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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  Love Hate Typical Euro - 1998 Audi A4
  By DrivingEnthusiast - January 13 - 3:03 pm

  Loved the car. Quattro, V6, manual - everything I wanted in an automobile. Unfortunately, I owned a Honda and a Toyota before my A4. Audi is totally performance oriented and cares nothing about vehicle life after the 50k warranty. The following were replaced from 70k to 110k: tie rods, suspension components, electronic controls, wheel bearings, and ABS sensor. There was a lifter tick for the last 10k miles so Im sure something else was about to fail. Timing belt change job cost $1400 at 90k. I kept great care of this car and it kept breaking. I dont care how great Quattro was Ill never go back to Audi/VW.

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  Big disapointment - 2007 Audi S8
  By mark stamm - January 10 - 6:02 pm

  I bought my S8 because I believed it would be a fun-to-drive, relatively light weight fast sedan. It has ponderous handling, shifts erratically, and is full of insanely complicated, useless electronics. The suspension lowers itself after parking, so that the car has to be parked rear-end-first so the front doesnt hang up on the curb. I tried to give it back the 2nd day I had it, but Audi refused, as S8s are special order.

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  Sloppy transmission - 2008 Audi TT
  By ls - January 9 - 6:39 pm

  I have had some problems with my AUTOMATIC transmission. When I am stopped on a hill and then try to go, the car rolls backward like I have a manual transmission. There does not seem to be a hill-holder feature. What is maddening, is that this only happens occasionally. I must put my foot on the brake AND gas to keep from hitting the car behind me. When I reported the problem to the dealership, they said it was a normal characteristic of the car. Also, the car rolls backward an inch, or so, when I put it in park on a hill. The transmission seems loose, or sloppy. My dealership can find nothing wrong. I cant believe this is a NORMAL characteristic of the car.

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  Jetta with the name Audi on the grille - 2008 Audi A4
  By WB - January 1 - 3:57 pm

  I have an 04 Jetta and im completely unhappy with it, probably because I have owned volvos before. I have had this car for about 4 days now and when I get into the car, I feel like I am in the Jetta. The console is still small, with the small cup holders underneath, the ignition jingle never stops until both the driver and passenger have thier sealt belts on, and just all the little things about the Jetta are in A4 that would make you skeptical to pay $41,000 for it. The turbo charger has a delay when u push on the accelerator. I do have to say though, that the seats are comfortable and the styling outside is excellent.

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  Bad Dealer makes ok car not worth it. - 1998 Audi A4
  By steverino - December 25 - 2:00 am

  Car drives very nicely. After 35k, I have a rattle, and the exhaust system is a problem, but the car handles very well. Not quite as fast as I thought it would be, but pretty fast. The dealer, in Cherry Hill, NJ is terrible. Their services department is too small and unresponsive. They cant figure out problems, and they lie about delays in returning the car. My exhaust has never been right. My hood stinks after short drives. They all know it is an exhaust problem, but they cant fix it. As nice as I have been, they have failed to get it right on three visits.

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  Horrible junk - 2007 Audi A4
  By racefanaz - December 14 - 9:41 pm

  I purchased a new A4 Quattro. On the way home the ESP light would intermittently stay on, the dynamic headlight warning light came on and stayed on. The cruise control did not work, the next morning I pulled out of the garage and began driving to work, the same thing happened and got worse, the turn signals would not work as well, very poor car, I have immediate glitches, hassles, embarassment (pulled up at starbucks with co-worker in car and had to open the door to get the order) and this is all on the original tank of gas.

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  PURCHASED BECAUSE OF IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK - 2011 Audi A3
  By doc5339 - December 6 - 5:12 am

  Will never purchase another VW, Audi or VAG product again. Total inaction after years of waiting on the Takata airbag recall. TDI BuyBack is beyond tedious, waiting over 6 months for an offer letter.

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  My audi - 2000 Audi A4
  By dave - December 4 - 8:48 pm

  I got the car with 80000 miles and put an extra 40000 in the past two years and I cant imagine anyone having as many problems with a car than I had. Very expensive to repair the smallest stuff. The acceleration is horrible but I love the handling and brakes. I like how the lights light up a lot and love the heated seats. Everyone complains about the zero room in the back. Cant stand the buttons always jamming in the cold... cheap.

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  A8 L worst car ever owned! - 2005 Audi A8
  By gene gopon - November 24 - 8:10 pm

  I cannot begin to list all the electrical issues I had with this car. Beginning right after it was delivered. Audi North America gave my wife and me a free weekend at a resort to compensate us for our troubles. I got rid of this car and bought a Mercedes, which I had owned before. Dont let anyone tell you the A8 is as good as the S Class. Simply not true, and Audi service stinks! The final straw for me was when the MMI buttons all stuck and Audi refused to cover it under warranty - both the dealer and Audi North America accused me of spilling something on the console to cause the problem. You will spend a lot of unpleasant time in the Audi dealer service department if you get an A8

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  Unsafe Transmission - 2006 Audi A4
  By ed sokolofski - November 14 - 7:35 pm

  Owned an Audi 5000CS during the unintended acceleration scare years. Fun to drive but a nightmare with repairs. Waited all these years to buy an Audi A4 wagon. Great design and overall build. However, had to have it towed after it died in the middle of an intersection. Supposed bad fuel pump sensor. Under warranty. Much bigger problem is the transmission (new design) that hesitates between 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Hesitates so long that it is unsafe when pulling out into traffic, etc. Dealer said its the nature of the beast and to change the way I drive. Cant wait to return car. Luckily, I only have 9 months left on lease. Feels unsafe to drive. Take a long test drive before you buy.