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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  Good Engineering, Poor Customer Service - 2007 Audi Q7
  By kerryjth - November 15 - 12:41 pm

  I enjoy driving the Q7 and it is a well built basic SUV. Unfortunately for $60K price tag Audi falls short on customer service and attention to detail. I had serious electrical problems the 1st week I drove out of dealership and the dealers reaction was "so what". They fixed it but it was as if it was expected. Next the battery died several times and had to be jumpstarted. After bringing it in 3 times Audi finally figured out the Software had a glitch. The MMI system(electronic brain) is unsealed and located below the tilted forward cup holders- so if you spill even a little liquid on the shifter the MMI shorts out and it costs $1000 to fix. Audi said not their design flaw my fault.

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  Beautiful S4 - 2008 Audi S4
  By K-IVY-D - November 15 - 12:17 pm

  This car is everything you expect it to be and more. Its comfortable and has all the buttons and switches and toys you could ever want. Everything makes sense, everything works the way it should, and you can tell Audi used very high quality components that most people would never notice. Like very quiet power window motors, totally silent rear window power sunshade. The sound of the engine is intoxicating. It squirts like lighting between corners. Suspension doesnt squat, dive or roll, but is perfectly luxurious like an Audi should be. Mine is electric blue and I get compliments almost daily on it. Think pure domination.

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  Dissapoinment - 2006 Audi A3
  By a3sfca - November 15 - 12:10 pm

  The reliability has been terrible. Back in shop over and over again in the past six months. The warranty and the extended warranty has been useless. Always pondering what will break next. Not fun when you are driving a seven year old around.

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  A5 - Nice, not flawless - 2009 Audi A5
  By dug - November 15 - 10:14 am

  I finally traded in my 2001 BMW 330 for this car and although it is a nice car, I miss the BMW just a bit. The long wheelbase makes navigating in tight situations tough and the standard leather feels really cheap. Wish I would have paid for the leather upgrade. Also, wish it came standard with the S-line seats. The standard seats feel a little too flat and make it tough to really have fun with the car. Dont get me wrong, this car is sweet. It is awesome to drive and the performance definitely rivals a BMW. Much cheaper than the 335 coupe too. Really like the technology controls and the B&O sound system rocks. Tough to go wrong. Wish I had more money to buy the upgrades.

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  Love the A3! - 2008 Audi A3
  By BobJ - November 15 - 8:27 am

  This is my 7th Audi including A4s and a TT. I love this car! The 2.0 engine is a tremendous improvement over the old 1.8. The A3 is quick, has great handling, is nicely appointed and is a kick to drive. New car pricing is a bit hefty, but I bought mine at the end of the year and saved a lot. In 08, if you wanted AWD you had to buy the 3.2L engine, and the price got pretty high. I understand that they are working on the pricing issue for 09. My wife has an Acura MDX, but now shes borrowing the A3 whenever she can grab it.

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  a fine compromise - 2002 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By ross1113 - November 14 - 2:00 am

  Aside from the severe color pallete that Audi seems to prefer for offroad vehicles - and interior colors which remind me of the German Army Wermacht uniforms -- the car itself has been totally reliable, does all I have ever asked, and if it were not leased, I would chip the engine and transmission for more oomph both from Stratmosphere in Rush, NY -- but no complaints at all. also have a great dealership.

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  its a very decent choice - 2003 Audi A4
  By JakeYC - November 14 - 2:00 am

  picking a car is similar to when you are about to ask a girl out =) I have to admit~ive looked around~you consider all the options and test drive all of them because these are not a cheap car. I have to say,you can not make a wrong choice with modles. But you have to ask yourself, what are the key things that you really want? I bought a Audi because its cheaper than bmw 3 and you get a lot more for the money, which includes 4 wheel drive system. I have yet to determine if i made the right choice or not~based on the reliability of this car. the key! research~research~and test drive all of them

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  So far so good - 2009 Audi A5
  By GirlAroundTown - November 13 - 6:26 pm

  2009 A5 S line with all the bells and whistles. My 3rd Audi. Bought after my 1st Benz that I got ripped off from my G35 coupe trade in. Still breaking it though so I will get back after a few months for a full review. Didnt do the drive mode button though...waste of money. Still trying to get used to seat position, havent found perfect yet. Shame it doesnt have as much power as the G37 with the V6. I would have went with the lower powered turbo instead or diesel if an option here in the US.

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  audi-standing - 2006 Audi A3
  By dannylv - November 13 - 3:16 pm

  I have owned my A3 for 3 weeks and I am more and more convinced every time I drive this car on what an amazing vehicle it is. Even though I really liked the stock rims, I have changed them out for light-weight 17” enkei performance racing rims and have plans to replace the stock springs with neuspeed sport springs and using the neuspeed engine management upgrade increasing HP to 250+ and torque ft/lb to 295+. The 6-speed manual is as controlled or aggressive as you need it to be. A3 is truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing. bad placement of center console w/ 6-speed but folds up out of the way if needed.

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  Love It - 2008 Audi A4
  By taudi08 - November 11 - 12:49 am

  I bought this car about 5 months ago and its awesome! The only things I dont like about it are the cup holders under the arm rest and the slight lag out the gate. The lag is random. Its weird, but it depends on the day. The engine is definitely affected by extreme temperatures.