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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  Better than my grand cherokee in snow - 2005 Audi A4
  By Dave - December 27 - 1:11 am

  Overall great vehicle, and I am happy with it. No major problems, although minor annoyances have been an issue. The paint job on the bumpers is horrible (but I attribute this to the dealership that sold me the car, not AUDI), and in the winter I have this annoying squeal that comes from the engine compartment (all the dealership will do is grease things down, which works for about a day). Car is great in snow, an amazingly comfortable ride (I do not have the sport suspension), great fuel economy (33 mpg highway easy, although mpg suffers horribly in the cold months). Some improvements can be made, but overall the car is great for me, an incredibly picky car person.

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  3rd audi - 2009 Audi A3
  By jeff - December 26 - 9:47 pm

  Went to my local dealer and drove a 2009 A3 2.0 quattro with bluetooth, open sky, and satellite radio. Even though I thought I wanted a manual again I got such a good deal plus really wanting quattro I bought the 09. The DSG transmission is growing on me. I have always maintained my Audis and never had any reliability issues other than normal wear and tear items. The A3 is well built and is versatile. It is a perfect car for running errands in town but also does well on longer trips.

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  I can not believe Audi sells this VW at Audi price - 2004 Audi A4
  By Daryl - December 26 - 7:42 pm

  We purchased this 10 months ego and after 10 months of pain and problems it has stranded us 180 miles from home at 11pm. We are replacing it with a Lexus RX300. This has needed new catalytic converters, coils,O2 sensors, control arms, wiper mechanism, trunk actuator. Sunroof is stuck, brake caliper is not working right and wears pads too fast on 1 side, tranny shifter gets stuck sometimes, 1 wheel is bent, power steering pump squeaks, and now the fuel pump gave up the ghost. All between 75k and 98k. First month we owned it, it spent 3 weeks in shops and 1 week on the road. Most parts are VW. I can not believe Audi sells this VW at Audi price. Dont be a fool and buy one.

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  New Transmission - 2007 Audi A4
  By USAE9Ret - December 26 - 6:08 pm

  When we test drove the vehicle we did not notice the hesitation when accelerating from a stop. Mainly because we did not encounter any situation where we needed to hurry into or across an intersection. After purchase and we began to drive the vehicle under normal conditions the hesitation was scary. The engine RPM was increasing but the car was not going. The dealer told it that it was the "new transmission". Therefore, nothing has been done to correct the problem. Pretty junky for such a renowned and expensive car. Month later the radio dies and the replacement is junky.

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  Beautifully refined car - 2004 Audi A4
  By Eric - December 26 - 4:46 pm

  I have the 3.0 A4 with UltraSport package. The rims and trim associated with this package turn this car into a head turner. My previous vehicle was a 1991 MR2 Turbo. Although it might be the slowest car in its class, I love it. The biggest difference I experienced (compared to Japanese brands) is the attention to detail. Things such as storage under the seating, lights under each door to illuminate where you are going to step, and a cool hidden trunk release, just to name a few. It feels super solid on the road, especially in rain. I chose the 3.0 over the 1.8T because I dont want to deal with all the problems associated with high-mileage turbos.

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  A 1 Thats our Q5 - 2016 Audi Q5
  By audiguy - December 24 - 10:26 pm

  Every category is 5 star except a USB port. We have owned the Q5 for 9 months, great vehicle! Couldnt be happier. As I noted prior a 2016 Q5 sh have had a USB. However, purchasing an adapter is not a "big deal"....

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  Q-Tastic! - 2007 Audi Q7
  By Q-tastic - December 24 - 4:30 pm

  This car is Q-tastic! I have owned/driven some of the nicest cars on the road today, and I believe this is one of the nicest luxury cars on the road. We purchased the car used, and have had no issues to date. I do worry about the cost of ownership long-term, but I believe that with a good extended warranty and a little planning, that risk is very manageable. We purchased the V-8, and I was very worried about Fuel MPG. It is actually better than the Volvo XC90 T6 we replaced it with. It gets really thirsty if you jackrabbit at every stop, but a mix of City/Highway will easily yield 18mpg or better. Audis are great because they are highline but not snobby. You will love this car!

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  Comfy and Quiet - 2007 Audi Q7
  By Dreiter - December 24 - 6:25 am

  This is the most comfortable car we have purchased (have had Mercedes, BMW, VW and other Audis). This car has a luxurious ride for all and a high quality interior finish that is better than BMW and Mercedes. The car feels huge when driving, especially in tight spots, this isnt good or bad, its just the way it feels. The Quattro system is outstanding in wet or snowy conditions and we always feel secure in this car in bad weather. Our rattling panoramic roof was quickly adjusted at the dealer during regular maintenance and hasnt rattled since. No other issues. It is a very heavy car so expect items that wear out to do just that (tires/brakes) especially if youre hard on them.

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  The S7 is a Sexy High Performance Machine - 2016 Audi S7
  By Mike McQ - December 23 - 9:21 pm

  I love this car! Smooth, smooth and smooth. Fast, smart tech, quiet, and great gas mileage for a 4.0 twin turbo. 0-60 in 3.9. The European delivery was excellent! A couple of small things I would recommend to Audi: 1. Clockwise should be zoom in on the nav, not zoom out. Its counterintuitive. 2. After I hit the start/stop button to turn off the engine, the home link wont activate the garage door. 3. No S7 rubber door mats, just with A7 logo. 4. Dual clutch Transmission has needed service twice...but now fine. Getting in/out of the rear seats is fine, for some reason other reviews think this is cramped and it really isnt. Grip is excellent on summer Pirelli tires, so I got the winter Pirellis.

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  Great Vehicle - 2010 Audi S4
  By PG - December 23 - 8:24 pm

  I drove the S4 and ended up buying it with the prestige package, rear sport differential, rear side air bags, and silk nappa leather. Hands down a nicer quality car than the BMs I tested. The S4 is much nicer inside and out. The ride is smooth and the car is quiet, until you unleash the beast under the hood. The S4 handles great and is very fast, I highly recommend this car!