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:

• 

  I love this car! - 2009 Audi Q5
  By Audisreallydorock - June 10 - 12:09 am

  This car is such a big upgrade from our 2006 X3 (which we loved), I can only begin to describe it. Comfortable, huge acceleration, great steering, excellent visibility. Perfect car for our little family driving around the city. Plenty of room for car seats, strollers, groceries, etc. and looks good enough to bring out for a night on the town. Little nits: side mirrors are too big, auto-dimming rear view mirror dims too often, and brakes are a tad squishy for my taste. But, I love driving this car. Best car weve owned. By far. Including my BMW 328 (blasphemy!). Compared the Volvo XC60, Mazda CX-9, BMW X5, Acura MDX, Lexus RX350: this was a no brainer.

• 

  Leader in quality and comfort - 2005 Audi A8
  By auditogo - June 9 - 3:02 pm

  This is best car I have had after owning several BMW models. 2005 models came with bluetooth in later production model which apparently are way more reliable than the ones with OnStar*. The only maintenance I have done over the last year is brakes and oil changes. Its hard to drive anything else once you get used to fine interior and futuristic interior. Seats are best in this class of cars. Check details online the way this car is being produced, all aluminum chassis and adjustable suspension modes provide superb ride quality. I prefer SWB over L because of aesthetics. Rear seats still provide a lot of room. MMI is easy to use and Bose stereo is the best I have come across. PPI is a must.

• 

  Ill never buy an Audi again. Stay away. - 1997 Audi A4
  By Charlie - June 9 - 9:26 am

  I bought this car mainly because of the look. I still love the look. Its too bad the rest of the car doesnt hold up. These cars are finicky. If you dont use synthetic oil you are asking for trouble. My car is dead after 150k miles due to oil sludge - which is sad for a car built in the 90s. I gave it regular 3k oil changes, but I used normal oil. Thats only part of the problem. This car was in the garage every 6 months for this, that and the other. Expensive suspension failures, Cat converters going out, water pump, cracked fluid reservoirs, valve gasket leak, etc., etc., etc. Come on Audi - have some pride.

• 

  2007 A4 Quattro 2.0-Fantastic - 2007 Audi A4
  By Gentle Ben - June 7 - 7:58 pm

  Just bought a 2007 A4 Quattro 2.0 used with 18K miles in excellent condition. The car performs like no other car I have had. First, handling & ride are excellent. Fuel economy has been 22 MPG on short trips and around 30 on longer trips. The seats (both leather and power) are very comfy and the interior is very well assembled. Only complaint is the short leg room in the rear seats, but since the kids are no longer at home, it will only be used occasionally. (HINT: If you raise the front seat slightly, you can move the seat forward enough to allow more space for rear leg room. There are 2 trip computers,which were hard to use, but after reading the manual it makes sense. (See below.)

• 

  Great Package! - 2009 Audi TT
  By CarGuy - June 6 - 10:09 pm

  The TT provides a great balance of performance, handling, safety and economy. The power is more than adequate, particularly considering the great low end torque. The S-Tronic transmission is a super design - I use it as an automatic around town and switch to the paddle shifters for spirited driving on the twisties. Ive averaged 28 mpg overall and seen 34 mpg on trips. The quattro AWD is smooth and effective in snow. The fun-to-drive factor is way high. The build quality and interior and exterior materials are excellent. This car brings a smile every time I get behind the wheel.

• 

  Best Sedan In its class - 2006 Audi A8
  By Tyler - June 6 - 3:50 pm

  I have been wanting an A-8 for years and finally ran across one worth buying. Depreciation is heavy in the first 3 years but this is the best sedan in its class by far. The MMI is awesome and extremely easy to figure out for a non-tech guy. I have owned Lexus, BMW, and Acura and would not go back. This is the car to own if you can afford one.

• 

  Nice ride - 2009 Audi Q5
  By WahooDDS - June 6 - 11:22 am

  Excellent all-around luxury SUV. Traded in our 2004 Volvo XC 90 (transmission problems). Looked at the Volvo XC60 and Lexus RX 350 among several others. After the dealer let us take the demo for a weekend we were sold. The ride is far more superior and has many luxury features in a very attractive package, inside and out. This car is just plain fun to drive and exudes quality. We are getting about 21 mpg overall (majority city driving).

• 

  Great Audi - 2016 Audi A4
  By Jeff - June 5 - 7:35 pm

  I rented an Audi A4 wagon in Europe for a week and drove around 1000 miles in it. Overall it is a great vehicle, comfortable, engine response is prompt, transmission is flawless, ride is quiet, steering is sharp. For negatives I would note the complexity and lack of intuitiveness of the infotainment system, using their GPS was taking too long to set on a destination and I kept using my TomTom. I guess it takes time to learn how to use it, same with toggling with the map display in the central area between the speed and tachometer. Also at low speeds the brake looses linearity and suddenly locks the wheels if you press a little harder. Also getting in and out of the car is a bit uncomfortable. But the overall impression is great, you dont even know when you get to pass everyone, the car is still quiet and seems so effortless.

• 

  Couldnt choose any better - 2007 Audi A4
  By Dadcia - June 4 - 5:24 pm

  I have been wanting the car for a while and had the hardtop A4, at the end of the lease nothing sounded better and I was right. Right after driving out of the dealership with 9 miles on the odometer I got plenty of looks on the street. The car, just like any Audi, drives beautifully, their windblocker assures your perfect hair day isnt ruined. I love how fast the top closes and how little of my own work it takes to open/close it, just a touch of my finger. This car also does look great with the top up which is not a common thing for convertibles in todays market.

• 

  78,000 miles, 10 years old, Still Great - 1999 Audi A8
  By Larry Vale - June 2 - 5:15 pm

  Ive had no problems besides the front rack a few years ago. ($2k). Just scheduled maintenance involved and PM changing the transmission filter and fluid a few weeks ago. No door dings or rust with the Alum body. No squeaks or rattles either. Undervalued in the market.