UPDATE: 2026/07/01 07:00 EST BY BELINDA ANDERSON
Audi’s Warranty: How Much Peace Of Mind Comes Standard
We’ve fleshed out the information provided on how far Audi’s warranty goes to cover new cars in 2026, and how that really compares to what BMW and Mercedes-Benz provides.
Based on the latest JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) data, we know that premium vehicles (say, a Volvo S60) are widely less dependable than their mass-market counterparts (for instance, a Honda Accord). A premium brand is worth the extra spend for some, but dependability is no longer a good reason to spend extra.
We also know that vehicles with plugs (EVs, PHEVs) tend to experience more problems than vehicles without plugs (ICE, hybrid), and that the “Smartphone on Wheels” approach that’s driven automotive design for the past decade is now the leading driver of dependability issues among surveyed drivers.
The dependability of brand-new cars is in a bit of a tumultuous state these days, according to the latest JD Power VDS. Based on the responses of thousands of owners surveyed three years into their ownership experience, this year’s study has revealed numerous shifts and trends that are worth understanding if you’ll be shopping for a new car, truck, or SUV anytime soon. If this all leaves you wondering how Audi is doing and where they stand against key competitors BMW and Mercedes, you’re in the right place: read on for a more detailed look at some need-to-know data and trends.
How Does Audi Compare To BMW and Mercedes-Benz In 2026?
2026 Audi RS 3 Sedan competition limited Special EditionAudi
This year, the Big Three German luxury brands are in a bit of a shake-up where dependability is concerned. BMW is maintaining its reign at the top of the trio, the only brand of them to consistently, if slightly, outperform the industry average (198 PP100 versus 204 PP100 in 2026). Despite its strong position this year, BMW’s dependability is showing a decline from its five-year best (184 PP100 in 2023) down to its five-year worst (198 PP100 in 2026). Remember, as you read on: the lower the number, the lower the complaints, the higher the dependability.
Close-up of the 2026 Audi Q3 turn signal stalkAudi
Audi is going in the opposite direction, climbing out of a two-year dependability hole (275 PP100 in 2024 and 273 PP100 in 2025) with a big surge that saw the brand improve by 29 points for the latest study (244 PP100 in 2026). Elsewhere, thanks to Audi’s big dependability improvement for 2026, it sits in close scoring proximity to Mercedes-Benz, with just nine points separating the two this year (244 PP100 versus 235 PP100). It still has a way to go.
Selected VDS Metrics (JD Power)
Top Brand
Industry Average
Bottom Brand
2022 VDS
Kia (145 PP100)
192 PP100
Land Rover (284 PP100)
2023 VDS
Lexus (133 PP100)
186 PP100
Land Rover (273 PP100)
2024 VDS
Lexus (135 PP100)
190 PP100
Chrysler (310 PP100)
2025 VDS
Lexus (140 PP100)
202 PP100
Volkswagen (285 PP100)
2026 VDS
Lexus (151 PP100)
204 PP100
Volkswagen (301 PP100)
Looking back at the past five years of data can reveal a broader pattern. First, there’s no overlap between the three brands. Though Audi and Mercedes-Benz scores have come closer to one another in some years than others, this trio has represented three distinct dependability levels for at least the past five model years, with BMW as the most reliable, Mercedes in the middle of the trio, and Audi as the least dependable of the three. Even BMW’s worst-performing year (198 PP100 in 2026) was better than Audi at its very best (232 PP100 in 2022) during the same period.
2026 Audi S e-tron GT driving front 3/4Audi
This dependability gap hit its widest point for Audi in 2024, marking its most challenging year. That year, Audi’s 275 PP100 score and BMW’s 190 PP100 score were 85 points apart, with Audi trailing Mercedes-Benz (218 PP100) by 57 points. Put another way, at Audi’s worst, they were about 45% more problem-prone than competitor BMW from the same year.
Audi Has A Reliability Hurdle To Overcome
2026 Audi Q5 Front 3/4 ViewAudi
BMW
Mercedes-Benz
Audi
Industry Average
2022 VDS
187 PP100
195 PP100
232 PP100
192 PP100
2023 VDS
184 PP100
240 PP100
252 PP100
186 PP100
2024 VDS
190 PP100
218 PP100
275 PP100
190 PP100
2025 VDS
189 PP100
243 PP100
273 PP100
202 PP100
2026 VDS
198 PP100
235 PP100
244 PP100
204 PP100
Over the last five years, Audi has operated entirely within a lower dependability tier, remaining significantly worse than the industry baseline in every study from 2022 to 2026. Conversely, BMW consistently cemented itself as a benchmark-beating brand, outperforming the industry average every year. Mercedes-Benz occupies a volatile middle ground, starting better than average in 2022 (195 PP100 vs 192 PP100) but dropping below the line for the next four consecutive years, including its worst-performing finish in 2025 (243 PP100).
