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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  You gotta pay to play! - 2002 Audi S6
  By John in VA - July 24 - 9:16 am

  A sports car with lots of room! I talked the wife into getting it because of its inherent virtues of safety, stability, reliability, versatility, and luxury. I just wanted something fun to drive that would fit a family. You wont win many off the line against some of todays high performance vehicles, but the power delivery seems endless once you get past 60. I might as well pay in advance for speeding tickets. Maintenance/gas aint cheap! 8 quarts of synthetic oil/$40 filter 20+gal of premium (I get 19-20 combined MPG, when Im easy on it). Big vented brakes = big $$. Trust me - it is all worth the experience! So far it has proven to be very solid and reliable.

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  Luxury without flaunting your wealth. - 2007 Audi A8
  By DLBoston - July 23 - 12:22 pm

  I have owned Jags, Mercs, BMW, and Cadillacs and they all have their outstanding features. The regal look of the Jag, the comfort of the Merc and the Cadis smooth ride. The Audi L W12 (my first) took the best features of luxury automobiles in its class and built a car that has lived up to my expectations. Yes the car has a six figure price tag fully loaded however the car delivers on all its promises and gives the driver a senseof royalty without being to flashy. Would it be fair to say that I am an Audi man for life? YES!!

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  Best interior style, reliable fun - 2006 Audi A6
  By JHAUDI - July 22 - 10:30 am

  Great experience, 25,000 mi and counting. Audi replaced a faulty rear window (fog inside glass) upon delivery. Love the mtce warranty. No major repairs or issues, and NO minor ones either. Best road handler out there, summer, fall and especially winter. Love this car in winter! Cleans up real nice too, time and again.

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  Wildly fun to drive - 2007 Audi A3
  By billy52 - July 20 - 1:53 am

  Its light, powerful, precise, well-balanced and stops well. Great mileage in Drive mode, wildly fun on mountain roads in Sport mode. Bluetooth and see-around-corners lights and seat heater work well. Very comfortable for driver. Premium comes with good electric seat - for the driver only. Passenger seat manually adjust with big wheel to tilt seat, like our 87 VW Cabriolet - this is a horrible method. Air conditioner works fine on first trip. If restarted when warm, air wants to freeze you, so it ceases to be automatic. Bose stereo is great, but CD changer is very hard to reach and ther is no iPod input! And no workaround except FM transmitter, which is not good in saturated FM market.

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  2007 Audi S8 - 2007 Audi S8
  By Bot1 - July 16 - 9:18 pm

  I decided that maybe Audi had just created the perfect luxury car. After 3k miles I believe they have. It is perfectly silent when you want it to be. Want to be sporty? One or two down shifts and a tap of the right foot and you know you are in the right car. The electronics are well thought out too. Handling stuns. The throttle is not too sensitive. No problem (did they fix it?). Looks? Subjective, yes, but it makes a very discrete statement. I am very happy my S8. And I dont miss my 997 a bit.

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  Best luxury car for in its price - 1999 Audi A6
  By Sean - July 15 - 5:59 pm

  I really like the car. It is really nice when you are tired from work it gives you comfort and relaxation you need. I recommend it.

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  Getaway car - 2007 Audi A3
  By George - July 14 - 8:25 pm

  Purchased my A3 2.0T after much research and driving the competition. I kept coming back to the A3, and so glad I did. This little vixen grows on you. The DSG, coupled with a very flat torque curve, makes acceleration so effortless that I find myself glued to the rear view mirror. I dont think "Audi made me do it" would stand up in court. Fit and finish is incredible. The sound system is very good (I wanted premium but settled for stock, and no complaints). Ive been doing the conventional break-in (vary your speed) and still averaging 27 mpg. Overall Id have to say this is the finest car Ive ever owned. If I win the lottery, Im going for an A8, but still keeping my A3!

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  Great Car! - 2007 Audi A4
  By Devin Phatak - July 13 - 1:13 am

  Ive owned three VWs before this and so far Im in love with the A4. I miss the power off the line from the VR6 engine in the VWs I drove, but this is my first turbo and part of it is a personal adjustment. Would I purchase one again, if I had the choice? Yes. I love the way it handles, the ergonomics and interior design are excellent, and the build quality is top notch. I only wish that I had an S4 or an RS4. It leaves me with something to wish for, but thats not a bad thing.

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  Wow - 2007 Audi A3
  By mattyd - July 12 - 5:45 pm

  I wanted a 4-door hatchback for flexibility but didnt want to compromise on performance or drive a huge wagon around. There are a lot of sedans in this price range, but the hatch and folding seats give much more utility. I settled firmly on the 2.0T after reviews and test drives, even though it lacked AWD. I drove the 3.2 solely to prevent buyers remorse and curiosity afterwards, and that was the one I had to get. Outside the trip I took to break it in, Ive put more than 2K miles on it in 3 months and that is with restraint (daily commute is <10 miles RT). It is much more fun to drive than my last car (01 Grand Prix GTP) and sometimes I drive past home and just keep going.

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  Love my A4 - 2004 Audi A4
  By dld3923 - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a Chrysler Sebring Convertible (that I loved) and Ive never looked back. I get lots of comments on the A4s elegant looks, esp. the way it looks with the top down since it hides away in the trunk. The care is a little slow off the line, but once up to speed, I have no complaints. (I have the 1.8 turbo) I also love the service at the Audi dealership.