Audi and VW Offer Deep Discounts on Fixed Diesel SUVs
Are the slashed prices on these diesel-powered SUVs really a bargain?
Volkswagen and Audi dealers are now offering customers deep discounts on barely driven SUVs that were sidelined because of the company’s diesel emissions scandal.
The vehicles, with 3.0-liter diesel engines, were never sold because they contained defeat software designed to make their emissions seem cleaner while being tested.
Officials with the automakers say the VW Touareg and Audi Q7—some of them 3 years old—are now in compliance and approved for sale after receiving a federally mandated fix.
The available sales incentives might seem tempting, but are the discounts worth it? Or high enough?
For Volkswagen Touareg TDI SUVs, the deals are:
- 2014 models are being offered at 25 percent off their original MSRP.
- 2015 models are being offered at 20 percent off.
- 2016 models are being offered at 15 percent off.
Audi Audi
Audi is offering 2015 Q7s at 20 percent off the original MSRP. Audi is offering special low interest rates to qualified buyers.
Keep in mind that these deals are not very different from typical depreciation rates: A vehicle typically loses around 19 percent of its value after one year, according to Consumer Reports auto analyst Mel Yu. After three years, a vehicle has lost about half its value, he noted. The difference here is that these vehicles don’t have many miles on them. As with any car purchase, you can negotiate with the dealer on the price.
The Touareg and Q7 are powered by a 3.0-liter diesel V6 engine, one of the diesels that embroiled the German automaker in a global emissions scandal that has cost the VW Group billions to rectify and has tarnished the company’s reputation. Just this week a former VW official was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the scandal.
“While the miles may be low, keep in mind these are still older vehicles,” says Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. “That means they generally don’t have all the latest safety and technological advances. And if you are looking for a great deal, you’ll generally get an even bigger discount with a normal used car.”
It’s unclear how many of these vehicles are available. To get a national view of available inventory, we looked at Cars.com and found more than 100 of the 2015 Audi diesel Q7s being offered for sale currently nationwide, with prices ranging from $57,000 to more than $75,000. There are more than 300 2016 Touareg TDIs for sale nationwide, starting around $40,000, and ranging up to $65,000.
Having a car sit for months or years could be a problem, especially for the brakes and tires, but Audi says these SUVs have been properly cared for.
“All model-year 2015 Audi Q7 TDI vehicles that have been stored in dealer inventory were routinely maintained in a manner to ensure their long-term operability and quality,” says Mark Clothier, spokesman for Audi of America.
All the vehicles come with a two-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. When they were new, they came with a four-year, 50,000-mile warranty. A certified pre-owned warranty on a 2015 Q7 bought today, though, is good for only two years and 50,000 miles, the automaker’s website says.
Consumers should also be aware that their fuel economy could be as much as 2 mpg lower than previously advertised, VW said back when the fix was approved.
During CR’s road test of a 2015 Volkswagen Touareg TDI, our experts said highlights included a “plush interior,” as well as its “agile handling; a firm, steady ride; ample interior room; and very comfortable seats.”
While the 3.0-liter diesel was criticized for having “a clickety-clack character at idle,” this was offset by the engine’s “smooth-running and muscular” behavior, coupled to “very good fuel economy for such a heavy vehicle with an overall average of 24 mpg.”