2026 Audi Q5 SportbackAudi
Audi’s got a long way to go to catch up with BMW, too. Over our five-year span, Audi averaged a troublesome 255.2 PP100, while Mercedes-Benz averaged 226.2 PP100, and BMW led the pack at 189.6 PP100. If you’re in the market for a German luxury car from the past five years or so, choosing an Audi puts you 29 PP100 behind Mercedes-Benz, and 65 PP100 behind BMW on average.
Here’s How Audi Stacks Up Against The Industry At Large
Close-up of the 2026 Audi Q3 infotainment screenAudi
In the 2026 JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study, Audi finds itself positioned near the bottom of the charts once again, despite a massive 29-point year-over-year recovery that pulled the brand out of its 2024–2025 slump. Today, Audi’s 244 PP100 score remains significantly worse than the 2026 industry average of 204 PP100.
Out of all 31 major auto brands tracked in the 2026 study, Audi ranks near the bottom at 27th place overall, underperforming the market baseline by 40 points and leaving only Jeep (267 PP100), Land Rover (274 PP100), Volvo (296 PP100), and parent brand Volkswagen (301 PP100) to round out the lowest-performing brands in this year’s study.
This all places Audi right in the middle of a wider tech-driven reliability crisis hitting the luxury market. Driven by glitchy infotainment, complex features, and frustrating over-the-air (OTA) software updates, premium segment dependability tanked this year, with average scoring at 217 PP100 this year. Audi still lags 27 points behind that luxury baseline, though the 2026 rebound is encouraging.
BMW Nails It Where Consistency Is Concerned, Leaving Audi In The Dust
2026 Audi RS 3 Sedan competition limited Special EditionAudi
Looking at the five-year-best and five-year-worst VDS scores can reveal another interesting trend: consistency. In the past five years, some brands have suffered massive scoring swings, while others have barely budged. Additional details are in the table below, but the key takeaways are as follows…
First, Japanese brands are the most stable in the industry, delivering solid dependability year after year with minimal scoring variation. Brands like Toyota (38 points of variance), Lexus (18 points), Subaru (45 points), and Honda (29 points) largely avoid the massive 70+ point swings seen by American competitors like Lincoln (79 points) or Chrysler (84 points), and Korean competitors like Hyundai (74 points) or Genesis (69 points). This points towards a more cautious approach to changing platforms and tech. Shoppers know what to expect.
2026 Audi Q5 Rear 3/4 ViewAudi
When it comes to European cars, things are split down the middle. Volkswagen (85 points of variation) and Volvo (81 points) are the most volatile, with Audi (43 points) and Mercedes-Benz (48 points) mid-pack. None of these European brands make it into top-ten territory where 5-year scoring consistency is concerned. At the top of the charts based on that same metric? It’s BMW, in first place. Audi takes 14th place on the list, with Mercedes-Benz coming in 18th, if you’re wondering.
To put that another way, BMW is the least-volatile brand in the entire VDS study for the past five years, with just 14 points of variation between its highest score (198 PP100 in 2026) and lowest score (184 PP100 in 2023). BMW sub-brand Mini only shows 20 points of variation in its five-year scoring, also sufficient for top-ten territory where consistency is concerned. That’s not a major surprise, given that both brands draw from the same technological gene pools.
JD Power VDS Five-Year Recap (2022-2026): Lowest Variance
Rank
Brand
5-Year Best (PP100)
5-Year Worst (PP100)
Total Variance (PP100)
1
BMW
184 (2023)
198 (2026)
14 Points
2
Chevrolet
162 (2023)
178 (2026)
16 Points
3
Land Rover
268 (2024)
284 (2022)
16 Points
4
Buick
143 (2025)
160 (2026)
17 Points
5
Lexus
133 (2023)
151 (2026)
18 Points
6
Mini
170 (2023)
190 (2025)
20 Points
7
Dodge
166 (2022)
190 (2024)
24 Points
8
Cadillac
168 (2022)
196 (2024)
28 Points
9
Infiniti
205 (2023)
233 (2026)
28 Points
10
Honda
201 (2025)
230 (2022)
29 Points
Tech Problems Are Hitting European Brands Hard
2026 Buick Envision interior view of the steering wheel and dashBuick
Broadly speaking, European mainstream and luxury cars are having a tough time staying dependable, with brands like Volvo (296 PP100) and Volkswagen (301 PP100) scoring poorly at the absolute bottom of the charts. Even when looking at the premium luxury tier, the massive performance gap between the highest-ranking premium brands and Audi is major. This year, segment-leading Lexus (151 PP100) and top-ranked BMW (198 PP100) sit comfortably ahead of Audi’s best efforts.
