favorite Audis?
Intro
Audi has given the world many excellent cars and SUVs over the years. The cars are known for luxury, performance, and style. But which are the best of the bunch? Not just the fastest or most expensive, but which models really exemplify what Audi is all about? And on the other hand, which models in Audi history are the worst that the company ever produced? That is what we are laying out for you today. We picked five of the best and five of the worst Audi models in history. We are sure it will stir up some debate. What do you think of our list?
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Worst #5 – 2024 RS e-tron GT
This might be a surprise to see on the worst list as the RS e-tron GT is a nice car and very quick. However, performance does not really justify the huge price jump from the regular e-tron GT model. It is also considerably slower than rivals such as the Tesla Model S Plaid. And at this price point, why not just get a Porsche Taycan? The Porsche badge alone helps to justify the price. The car in a vacuum is not bad but it just doesn’t make a lot of sense when compared to other options.
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Best #5 – 2000 Audi TT
With the original TT the performance wasn’t amazing, but the style was. No other car was like the TT when it first arrived. The TT model lasted nearly a quarter century and eventually became a legit performance car in TT RS guise. The TT will go down in automotive history as an icon not just within Audi but in the broader automotive realm.
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Worst #4 – 1999 – 2005 A2
The A2 was a flop for Audi. The idea was to make a small premium car, which is a noble pursuit. But unlike just about every other Audi ever made, the A2 had no style. It looked awkward and ungainly from every angle. The most powerful engine available made just 110 horsepower. It didn’t need a ton of power because the aluminum construction kept weight down. But the performance was not exactly inspiring. The high price of the A2 compared to competitors, and the goofy looks doomed the car and Audi could not sell them.
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Best #4 – 2006 – 2008 RS4
The B7 Audi RS4 is one of the best Audi RS models ever made. The flared wheel arches, aluminum body panels, and the exceptional 4.2L all-aluminum V8 (also found in the R8) was the recipe for a fantastic car. The engine has 414 horsepower and can shoot the car to 60 in less than 5 seconds. Slowing you down are brakes taken from a Lamborghini Gallardo. Changing gears is done with a 6-speed manual transmission. These are lovely cars that can still thrill you nearly 20 years after they have gone out of production.
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Worst #3 – 2009 – 2011 A4
This car is let down by its engine. The 2.0L Inline 5 TFSI is one of the least reliable units ever installed under an Audi hood. They are well known for consuming oil. In fact, there is even a class action lawsuit filed because of it. When the car is running, it is not bad at all. And many folks have been able to put many miles on them without issue. But the risk is just too great.
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Best #3 – 1994 – 1995 RS 2 Avant
The RS 2 Avant was the start of the Audi RS line. It would be on this list for that alone. It was the start of some really special Audi models. And the RS 2 Avant was special in its own right. Using a turbocharged 5-cylinder making 311 horsepower the Audi wagon could hit 163 mph. It was built in collaboration with Porsche and many of the parts installed in the Audi came from the Porsche parts bin. It is a historic and important car for Audi and one of the best they ever made.
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Worst #2 – 2008 – 2012 Q7 V12 TDI
An SUV with a V12 making 500 horsepower, and 738 pound-feet of torque sounds like a recipe for success. Or at least something that would be a lot of fun. But the 6.0L V12 diesel-powered Q7 was not a success or all that much fun. The SUV was expensive, complicated, and was a terrible seller for Audi. The Q7 V12 TDI was never sold in the U.S. but this one that we are not that upset about missing out on.
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Best #2 – 1980 - 1991 Ur‑Quattro
This is probably the most revolutionary car Audi has ever made. The first quattro for the street. Audi brought all wheel drive to rally racing and the Ur-Quattro was the street version. The RS 2 Avant was the start of the RS line of cars for Audi but the Ur-Quattro was the start of their all-wheel drive street cars that they are known for today. We didn’t get the car in the U.S. until 1983 and it was down on power compared to the European version. But a turbocharged engine making 160 horsepower and all-wheel drive made for a fun car that was just the beginning of things to come.
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Worst #1 – 2003 Allroad 2.7T
This is a shame because the Allroad is a decent enough car, but it is practically famous for being unreliable. The 2.7L twin turbo V6 had its own problems but even worse is the air suspension system that fails like clockwork. And is an expensive repair when it does go wrong. The good news is that if you want to take a gamble on one it won’t cost you much money. This one was sold on Cars and Bids a couple years ago for around four grand.
Image: Cars and Bids
Best #1 – 2023 R8 GT
The ultimate Audi is the R8. The ultimate R8 is the GT. That is why it earns the top spot on our list. The truth is you can’t go wrong with any R8. But the most powerful rear-wheel drive version with a revised transmission and a drift mode is tough to top. The only downside to this car (besides the price) is that it marks the end of the beloved R8 line. The R8 exit means that Audi has a gaping hole in their lineup. We hope they fill it with something that is on the same level as the incredible R8 GT.
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