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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  A well put together Machine - 2010 Audi A4
  By Dan - February 14 - 10:12 am

  Have had my new A4 for about 5 months and it is the best car Ive ever owned. I attended one of those Audi Driving experiences where they let you drive a Lexus, Mercedes and BMW, as well as the A4 and while the A4 wasnt superior in every category, it was the all around winner (atleast for me) Interior design is sleek and quality, exterior styling turns heads when I drive by. Fuel efficiency is off the charts, 24mpg city, and 33 highway, although I have taken a couple long highway trips and gotten 34-35mpg. I will admit, Audis past quality issues made me think twice about buying. I hope reviews of this model were correct.

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  buyer beware - 2007 Audi A4
  By jill - February 14 - 12:20 am

  I wish I had researched my certified preowned 2007 Audi A4 2.0T before buying in 8/09. Have been to the dealer once for a check engine light and twice for burning through oil every 2000miles. On top of that, the rear seat squeaks like crazy, and Im unhappy with the "turbo lag. And the best part is...these are all "normal"

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  Worst Car I have ever bought!!! - 2005 Audi A4
  By durank - February 13 - 4:45 pm

  The car was fine until the warranty ran out. I kept every service appointment with my car on time at only the Audi dealership and took excellent care of my car having it detailed each spring. Within a year of the warranty expiring my car would not start and at 62,000 miles and four years old my car needed a new $13,000 engine!!! The dealership told me they could not determine the cause and would not take care of any of the cost, which were more than the car was worth. They offered me nothing for a trade in and no deals on purchasing a new Audi, no financing. Audi does not stand by their cars or customers.

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  Rock Solid Machine - 2007 Audi S4
  By joel - February 12 - 9:44 pm

  After a long and arduous search and having owned many brands/models prior (BMW, Infiniti, Cadillac, Honda, Benz) I still keep coming back to Audi. Without a doubt Audi still makes the most refined and well thought out interiors in the world. I kept going back and forth between M3 and S4 and after much local searching was able to snag a low mile, pristine S4 from a private seller. Having owned an A6, 2.7T manual prior I was more than ready for a return. This car is amazing...it fits you like a glove, handles like few others on the road and is a practical hauler for life.

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  All 10s - 2010 Audi A4
  By r. sterling - February 12 - 9:16 pm

  This vehicle is a remarkable example of German engineering and build quality. Engine, transmission and drive train are perfectly matched in this sub mid size platform. Body and interior tolerances are precise. Feature benefits are many leaving this driver with anything left to be desired. One word, impressive!

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  Beware of Oil Consumption - 2007 Audi A4
  By WhiteOak - February 12 - 12:18 pm

  This is a great car, in principle. Fun to drive, decent gas mileage, great design and quality of workmanship - all what you would expect. What one would not expect is the oil consumption: the 2007 A4 2.0T engines "normal" oil consumption is one quart every 1200 miles. Yes 1,200, not 12,000. I have had my car in the shop multiple times for this but Audi claims this is normal. They register my concern, find some faulty engine parts they replace but then send me on my way without fixing anything. So if you buy this car, be ready to drive around with a case of oil in the trunk.

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  Snow Monster - Love It - 2010 Audi A6
  By Schack415 - February 10 - 5:59 pm

  Ive had this car 3 months, and love it. Comfortable, handles great, and fun to drive. This car is a monster in the snow. Nothing holds it back in the white stuff. I test drove all the usual suspects, and picked the winner.

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  A Jewel of a Car - 2009 Audi R8
  By ayrton - February 10 - 4:45 pm

  Silver/Carbon Blade/Black interior, every option offered. The R8 is designed, engineered, and built beautifully. The engine is very smooth and revs like a 4-cylinder with the power of a V-8. Handling is great with mid-engine & low polar moment. The car is so confidence-inspiring that you want to go 10/10ths through every curve and turn. V-10 power might be welcomed but the car is very well- balanced and quick with the V-8. You do need to keep the revs up past 4000 to extract max power & fun. The seats are the best Ive felt in an exotic, as comfortable as my A8L. Lots of comfort for two but not much space for things. Footwell space is also minimal, especially on the passenger side.

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  Uneven Quality - 2009 Audi Q7
  By J-Man - February 10 - 3:07 pm

  There really are a lot of things to like about this car. For an SUV, it handles like a car and is much more comfortable of a drive than most of the other luxury SUVs on the road. However, there are a couple of things that really are unacceptable for a 60,000 car. 1. cheap plastic all over interior (see plastic foot rest just to the left of the brake pedal that cracked within a year) 2. doors are really cheap vs. bmw or mercedes. witnessed firsthand when I broke a interior mechanism in door opening on icy morning 3. MMI - why a cup holder right above a non-sealed system? 2 oz of gatorade fried out my track wheel to the tune of 800 4. handles HORRIBLY in the snow!!! 5. fuel mlg stinks

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  Beautiful oil burning machine - 2007 Audi A4
  By Wally - February 8 - 3:09 pm

  This is a long term update (hey I feel like an Edmunds pro!). The car is still fantastic to drive - its handling, acceleration and road holding are excellent. But it burns oil. While I dont know if this will affect the cars functions, I will be turning it in at the end of the lease instead of buying out the lease. Also, for those not used to turbos, they have tons of torque in the midrange, meaning they are fast at 20-50 and 50- 75. But they do have a slight hesitancy at low speeds, so if you are used to Toyota soccer mom vehicle where you blast off the line (then of course hold up the rest of the traffic later), this car is not for you.