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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  Fun to drive but... - 2006 Audi A4
  By sfced - February 5 - 7:37 am

  Good looking, very fast and handles like a dream. Definitely a fun to drive car. In terms of reliability, this is the worse car Ive ever owned. I have to take it to the dealer while it was under warranty at least twice. The oil filter housing (made out of plastic) broke during an oil change and it took nearly a week to receive a new one, which was over a $100. The last moth I had it, it threw "check engine" lights for three different issues. For the last one the dealer wanted over $1000 to repair it. I had them clear the light, drove it to the nearest Honda dealership, traded it in, and never looked back... for 61,000 miles, Im disappointed.

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  2008 A3 2.0T (DSG) - 2009 Audi A3
  By winddy - January 16 - 2:35 pm

  uses way too much oil! I am afraid to drive it a considerable amount of distance.. I check the oil one day, and although remarkably dirty,its full. The next day I drive it 100 miles give or take.. when I get home I have NO OIL, and there was no alert telling me that the oil is low!!I have taken it back to my Audi dealership 3 times and it is going back for #4. One more chance!otherwise this is a great car. Id rather not sell it because of the poor treatment that I receive at the Audi dealership that I use. Come on Audi. Once we buy your car - we are family! Service Managers need to treat us better!! Audi drivers want performance,high quality, and 6 star treatment!!! thanks!

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  Frustrating - 2008 Audi A6
  By johnc8551 - January 14 - 9:41 am

  This is my first experience wiuth Audi after owning Volvos, SAABs, and BMWs. I bought the car this past summer with 32K miles on the Audi CPO program. The brakes are touchy/grabby, but Ive learned thats a common trait with the A6, and Ive learned to live with it and adjust. At 36K miles, the engine quit in traffic, and I had to have it towed to the dealer for repair. It turned out to be a faulty low fuel pressure sensor, and this was repaired under warranty. The following week, a simple daylight running light bulb went out, and this an only be repaired at the dealer!

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  An Enthusiasts Daily Driver - 2011 Audi S4
  By carnuts3 - January 11 - 3:39 pm

  Driving my new S4 four weeks now and am enjoying the car immensely. Easy and very fun to drive both in town and on the hwy. Put on 2100 miles - 900 in town and 1200 on a long road trip. Fit and finish is top notch. Blend of performance, luxury/comfort along with its mid-size makes this car almost perfect as a daily driver. Doesnt quite have the surgical handling and steering feel of a BMW 3 series. But the S4s power, smooth/responsive drive train, top notch build quality and materials, and extra six inches in length over the 3 series more than makes up for this. The S4 is a fast, stylish, higher end performance vehicle that is well worth its higher price.

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  Gave back to dealer 2 mos before lease end. - 2007 Audi A4
  By boyracer3 - January 9 - 8:39 am

  Tonight Im reviewing 6 of my latest car purchases. Audi is getting the lowest marks. My car burned a Quart of oil every 3000 mi. Oil light would come on before it was time to get oil change. Evry time. Loved car before this happened. Recommended A4 cabby to a friend. His did the same thing. When in parking lots examine the carbon buildup on A4 tailpipes.having blown the engine on my previous 911 I was very sensitive to oil lights. I complained repeatedly to Audi who insisted that kind of oil loss was within specs. Seems like poor engineering. I always felt like a chump after speaking with service. I was so annoyed that I gave it back early to clear a space for a new BMW. Cont.

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  excellent design, reliability much worse than in the past - 2009 Audi A4
  By vjd2211 - December 31 - 11:18 am

  Went from the 2003 A4 model to 2009 - old model was a real german design - tight handling, powerful, good brakes. The new one gained in dimensions - you feel inside like in a mid-size car, but the steering is too soft, I guess to appeal more to american drivers. Just one note - the car is not anymore a 100% german car - parts are made in other parts of the world and the overall quality has suffered. Have that in mind - repairs over the 4/50k warranty are very expensive both parts and labor - currently at 35k miles and thinking to trade-in.

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  A4 avant prestige sport 19 inch - 2011 Audi A4
  By ysde - December 29 - 9:30 pm

  need a family car. thought about s4 but thought the avant was more practical. did not want a suv - simply more weight and a higher center of gravity leads to a dull driving exp. Any audi you but you must get the sports package and quattro otherwise you might as well buy something else. The car i got is loaded - prestige - b & o radio makes a big difference, side assist, etc. The steering is a little light but the handling is very good overall. the engine is more than adequate. i was concerned about this - previous car i had delivered 330 hp. i notice the difference but the overall package of the audi is excellent. This is what you get when you buy an audi - great overall package

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  Relatively Great Fun - 2011 Audi A3
  By slimjimmyz - December 18 - 11:14 pm

  Im coming from the perspective of a family with young kids that has relied on Outbacks and older Nissan/Acura sedans. Our newish Outback serves as our workhorse car, so we felt more free to replace our aging 2nd car with a smaller non-all wheel drive car. Weve been very happy with the handling and performance of the A3. Ive gone through NE winters with front wheel drive and snow tires, and expect the A3 to do just fine. It feels plenty fast to us, and the handling and responsiveness is a clear cut above what wed been used to. My wife was a bit hesitant about it after the first test drive, not being used to a diesel engine, but now even she says its the perfect car for us.

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  Like the other reviews - 2002 Audi A4
  By elewsader - December 17 - 7:33 pm

  Much like the other reviews, this car was fabulous from an interior fit and finish perspective, but something was always breaking and it was always costly I had wiper linkage seize up which was over $300, H.I.D light (dipped headlight) which was $300, and many more. It seemed like everything that had an issue it was $300 or more. There were also odd electrical gremlins with the radio and sunroof (sunroof was blamed on a potentiometer, and the radio was blamed on lithium grease in the door connectors). I got great gas mileage on this car but overall its a great car if you can afford the pricey repairs. - 1.8t six speed automatic, fwd model

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  Nice! - 2007 Audi A6
  By sagarian9 - December 15 - 9:59 pm

  Traded in my 2007 A4 for a 2007 certified A6 (needed extra room in the back seat). Very happy with the purchase. I do miss the "nimbleness" of the A4, but the A6 added a few extras that I didnt have before. Theres enough room in the back for a baby seat - behind both driver and passenger and the trunk is enormous! Plenty of power when needed - just watch the fuel gauge. Driving conservatively around town, I get in the low 20s. On the highway - averaging around 70 - I get close to 30 mpg. Pretty good for a big heavy car. Plus, it can run well on regular - unlike the 2.0T A4. Although I do alternate with a tank full of Shell Premium V-Power just to keep the injectors clean.