Is Audi Considered A Luxury Vehicle Brand? 

Anyone who has seen a Lincoln commercial with Matthew McConnaughy has thought to themselves that they want that life. A life of luxury, splendour, and maybe just a few deep thoughts. However, what is luxury? What is it about that advertisement that instantly attracts our attention and makes us think about what a premium brand is, and what car ranges qualify as luxury models? Will a used Audi Q5 qualify or any used Audi? Is there such a thing as a luxury dealership or is it all smoke and mirrors

Is Audi a Luxury Vehicle Brand?

There is no short answer to what luxury is, but Audi and Lexus are two brands that have done their best to define it. Extra features, hybrid options, safety-first technology, elegant plush interiors, plenty of foot space, maximum cargo space, powerful torque, smooth suspension, and a sleek appearance are all good places to start defining luxury. Coincidentally, these are all strengths of newer models of Lexus and Audi vehicles, so it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that Audi certainly falls into the realm of luxury brands.

How Audi Entered the North American Market

The average Audi driver is sophisticated, charismatic, and knowledgeable. All the things we expect out of the movers and the shakers of the world. They make decisions, step in and out of a used Audi with ease, and move up to bigger and better things driving new models of the Audi Q5 range with confidence. Unknowingly to them, they embody the very spirit that drove Audi into the North American marketplace.

Today Audis might only be found at a luxury dealership, but it took a lot of grit and vision to bring the brand up from the ashes so to speak. Informally Audi was founded in 1885 and named after its creator August Horch who discovered Horch in Latin as Audi. However, it wasn’t until 1920 that the first Audi for sale came to market, but the war rocked the company and several mergers later over the next 50 years led the brand back to the market in 1964 when VW purchased the company. By the 1980s the luxury brand was born and Audi was behind the first four-wheel sports coupe and continued to put elegant vehicles onto luxury dealerships and Canadian roads.

Does Audi Offer Premium SUVs? (space)

Audi offers a robust line of premium SUVs that easily compete with almost everything in the Lexus SUV range. The Audi Q3 is an entry-level subcompact that is comparable to the Lexus UX and is popularly seen in the used Audi market as people choose to size. However, this is just the start of the Audi range as it extends all the way up to the Audi Q8 which is comparable to the Lexus although the Q8 drops the third row to give passengers much more space and room to indulge in the true decadence of the luxury brand. The most popular SUV in the Audi range is likely the Audi Q5, a compact that roughly delivers the same elegance as the Lexus RX with slightly more space since it doesn’t have the third row.

Audi SUVs Vs. Lexus SUVs: Maintenance Costs

While the used Audi is a great deal, Lexus still edges it out in terms of maintenance costs. Lexus is commonly considered the cheapest premium brand to maintain likely due to its availability of parts. Audi parts are harder to come by and often higher priced. That said, this fact alone should not make you pass up an Audi for sale because both Audis and Lexus models offer excellent lifespans and impressive lifespans with proper servicing.

Audi Vs. Lexus: Safety & Technology

For the sake of comparing safety and technology, let’s take a look at the Audi Q5 and the Lexus RX which as previously mentioned are comparable luxury compact SUVs. Both models offer almost the same stellar safety packages with 4 wheel disc braking systems, ABS, stability control, traction control, and a full suite of airbags although the Lexus does come equipped with extra knee airbags. Both offer an in-dash navigation system along with a full set of audio options although it should be noted only the Lexus still offers a CD player in the console. It’s also worth noting that while both offer Bluetooth and smart device integration, the Audi Q5 does not support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto which may be a drawback to drivers who are used to seamless integration with their smartphones.

The Ending Verdict

Both Lexus and Audi offer a full range of luxury vehicles so drivers who are considering a used or new Lexus might also want to browse through a luxury dealership for both used Audi and Lexus models to broaden their options. After all, until you test drives a premium brand you don’t know what you are missing.