5 Incredible Audi Engines & 5 to Avoid At All Costs!
We compiled a list of the five engines you want in your Audi and the five engines that you will want to avoid.
Intro
Audi has produced some iconic vehicles over the years. And what has made those vehicles iconic is the engines that power them. There are unique configurations such as the 5-cylinder units, turbo and supercharged engines, fuel efficient 4-cylinders, screaming V10s and even diesels. With all of these engine configurations Audi has hit a number of home runs, but they have also struck out a time or two. We looked back through the history of the brand and pulled the five best and five worst Audi engines of all time.
Image: Audi
Worst # 5 – 3.0L V6 TDI
The 3.0L TDI is a powerful engine, and it found its way into many Audi models from the A8 sedan to the Q7 SUV. My own 2012 Q7 was powered by the 3.0 TDI. The problem is this engine can suffer from a number of issues ranging from excessive oil consumption to engine control module software failures. And we can’t forget about the Dieselgate emissions scandal that featured this engine.
Image: Audi
Best # 5 – 4.2L V8
The R8 is a special car and it always came with a special engine. That includes this 4.2L V8 making 430 horsepower. But this flexible engine was also offered in other configurations that powered models such as the RS 4 and RS 5. It has proven to be one of the more beloved engines ever offered by Audi.
Image: Audi
Worst # 4 – 2.7L V6 Biturbo
The 2.7L V6 Biturbo was an advanced engine that powered the A6 sedans and wagons from turn of the century to the hotted up S4 models. These were powerful and exciting vehicles thanks to this 250 horsepower engine. However, the engines were not without their problems. The throttle body, ignition coils, and turbos were all prone to failure. But if you are willing to take a bit of a gamble you can get a great car at a great price like this 2000 S4 that recently sold on Bring a Trailer.
Image: Bring a Trailer
Best # 4 – 3.0 V6 TFSI
This 333 horsepower engine powered everything from the sporty S4 to the flagship A8. It even saw use under the hood of the SQ5 SUV. It is a versatile and powerful unit. But it is also smooth and reliable. The engine has appeared on the Ward’s Best Engine list.
Image: Audi
Worst # 3 – 2.5L I5 TDI
This is our first 5-cylinder on the list and it was used under the hood of a few Audi models including the A6 sedan in the late 1990s and into the mid-2000s. It is one of the more problematic Audi engines. Issues include failed EGR valves, injection pump failures, and camshaft wear. If you are looking at an Audi from this time period, keep an eye out for these problem areas.
Image: Audi
Best # 3 – 5.2L V10
Our second R8 engine on the list, and can you blame us? The 5.2L engine is shared with Lamborghini. But in the middle of the R8 GT the engine makes an astounding 602 horsepower. And the sound this engine makes is as impressive as the power output. The Audi R8 with the V8 is a terrific sports car, but the R8 with the V10 is a super car.
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Worst # 2 – 1.8L Inline 4
The 1.8L inline 4 has been installed in more Audi models than we can count. It had a long life span and that is usually the sign of a strong engine. But that is not really the case here. It is a light and efficient engine, but it has problems. Oil sludge is probably the biggest issue with the 1.8. The ignition coils are also a common failure point. It is also not uncommon for coolant leaks to cause overheating.
Image: Audi
Best # 2 – 2.2L Inline 5
This iconic engine powered the S4 from 1991 to 1994. Those of us in the U.S. didn’t see this as we didn’t get the S4 until almost ten years after it started tearing up European roads. But that doesn’t make the 2.2L Inline 5 any less impressive. This little engine was capable of producing as much as 232 horsepower and a whopping 440 pound-feet of torque. This engine also saw success on the rally circuit. This unit led the way for future 5-cylinder powerplants from Audi.
Image: Audi
Worst # 1 – 2.0L Inline 5 TFSI
There were a lot of these engines made over the years, but the worst seem to be from the 2009 and 2010 model years. How bad were these? Well, a couple years ago Consumer Reports named the 2.0L TFSI powered A4 as the vehicle most likely to require an engine rebuild. That is not a distinction that you want to have. The engine had so many issues that a class action lawsuit was filed against it for excessive oil consumption. You would be wise to avoid this engine.
Image: Audi
Best # 1 – 2.5L TFSI
Lift the hood of the current Audi RS 3 and you will be looking at one of the best engines Audi ever made. This small 2.5L inline 5 makes over 400 horsepower. But it is not just the big power from the small size that impresses. It is made with advanced materials and uses advanced technology. For example, the oil pan is made from magnesium. The cylinder barrels are plasma-coated. The pistons are aluminum and have channels for oil cooling. This is an impressive engine and one you want under the hood of your car. And it sounds like nothing else.
Image: Audi