Reliability of the 2018 Audi Q7 e-tron?

Hi,

Just wondering if you have any advice on what to watch out for when buying a 2018-regstered Audi Q7 e-tron (diesel plug in-hybrid)? The motivation for buying it was an SUV with three ISOFIX points on the back seat while leaving a decent boot for buggies and scooters. Other seven seaters left too small a boot.

David Mulvany (Kells)

Oct 2021 Filed under: reliability

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Expert answer

Hi David,

There are no major reported problems with the Q7 e-tron, and Audis in general tend to have very high levels of both quality and reliability. That said, as it’s a plug-in hybrid, check and see how much running it has done on electric. If the previous owners were especially conscientious about plugging it in and running on the battery, that could mean that the engine hasn’t actually been run very much, and that can lead to niggling reliability issues down the line. Sounds odd, but it’s true — regular, gentle running is best for long-term engine life.

Other than that, make sure that all the electric and electronic systems are all working as they should, as these are complex vehicles and difficult and expensive to put right if they develop problems. 

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe