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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  From a twin turbo convertible - 2008 Audi R8
  By tomdfw1 - June 25 - 10:10 am

  Picked up my R8 this week after having deposit down for a year. I traded in my 04 911 turbo convertible. While I do miss the convertible, the Audis exclusivity and sense of driving is second to none. The build quality surpassed my expectations and the sound when driving the car is amazing. I let a friend drive it and when I heard the car coming down the road, it sounded like a hurricane blowing in. Amazing. Everywhere one goes it captures a crowd and the looks of this car make it the best looking car on the road in my opinion. I have always been a Porsche guy, but am thrilled.

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  Audi A8L - 2006 Audi A8
  By soobie23 - June 22 - 8:41 pm

  Car has been flawless through almost 2 years of ownership. Love the stealth factor, car is totally amazing. Friends refer to it as the James Bond car, for all its gadgets and features.

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  Liked my 2014 Q5 so much - I leased another! - 2016 Audi Q5
  By Ingolstadt Fan - June 22 - 1:00 pm

  I had a 2014 Q5 Premium Plus 2.0 lease that was up for renewal recently. In over 30 years of leasing vehicles Ive NEVER leased the same vehicle twice as every one of them seemed to have some quirk or flaw that made me want to try something different. However, in this case I ended up leasing the a newer version of the exact same Q5. Why? because I test drove everything else out there and could not bear to part with the Q5. Superb all around car and hands down the best engines on the road today. After 36K miles on the 2014, zero flaws and the exterior and interior still look it came off the showroom. My new 2016 is even better, if thats possible. There is a reason this SUV consistently gets 5 star ratings.

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  Fun with or without sun!!!!! - 2004 Audi A4
  By Tracey - June 22 - 10:00 am

  The Audi A4 1.8T Convertible is worth every penny paid for! While it may not have the power of the BMW, it sure does possess the style, handling and comfort of its German counterpart. The car is nicely equipped when the Premium & Sport package is added. It is a blast to drive and performs well....catching the eyes of many on lookers as it passes em by!!!!!

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  Frequent repairs - 2004 Audi A4
  By iscalise - June 22 - 9:32 am

  I bought this Audi new, within the first year had to go back to the dealer 3 times for faulty airbags. Almost problem free since then, except a few minor issues: non-working headlight cleaners, burnt lights, filter problems. It just came out of warranty (>4 years) and the A/C compressor died, dealer wants to charge $2000 to replace it. Im thinking of trading it since repair costs for this car are exorbitant. Drives very well in snow though!

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  What a Gem - 2006 Audi A3
  By Larry Marks - June 21 - 12:18 am

  I traded in my 2003 530i for a certified pre-owned A3 with 36,275 miles on it. I couldnt be happier. It is a phenomenal vehicle, and all for under 30k. It all starts with the engine. The 2.0T is a great powerplant, and I love the short throws on my 6 speed manual transmission. The low end torque really gets the car going. The steering is very responsive and the ride is very stable. It is such a blast to drive. It is a coin flip between this A3 and a 323i as the best driving cars I have ever owned. The quality of the interior build is much better than the BMWs I have just come out of (a 323i then 530i). The fuel economy is not bad (25mpg for me) for such a fun car to drive

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  2008 Audi A4 S-Line tip-tonic - 2008 Audi A4
  By Robert - June 19 - 2:10 pm

  I am an america living in Germany and have really been able to push this car to its limits. For a four cylinder this car moves, There is a significant lag in the turbo when not in the "S" setting (S-lines) At 140 miles an hour for 40 miles I averaged about 19 MPG and same road at 70MPH 33.6 MPG.

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  This is whats up - 2000 Audi TT
  By Alistair314 - June 18 - 9:24 pm

  Had this car for 10 months, bought it with 69,000 miles on it. Considering I bought it for 15,000 it was absolutely amazing. Very fun to drive, quite good in the curves except for the mild understeer, and considering the size of the engine (1.8l) very fast. This car also handles remarkably well in snow. Zipping past Wranglers and Tacomas in 10 inches of snow is always fun.

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  Great car but can do so much better - 2008 Audi A4
  By Ahsan - June 18 - 10:53 am

  I bought this car in brilliant black with black leather interior, after researching and test driving cars from the famous five (BMW (1 and 3 series), Infinity G37, Lexus IS, Acura TL). In terms of exterior looks and interior quality and design, Audi beats all the others hand down. I have always had a soft corner for Audi when compared to BMW (a personality trait of always siding with the underdogs). This car has however met and exceeded my expectations in nearly every department. It drives and handles like a charm in all driving conditions. There are however, a few issues that I had hoped would be resolved in the 2009 model but they remain largely unaddressed. They are discussed below

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  May I have Another! - 2002 Audi A4
  By Shaughn357 - June 17 - 10:22 pm

  I was hesitant to purchase another VW built car after the dismal experience I had with my 1999 VW Passat but I went ahead and purchsed a 2002 Audi Quattro A4. I am very happy with the car. I drive my cars hard and put at least 20k miles/year commuting to work and I have yet to experience any major problems. The car handles great on the highway and in third gear at 3000rpm, there isnt many cars she cannot pass. The secret to keeping these cars in great shape is to find a reputable mechanic who knows and works on Audi cars daily. Knowing that I drive my cars hard i take it in the shop about every two months for a checkup. I was also prudent and purchased the 100k extended warranty.