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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  Good but room for improvement... - 2012 Audi Q5
  By realpicky - May 16 - 5:21 pm

  This is a very nice car/cross over. Fun ride but you can feel all road blemishes. It handles extremely well. Very responsive steering. It has surprising acceleration. Excellent headlights. Not a wimpy looking cross over so as a guy, you wont be embarrassed. The Multi Media System... well lets just say they blew it (see below). My wife cant figure it out so she sticks with FM stations.

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  Fun to drive, but a steep investment in repairs. - 2004 Audi A4
  By chash1982 - April 12 - 2:16 pm

  Ive had an opportunity to drive all kinds of cars, from BMWs to Volvos, to high end japanese vehicles and NOTHING has handled and performed like my Audi. This car feels like you are going 60 miles an hour at 100. You can barely feel the body roll as you effortlessly carve through corners at high speeds, and no automaker has a better interior. On the downside, prepare to set aside about 3000$ a year for repair and maintenance! Even oil changes will run you 100$, and when your fuel pump dies (and it probably will!) You can expect to spend 1000$ at the dealer if its out of warranty. This is a driving enthusiasts car thats also a comfortable commuter. I love my Audi, expensive or not!

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  Something Special - 2012 Audi S4
  By insectile - March 18 - 12:37 am

  This car is really something. You feel pampered inside, as if it were an XJ, but you can [non-permissible content removed] at any moment. If anything the problem is the cars limits are so far out that you almost never feel like you are going fast. Theres no drama. ...but in the end I want to get where Im going safely so drama isnt what I need. For the performance, Im getting great fuel economy. When in comfort mode my wife can enjoy driving, but theres another car in there waiting to come out when you hit dynamic. I have the mustang brown interior (Canada) with the Monsoon grey exterior and this colour combination is beautiful. Overall, Im very happy.

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  Reliability isnt bad, but could be better - 2001 Audi A4
  By eddy_e84 - March 2 - 5:47 pm

  I bought my 2001 Audi A4 1.8T in November of 2010 & its now March 2012, so 15 months (almost a year & a half). Keep in mind this car was 10 years old when I bought it... 4 months into owning it I need a new flex pipe: $250 parts and labor At 12 months I needed to change some hoses: $50, change the boost value for the turbo: $150 and fix a leak in the brake assembly: $50 for a total of: $250 parts & labor. At 15 months (today) I needed to fix the turn signal relay: $50 and do 1 of my rear bearings: $300. Total: $350 parts & labor So Ive $850 in repairs. Excluding regular maintenance items, ie Ive changed the brake pads, windshield wiper, tires and the oil changes.

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  Oil Consumption issues resolved - 2007 Audi A4
  By carissa - February 20 - 11:42 am

  This is for all consumers having Oil Consumption issues. I purchased my 07 A4 used with 54,500 miles on it. Right away I noticed the oil consumption problem. I tracked the consumption for about 10,000 miles and made sure the dealership knew the mileage everytime I had to put another qt in. The light was coming on down to just less than a 1000 miles to add a qt. I paid the out of pocket expense and the test came back that there was an issue. Audi Corp covered 85% of the repair and the dealership I purchased from, Elk Grove Audi, covered the remaining balance. Audi replaced the Piston rings. I now have close to 8000 miles since replacement and holding strong. Added 1 qt at 5000 mi.

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  Take care of beauty - 2003 Audi A6
  By newlines34 - February 6 - 6:00 pm

  Ive driven this A6 for almost a month. Interior-wise, it is beautiful, comfortable. It had left engine mount broken and center engine mount broken off. One tube wasnt even connected.

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  300K Miles and Still Going - 1996 Audi A6
  By milo65 - January 25 - 1:13 pm

  Well maintained and still running! Timing belt every 90K, heating core at 280K, otherwise just brakes, belts, and tires.

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  Overpriced and sparse - 2012 Audi A4
  By pensman - January 22 - 8:39 am

  The car is nimble with excellent acceleration and tight steering. But the cabin is bare enough to remind one of Mother Hubbards Cupboard. Everything that is standard on a Kia is an extra here. For a $35,000 car you do not even get a self dimming rearview mirror. The MMI is clunky and anti intuitive. The stereo system is bare bones. Milage is about 17 city and 25 higway.

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  Former BMW/MBZ Driver - Now an Audi Driver - 2006 Audi A4
  By 2bsi2 - January 1 - 4:50 pm

  For the last 15 years I drove a BMW or MBZ, beacause what I like to call "QUALITY OF DRIVE." Downside higher fuel costs & repairs. Another BMW/MBZ is out of the question as pricing isnt sensible and searched until I was surprised by the quality of the Audi A4. My near-new A4 is as surefooted as my BMW, but tons lighter like my MBZ. Luxury is not lacking but, could be better. What I love the most is both my BMW/MBZs ran approx 16-21 mpg -- Im now at 30 MPGs in my Audi A4 2.0T and she gets me 500 miles between fill-ups. This is the best of both worlds! Since I also purchased Near New I purchased the extended warranty -- german vehicles can be fickle -- you just never know.

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  Worth It - 1996 Audi A4
  By kyley1 - December 26 - 9:43 pm

  Ive had my 1996 A4 Quattro for about a year and a half now, and i love this car. Its very entertaining to drive, the 5spd shifts so smoothly and the all wheel drive makes the car feel solid and stable no matter what conditions youre driving in. My car has been very reliable lately, but when things break, youre gonna feel it. I shelled out 700 dollars to fix an oil leak, just because of the awkward design of the engine. If you find a well maintained one, go for it because you wont regret it. But be very strict on your initial inspection of the vehicle.