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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  Problems with My A6 - 2005 Audi A6
  By Scuba87756 - November 30 - 8:20 pm

  I just picked up my new 2005 Audi A6 3.2. After only about 50 miles the transmission began to act up. The engine would race to 7,000 rpm in first gear or would not shift at all. After parking it in my driveway for a short time, I could not back it out because it felt as if the parking brake was locked.

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  Not bad, but still disappointed - 2016 Audi A6
  By Yury - November 30 - 4:18 am

  Coming from 5-series BMW I see a few faults in this car: horrible gas mileage for a 2 liter engine! Im getting about 12 mpg in traffic with rather conservative driving habits. Navigation system is OK, but certainly missing street routing and traffic display for local streets that Im acostoumed to relay on for my daily commute. Engine vibration, while not a deal breaker, can be pretty annoying in stop and go traffic. Controls are less than intuitive (may be personal preference).

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  Pretty, but not worth it - 2003 Audi A4
  By audinomore - November 29 - 11:19 pm

  I bought this car used with 50,000 miles. I loved it for the first couple of months, until things started going wrong. I had to replace all the ignition coils, fuel pump, check valves, broken moonroof, broken window regulator, broken cupholder. Oh yea, and just a few months ago there was a fire, cost over $5000 worth of damage under the hood, thank goodness insurance covered it. They said either an ignition coil or the wiring harness had a malfunction. When my coolant tank cracked and wouldnt hold coolant, I decided it was time to trade it in. I loved the car, but I cant afford to keep fixing it and I dont want to be worried all the time about something breaking or catching on fire.

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  My Squeaky Brakes??? - 2013 Audi Q7
  By Bill Wegener - November 29 - 6:49 pm

  Since the day the car left the lot, the brakes have squeaked, made noise, annoyed me.. I took it back to the dealer and there response was “What Noise”.... I am two brake jobs and new rotors into the car and still they squeak?? I was told get up to 30-40 Mph and slam on the breaks to get the dust off of them. Huh Really.. Didn’t work. As I talk to more and more Q7 owners they all have the same bad story. For the cost of this car, they should be able to engineer brakes the don’t squeak.

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  allroad -- segment busting since 2001 - 2002 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By TingandCSR - November 28 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle does so many things much better than adequately: blasting down the freeway on the lowest suspension setting, sliding around backwoods Adirondack dirt roads, plowing through snowbanks up on the highest setting, packed full of (heavy) band equipment without noticable wheezing or whining, and then cleaning up very nicely when called upon to do personal limousine duty. The only serious con continues to be the (perhaps) intentionally engineered- in transmission lag ... but allroad drivers learn to use sport or tip mode to lessen its effects.

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  2017 Audi A4 sets luxury entry level - 2017 Audi A4
  By Steve Kimball - November 28 - 5:14 am

  A complete redesigned A4 reaches new levels of technology and luxury. The technology in this winner is state of the art. I almost feel like I need to go back to school and get an IT degree to get the most out of this amazing vehicle. Apple Car Play works like a charm the minute you plug into the designated USB port in the glove box. For you Android people it also handles Google Play (or whatever the comparable technology is named). The ability to load the Nav system where you would normally find your speed and RPM dials gives you the feel that you are the pilot in a 747. Speaking of the Nav system it is the best of any vehicle I have ever owned or system used. That includes Honda, Acura and Garmin. So many electronic gadgets that I urge you to check out this magnificent machine online. I am also surprised at how well it does on mpg -- I got 31.5 on highway driving. Im sure that will even improve on a longer trip. Very pleased with this purchase. My sales rep at Audi Natick, Kevin Schuster, was great. Only drawback is it takes premium fuel, but with this high performance engine its worth it. The 2017 A4 is a winner in every way.

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  New generation Audi - 2009 Audi TT
  By Topless - November 27 - 5:55 pm

  The new generation Audi TT Roadster is an exceptional sports car with blistering performance, superior handling and all the comfort features you could ask for. The price is high but residual value significantly tops the competitors. A must car for the discriminating buyer.

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  Fantastic car, minor niggles - 2007 Audi A4
  By b7a42007 - November 27 - 10:31 am

  After driving this car fairly hard and accumulating about 37,000 miles, I can honestly say it has been a great ride. The tires will wear down very fast if you push them hard - I had to replace my first set after just 10 months. Also, rear legroom is tight and I suggest changing the oil every 4,000 miles contrary to the dealer-recommended 10,000 mile interval. Wish the exhaust note was a little more inspiring too. Tires can squeak easy if pulling into traffic fast and ride can be a bit crashing on bad surfaces. Stability control is excellent and has saved me on multiple occasions from slipping off the highway ramps! Most important is how beautiful the car looks too!

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  So Far So Good - 2008 Audi Q7
  By 2008 Q7 - November 26 - 9:57 am

  Good car so far. Lots of comments on the great looks. No major issues to date. Ready for new tires at 27K. Brakes are coming. Pull a 5000lb boat with some difficulty. Pulls well up to about 50mph then struggles trying to maintain 60mph+, even on the slightest hill. I manually shift to keep the gearing correct or the engine just revs really high. Recommend the 3.0 TDI or the 4.2 V8 if you plan to pull more than 3000lbs. My biggest beef is the lack of a rear hatch close feature on the key fob. Audi seems to think your hands are full when loading, but not full when unloading. Cant reach the button with full hands. Wife wants another when the lease is up. Probably the TDI Prestige.

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  Look forward to driving to work - 2006 Audi A4
  By ERad - November 25 - 11:10 pm

  This is my first Audi. Having spent a while looking around at other cars, I was sold on the Audi by its new looks alone. Once inside, on the road, and around the curves I knew it was the car for me. BMW lost me on their new 3 series re-design. Great sound system, convenient display of XM Radio data, toasty heated seats, & great dash design. The 2.0T is an engineering powerhouse when considering its fuel efficiency.