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JD Power noted that this year’s study saw the highest overall problem counts since the modern redesign, driven entirely by complex tech. The premium segment as a whole suffered an eight-point year-over-year spike in issues (averaging 217 PP100) due to broken over-the-air (OTA) software updates and glitchy infotainment/connectivity interfaces.
BMW managed to weather this software storm significantly better than Mercedes and Audi, both of which continue to battle tech and electronic gremlins for higher scores. If your brand-new car is going to give you any trouble, it’s pretty likely that it’s going to come from the infotainment system. This year’s VDS data reveals that of nine problem categories, infotainment remains the most problematic (56.7 PP100).
2026 Audi RS 3 Sportback competition limited Special EditionAudi
“As owners hold onto their vehicles longer, the long-term ownership experience matters more than ever,” said Jason Norton, director of auto benchmarking at JD Power. “Software updates and new technologies should enhance the ownership experience over time, yet many vehicle owners cite ongoing mobile phone integration problems and little to no benefit after an update is performed. Much of this comes down to owner education and ongoing communication. Automakers should focus on delivering meaningful improvements and clearly communicating the intended benefits of software updates, so owners understand how they are designed to enhance their vehicle and ownership experience.”
The Most Reliable Used Models From Each Brand
2010 Audi A6 engine detail shotAudi
It’s easy to assume there are no reliable German luxury cars, but that’s simply not true. Old Mercedes-Benz diesel models, like the W124 E 500 from the mid 80s through the mid 90s with its 5.0-liter V8 that keeps on ticking, seem to be the best possible option. However, those of you who prefer a more modern driving experience will be pleased with each automaker’s most reliable used model to buy today.
In Audi’s corner, we have the 2010 A6; this classy sedan is powered by a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 that makes 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The model earned a J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score of 89 out of 100, a RepairPal reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, and it only has 17 complaints to the NHTSA.
The 2022 BMW X1 is holding up well so far, with its Quality and Reliability score of 86 out of 100. RepairPal also gives the X1 a 3.5 out of 5 for reliability, and, so far, there’s only a single complaint to the NHTSA from an owner.
Finally, we have Mercedes-Benz. The most reliable used model is the 2008 S-Class — this model earned an 88 out of 100 for quality and reliability, a 3 out of 5 from RepairPal, and it only has 23 owner complaints to the NHTSA.
Audi’s Warranty: How Much Peace Of Mind Comes Standard
2026 Audi S5 Sportback exterior and interior in Ascari Blue over black leather. European specification.Audi
As standard with every new car purchase, buyers get a four-year/50,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty with 24-hour roadside assistance (4 years) and a 12-year limited warranty against corrosion perforation. If you’re driving an Audi EV or hybrid, you get eight years or 100,000 miles of cover, which is standard in the US. Here’s how Audi’s warranty stacks up to BMW and Mercedes-Benz:
Warranties Compared
Audi
BMW
Mercedes-Benz
New-vehicle Limited (Bumper-to-bumper)
4 Years/50,000 Miles
4 Years/50,000 Miles
4 Years/50,000 Miles
Powertrain Limited Warranty
4 Years/50,000 Miles
4 Years/50,000 Miles
4 Years/50,000 Miles
Roadside Assistance
4 Years/Unlimited Miles
4 Years/Unlimited Miles
4 Years/50,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
12 Years/Unlimited Miles
12 Years/Unlimited Miles
4 Years/Unlimited Miles
EV/Hybrid Battery Warranty
8 Years/100,000 Miles
8 Years/100,000 Miles
6 Years/62,000 Miles or 8 Years/100,000 Miles or 10 Years/150,000 Miles depending on model
At first glance, it appears Audi and BMW on par, while Mercedes-Benz offers slightly less coverage. Other automakers that offer better warranty cover include Hyundai and Kia, which have five years and 60,000 miles of cover as standard, with two additional years of cover for hybrid and EV batteries over what the Germans offer.
Sources: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, J.D. Power, RepairPal, NHTSA
