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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  So much to love but so many annoyances! - 2014 Audi Q5
  By remlerman - October 2 - 4:43 pm

  This car handles terrifically as smooth and responsive as any BMW or Lexus Ive owned. The diesel has so much low end torque that youll blow off kids in hot cars without meaning to. The car is beautiful and comfortable and the sound system excellent. All that being said, Ill never buy another Audi based on this car. The car lags when trying to accelerate just a little from an already-slow speed (like turning at an intersection with pedestrians or waiting for a break in oncoming cars while turning) leaving you in dangerous situations at times. The electronics are WAY behind the curve: you have to take your eyes off the road and hand off the wheel for FAR too much.

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  Driving the 2014 Audi Q5 - 2014 Audi Q5
  By jimallyn - September 26 - 2:38 pm

  I have been extremely satisfied with my Q5 Prestige 3.0 TDI . The car is fun to drive, has lots of power and gets excellent mileage. For the last 15,000 miles I have averaged over 35 miles per gallon. This includes both town and highway driving. (Town driving is approximately 30 MPG and highway is near 40 MPG.)

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  Can It Really Get Any Better Than This? - 2009 Audi A8
  By tinyelvis - September 25 - 5:45 pm

  Purchased with 65k 3-12 and sprung 3k for extended warr that takes me to 115k or 2017. So far I have only been able to use warr for a water pump ($1300). Yes, it is expensive to maintain. Every time I slide behind the wheel a sly grin creeps across my face. Ive put 30+k on the odo, everything from Walmart trips to 600 mile East Coast jaunts through the mountains of PA and NY. This car does everything superbly. Accelerating, steering and braking exude confidence at every moment. Interior gauges, controls and ergonomics are perfect. Headlamps and cornering lamps are absolutely outstanding. My son just got his license, and I sat in back for essentially the first time. What a lot of room!

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  Transmission Issues - 2015 Audi A3
  By ricksandoval - September 25 - 2:06 am

  I loved the car until it almost got me in an accident. Yes the car is very nice and fun to drive but be careful. I am currently extremely disappointed with purchase. The transmission on my weeks old 2015 A3 completely failed. Almost made me get in an accident because it stopped so suddenly. I was one block away from entering the freeway before it failed To make it worse, my just returned "fixed" A3 with a brand new transmission now makes a loud ticking noise &amp sounds like its years old.

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  The Cure for the Common SUV - 2015 Audi Q3
  By buggin - September 18 - 7:53 am

  What a vehicle. Has all the comfort and toys you would expect in a vehicle. Very Comfortable, Agile, Sharp, Excellent finishes, Fun to drive, Its the perfect size for those not having to haul a lot of things or people but yet enough room to fit more than a car. You get the elevated height and of course the best AWD drive system out there, Quattro. The Q3 was well worth the wait.

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  Fun car not disapointed - 2011 Audi A3
  By jax2 - September 11 - 3:50 pm

  Bought it used with 33K miles and have put another 12K since then. Love the ride, handling, very fun car on my painful 1 hour commute to work every day. Since its more sporty suspension is a bit stiff so not the couch comfort but thats how German cars are. It does lack some options you would think should be in an Audi auto dimming mirrors, memory seats, passenger power seats but doesnt bother me personally. Slight turbo lag in taking off but you can shift to manual mode and it picks up right away. Cant beat the mileage, 36 daily -41 highway.

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  All owners MUST have an extended warranty!! - 2011 Audi A3
  By vection - September 8 - 11:19 pm

  I was so excited to buy this car. It looks great, gets above average gas mileage and I thought it was going to be dependable...I was absolutely incorrect and it has cost me a significant amount of money! The warranty expired at 50k, which is when the major system began to fail. First it was the motor in the seat...not a huge deal, but it was expensive. Next the A/C compressor failed, an issue that Audi is aware of and has issued a service advisory about, but without a warranty, one that I had to pay for. Finally the Turbo charger failed. At this rate it will have all new parts before it hits 60k. This car is crap and Audi should be ashamed that they built it.

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  2015 Q5 Premium Plus 2.0T - 2015 Audi Q5
  By driverdiver - September 5 - 9:29 pm

  I upgraded from a 2003 BMW x5 to the 2015 Q5. I considered the BMW x5, x3 as well. Dollar for dollar the Audi wins. Its nicely appointed, peppy and fast, roomy where it needs to be but not more room than you need. (need more go Q7). In 2014 the roof rack was notoriously noisy when installed and you needed to get after market wind suppressors. 2015 roof rack now comes standard with them (manufacturer actually listened!) Again your choice to install roof rack if desired, the just bolt basically with included tool. Very stylish, LED lights are awesome, great on fuel, fun to drive and has enough space for all my hobbies! Love this SUV! Love the full Pano sunroof!!

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  16 Years Strong - 1999 Audi A6
  By sebago588 - September 4 - 8:54 am

  We bought our 99 A6 Quattro in 2002 when it came off lease. I decided to buy Audi for its reputable Quattro performance and living in New Hampshire, the winters can be brutal. We still have this vehicle! It has had all the normal and expected maintenance done to it with a hefty price tag for all of it, but it is what you can expect with Audi as you would with BMW or Mercedes. Recently the last major job I had done was four new spring coils, joints and tie rod. It was done at a bargain of $3300. I decided to have it done only because I was impressed it took 16 years for the suspension to finally fail a state inspection. Also, these cars never rust. 133,000mi and plan for another 200,000.

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  Beautiful Car, Poor Gas Mileage and Ride - 2012 Audi A5
  By catperson9 - September 1 - 12:57 pm

  Lovely exterior, nicest interior Ive ever experienced. Im proud to be seen in this car. However, gas mileage is nowhere near EPAs 21/29 rating. I get a disgraceful 16-17 mpg in town, doing little highway driving -- and Im anything but a leadfoot. In typical German fashion, controls/infotainment are way too complicated, very hard to learn. Also, I find the ride very stiff and rough, especially on some of West L.A.s pitted streets. This is probably my first and last Audi. (I kept my previous car, a 1996 Mercedes C280, for 16 years, and I miss its simplicity.)