Overview & Reviews

In business for more than 100 years, Audi is an automaker that builds luxury cars and SUVs. The company was started in Germany and has remained Deutschland-based to this day.

"Audi Automobile Works" entered the German car-manufacturing business in 1910 and remained independent until the Great Depression. Because Audi's founder, August Horch, had left a 10-year-old company bearing his own name, he chose a Latin form of his name -- Audi -- for his new company. Audi joined with three other auto manufacturers in 1932 to form Auto Union. Audi, the only surviving nameplate from that union, was purchased by Volkswagen in 1964.

During the 1970s, Audi started to get noticed in the U.S. with its 100LS luxury sedan and compact and sprightly Fox coupe and sedan. By the late '70s the brand had replaced the dated 100LS with its new 5000 luxury sedan.

Every manufacturer has its defining moments. For Audi, one such moment came in March 1980 at the Geneva Motor Show. The automaker unveiled the Audi Quattro, an all-wheel-drive sport coupe that was met with a wildly enthusiastic response on the show floor. The Quattro's all-wheel-drive system went on to help Audi win accolades in motorsports and it was eventually integrated into the entire model range.

That year also saw the Fox replaced by the 4000. Four years later, the range-topping 5000 was redesigned. Audi's sales shot up nearly 50 percent, thanks chiefly to that newly aerodynamic yet handsome flagship that featured what would become an Audi hallmark -- an elegantly stylish, high-quality cabin.

Sadly, Audi's fortunes turned for the worse when the carmaker's 5000 model was accused of unintended acceleration in a 60 Minutes television episode. A subsequent government investigation found Audi innocent of the charge, but the resulting drop in sales nearly put Audi out of business in the U.S.

The late '80s saw Audi redesign the 4000, renaming it the 80 and 90 (with the 90 having more equipment) and also rename the 5000, dubbing it the 100 or 200. The 200 featured a turbocharged five-cylinder with all-wheel drive as opposed to a non-turbo five and front-wheel drive, as on the 100. A Coupe also debuted, as did a new flagship, a V8-powered 200 sedan simply called the "V8".

The following decade saw the A4 and Cabriolet models, as well as the renaming of the 100 to A6. The stunning A8 was introduced as Audi's new flagship, boasting all-aluminum construction and a beefy V8. High-performance versions of the various models bowed, dubbed S4, S6 and S8.

The start of the new millennium brought the TT, Audi's low-slung sport coupe (and later roadster). It also introduced RS versions of the A4 and A6, providing even more performance than "S" variants. In addition to "S" and "RS" versions of the TT, Audi's more recent releases include the A3 hatchback, Q5 crossover SUV, slick A5 coupe, exotic R8 sports car and A7 luxury hatchback sedan.

Today, Audi continues its success in the prestige car marketplace by offering a wide range of vehicles that impressively combine luxury and sport.

User Reviews:

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  Many problems - 2009 Audi Q5
  By jackiew - May 20 - 5:28 pm

  This car was my first luxury car and what a disappointment. Engine light comes on and stays on but dealer cant find a problem. Air conditioner works sometimes. Has a problem restarting when gassing up. Service not what is promised in the sales pitch. Would sell tomorrow if I could get my money back. My husband has driven several luxury cars without these kind of headaches.

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  Bad luck or actual crap of a vehicle - 2000 Audi A4
  By Suckered - April 28 - 2:10 pm

  We bought this car for my kid. The car had 121k miles which isnt much from the reviews I have read on this vehicle. But,after owning it for less than 2 weeks it was in the shop. 4 months later, I stuck over three grand into this vehicle and it wont stop breaking. It seems like as soon as I fix one thing, another one breaks. I am ready to take it to auction.

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  Go buy a BMW 3 Series - 2008 Audi A4
  By jbt020 - April 23 - 8:44 pm

  I trade cars about every 2 years and have owned BMW, Acura, Honda, Cadillac, Mazda, Jeep, Volkswagon, Lincoln and Im sure Im forgetting some others. This is the worst vehicle I have ever owned. I opted for the sport suspension and it literally feels like you are driving a covered wagon. There is a spot on my way home from work where I literally brace myself for the impact...and its not a big bump. This is the only car I have owned in my life that I have to buy a quart of oil to add to it in between oil changes. At any given time I would have anywhere from 1 to 3 warning lights on at the same time. I just traded it in last night for an Acura TL and was thrilled to say goodbye!

