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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  My Q and I - 2016 Audi Q5
  By FERGIE - October 20 - 7:38 pm

  Love it....

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  Great Car - 2009 Audi A4
  By Adrian Pineda - October 20 - 4:32 pm

  Ive had this car for almost a month with 1300 miles on it. It is an awesome car with excellent driving dynamics. I can hardly believe it is a 4 cylinder, but Im reminded of it when I idle the engine with the windows down. I returned a leased 2007 Lexus IS350 and at no point did I feel like I downgraded although this vehicle was $7000 less. The interior room is cavernous and the ergonomics are superb. Acceleration is amazing for any size engine not to mention for a 4 cyl. The Bluetooth integration is excellent as it reads your entire phonebook and makes accessible at your steering wheel controls. The front end with the LED Running lights makes this car spell luxury.

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  Couldnt Ask for More! - 2008 Audi S5
  By Aulm - October 20 - 3:43 pm

  What a great car to own and drive. I looked at the new M3, AWD250, 335Xi. This is a great daily driver - even though Minnesota winters thanks to AWD. Handles great and performs like a dream. Not to mention the downright serene exhaust note. Suspension is firm enough to eat up the turns, but soft enough to not leave you bruised upon arrival. Great GT cruiser. Getting MUCH better MPG than the sticker claims even with fairly aggressive driving. B&O Sound system is great and a must have add on. Every time I get in this car Im glad I went with the S5. A great blend of performance and fun - yet supply enough to be a daily driver. Now an Audi convert! (past cars MB E5004matic)

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  My Wife Calls it "The Spaceship", I call it Heaven - 2016 Audi A7
  By Anthony - October 19 - 4:57 am

  I recently leased a white over black A7 Prestige with the Driver Assist, B&O, 19" Sport, and Comfort Seating packages along with a few other options. I also had the windows tinted, which in Florida is a big help. The car looks fantastic without being overly showy - I wanted something that didnt advertise its price too loudly. The car is very fast but in a very subtle way... I find myself doing 100 feeling like I would doing 60 in a lesser car. Exceptionally quiet and smooth riding. A far as comfort, the heated/cooled seats work very quickly and the massage function on the Comfort Seating Package is ridiculously great. I find myself using it almost 100% of the time. The seats themselves offer as many adjustments as I could imagine and are very comfortable and supportive when cornering quickly. The B&O stereo is outstanding, although I miss a graphic equalizer. The AC is somehow 10x better than my last BMW, both faster and stronger. Where I was running the old AC at 63-65 degrees, Im at 69-72 with this car. The 4G hotspot works well and saves my cell phones data plan. The only negatives I can think of are that Apple CarPlay still doesnt support apps I consider necessary like Waze and the SiriusXM app. Also driving with all the tech options activated it can be a bit overwhelming (hence my wifes nickname). If you want to just drive the car I suggest the following: Put down the LCD screen using the button on the dash, it will pop up only when needed (this also looks cool). Turn off all the driver assist functions and the HUD and youre basically driving a really fast, super quiet car that happens to be massaging you while making love to your eardrums. I find myself driving for hours sometimes at night just to enjoy the car. Highly recommended.

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  Audi All Road - 2004 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By RichLI2 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car Everything about is super first class. It is fun to drive, great looking. practical and a great alternative to a full blown SUV. It is all wheel drive, handles and drives like a luxury sedan and has all the utility of an SUV

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  A4 1.8T Front Track 5Sp Manual - 2004 Audi A4
  By LASFA - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Two words......Awsome Car!!!!! i owned a passat GLS 1.8T 5sp Man. the suspension was very soft for me. The A4 is in NO WAY like the passat....much better fit and finish (not that the passat was lacking) everything in the car just feels and operates like its of the highest of quality. looked at the BMW 325i with sport package....found it to be pretty lame in comparison to this A4. for the money you can get faster cars but handling and quality dont compare. Sport suspension is very tight on the A4 so expect a VERY firm ride. But its worth it when you zip around corners.

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  awesome - 2004 Audi A4
  By dan-o - October 16 - 10:00 am

  excelent this car is awesome if u are looking for a fast nice luxury vehicle this is the one worth all the money

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  A$ Conv 1.8T - 2004 Audi A4
  By ABN - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Could improve low end torque

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  The Car For Every Driver - 2004 Audi A4
  By Big Jack - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Built like a tank,handles like a dream,my audi A4-3.0 quattro automatic is the best car i have ever owned, and i have owned caddy,lincoln,mecerdes,infiniti.this baby wants to be driven,no matter what the weather.overall performance is outstanding, sorry i didnt buy one years ago.

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  A4 is amazing - 2004 Audi A4
  By dr.jayapir - October 16 - 10:00 am

  For the money the best car on the road. Ive driven in torential downpours at 80mph and the car didnt budge. I also have a BMW and I must say they handle about the same.