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:

• 

  not what I expected - 2003 Audi A4
  By ccunning - October 5 - 10:00 am

  I recently test drove this car. Overall its a solid car, very well built and attractive. Its very smooth and has good power, very comfortable driver. Unfortunately it left me wanting in terms of performance. While power was good, handling was not. It just didnt feel like a drivers car, lost its composure too easily under hard turns. I also wasnt too fond of the interior, there are too many buttons all over the place making it look busy, and the rest of the interior is just rather plain. Its a good comfortable car, but not a drivers car.

• 

  Great but not BMW great - 2018 Audi A4
  By Bill - October 2 - 2:21 pm

  I loved the A4 but the BMW 330i won with me. More fun to drive (BMW is the ultimate driving machine). BMW had a much better sales team too.

• 

  my review - 1998 Audi A4
  By lightdog555 - September 22 - 2:00 am

  this has been a great upgrade in car for me. i had a 94 jetta and this one well i love it

• 

  Audi Q7 Prestige - 2014 Audi Q7
  By J Ham - September 10 - 6:14 am

  Tire and maintenance are very expensive

• 

  Audi Q7 Prestige - 2014 Audi Q7
  By J Ham - September 10 - 6:14 am

  Tire and maintenance are very expensive

• 

  31,000 miles of fun - 2015 Audi A3
  By David - September 9 - 5:54 pm

  Ive waited to review this after Ive had plenty of time with it and now that the vehicle has just about 31k miles, I have to day that it is a really great car. Maybe Ive been lucky, but I have had no issues with my vehicle. I like how quiet it is compared to my last car and it seems to fit me perfectly. Granted, Im only 56" so Im on the shorter side, but I bought it for me and not my friends. Taller and larger friends complain, but I just ignore them. I will say that the back seat is not that comfortable for my wife and growing son, but she can always sit up front. About the only thing I have done is change the tires at 25k. The rear tires were already bald so hopefully the current set (different manufacturer) will last longer. The things I like the best is the air conditioning and the volume knob on the center console as well as the volume control on the steering wheel. To me, the placement of the knob is very intuitive and always easy to get to the right position. The a/c, with summer days of 110+ where I live, always cools down fast for me. It is by far the best a/c system Ive used in a car. One other gripe I have with the car is that the MMI wheel seems to go in the wrong direction. Ive owned it over a year and it just seems off. Ive heard theyve reversed it in newer vehicles so Im hoping its something a software update could take care of. Speaking of MMI hardware/software upgrade, dont count on it. It can be upgraded, but Im doubtful Audi will do it so you have to like it how you bought it. Overall, I really enjoy the car and even though my eye often wanders to other vehicles, I still am really happy with the A3.

• 

  1998 AUDI Quattro, 2.8 - 1998 Audi A4
  By Jamshed - August 23 - 10:00 am

  This is my fourth Audi. It is not as dependable as the other three, with small maintenence problems.

• 

  Non intuitive instrumentation but otherwise great - 2017 Audi Q7
  By Robert Hassold - August 15 - 12:27 pm

• 

  Watch The Ignition Coils - 2002 Audi A4
  By jennycg - August 11 - 2:00 am

  I am on my 3rd Audi and I have never had a problem till now. They are having major problems with the ignition coils. They are failing at a very high rate. The problem is there are 4 of them and Audi is refusing to replace them till they break and strand you

• 

  Is a great car when not in shop - 2003 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By gracegreek - August 4 - 6:50 am

  This is my 2nd Audi, my previous one was the A6 sedan. I have driven other luxury cars and nothing is more comfortable for long or short drives than the Audi. My 1st Audi I sold at 102K miles, unfortunately this one is having all the same problems as the last one and the extended warranty is running out. I bring my car into the shop 5 or 6 times a year beyond my religious tire rotation and oil changes. You must be religious on rotating tires every 5K-6K miles just to get 20K miles out of them. This is unique to the Allroad. Both area dealers have excellent service,and they are prompt with loaner cars. Excellent car as long as it is under warranty.