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  Problems - 2003 Audi TT
  By eman - April 23 - 10:25 am

  Had it for 6 years and had nothing but problems- had to replace the battery 3 times. Had problems with both windows (replaced motors), Glove box broken (kept it shut not able to use $700 to replace) , had to replace the dashboard controls as the gas guage was giving false readings. Also, had to replace fron front rotors at 40K miles.Keyless entry had to be replaced as I think it ate up the battery.Replace various hoses etc at 60K miles.

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  Never again - 2000 Audi A6
  By JG - April 13 - 7:14 pm

  While this car was fun to drive it gave me nothing but grief after 95k miles. I had to replace both cv joints, the torque converter at 110k, the turbo after 100k, the front dash display, and a multitude of gaskets/o- rings-seals. Overall the car cost me $10,581.84 in repairs in two years! Audis are great cars when you buy them new and trade them in after 5 years, otherwise buyer beware.

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  A Leason Learned - 1999 Audi A4
  By Rob - April 13 - 12:58 pm

  I bought the car used with 70,000 miles and have somehow managed to put 35,000 on it in a year and change (still trying to figure out how I did that). Even though I bought it with the expectation of putting some money into it, I had no idea that Id put in almost $5000 for a number of various problems. Valve cover gaskets were replaced, new tires, front axles, new control unit, and assorted other things. Unless you have the tools and the know-how to do a lot of the work yourself, Id recommend looking elsewhere.

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  The smell of burning oil - 2007 Audi A4
  By Luis - April 4 - 9:36 pm

  Dont do it! Dont buy it! Please do a search on Oil Problems and you see a ton of them. It is a common problem and Audi has no intention of solving the issue. Dont do it. I am so regretting buying this car. It looks great, but I so nervous about have to add oil every 1000 miles. Need to keep a quart in the trunk. First and last Audi I buy.

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  Should have sold it. - 1997 Audi A4
  By M - March 24 - 5:59 pm

  This review is cathartic because who cares about this car anymore. Up until 45-50K it was okay as far as maintenance and repairs are concerned. After that look out. Its like a bad marriage you hope and deceive yourself into believing it will get better..and it doesnt. I could have bought another car with the amount of money spent on repairs. Its not just the cost but the repeated occurrences. The dealerships are horrible and AUDI USA is even worse. I will never again own an Audi unless its given to me, because then the cost of repairs will be like I purchased it. It shouldnt cost me the price of 2 cars to own one.

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  So much for German Engineering - 2006 Audi A3
  By Juanp - March 22 - 9:30 am

  It seems that Germans have not discovered aluminum. All the interior design is in plastic with silly parts that break and are not covered by the warranty. Of course, the crooks from the dealer will charge $1000 for any stupid part and make you wait for a week to get it. I used the back seat arm rest once and it broke I plugged an ipod in the cigarette lighter and it broke the two moon light roof hatches broke the bolt that holds the spare tire broke, etc. In addition, the car gets a check engine light every six months. As another reviewer noted, I had to change the Pirelli tires at 10k miles because they were really noisy. Finally, the dealers are pretty bad (but thats another post)

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  No more Audi for me - 2007 Audi Q7
  By DV - March 18 - 1:23 pm

  My 3 year lease on the Q7 is coming to an end an I will definitely not lease another one. From the start there have been problems. The car came without the A/C charged, the rear passenger handle fell off twice before it was finally fixed and my "leather seat cracked in the first year. My brakes have been squealing every time I brake for the last year and they said it was brake dust. They said to spray brake area when washed and then step on brakes hard a few times. It doesnt work. The sound drives me crazy. Ive had the same experience as others with the tires--had to replace before 25k miles. Overall car looks nice and is comfortable, but lots of quality problems.