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2018 Audi Q7 — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $28,000–$40,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.

Kestrel Take

A superb three-row luxury SUV — the second-gen Q7 is spacious, beautifully built, and great to drive, with standard Quattro and a lovely cabin. It's a used Audi SUV, so budget for the supercharged V6's cooling, carbon, air suspension, and electronics. A documented Q7 with full history is one of the best three-row luxury SUVs; a cheap neglected one is a risk. Buy on records, verify the engine and air suspension, and keep a repair fund.

Known Issues for the 2018 Audi Q7

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

3.0T supercharger / coolingMedium

The supercharged V6 can have cooling and supercharger-related issues; verify service and check for leaks.

Repair cost range: $300-$2,500

Air suspensionMedium

The air suspension leaks and fails; verify it rides level and holds.

Repair cost range: $1,000-$2,800

Carbon buildup / electronicsMedium

DI carbon and MMI/electronics faults; verify service and systems.

Repair cost range: $300-$1,200

Expensive service / consumablesLow

Q7 service, brakes, and tires cost more.

Repair cost range: Varies

Walk-Away Red Flags

  • No service history
  • Coolant loss / supercharger issues
  • Air suspension sagging
  • Electronics faults

Good Signs

  • Full documented Audi service
  • Air suspension working
  • Quattro functional, all electronics working

Found a specific Audi Q7?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2018 Audi Q7 in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.