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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  The Ultimate Drive! - 2006 Audi A3
  By John - September 3 - 7:20 am

  I just picked up my new Audi A3 this week and I absolutely love it. I test drove many cars from 25k-35k looking for one that was actually fun to drive. The Sport package is well worth the cash. This baby hugs corners with ease. The OpenSky roof is great and opens the cabin up to the outside. Interior room is much better then that of the A4, due to the transversely mounted 2.0 T engine. With options my car came to $31850. Not bad for an car that it! The new DSD Auto is so smooth and is perfectly mated to the 2.0T engine. There is no torque steer present at any speed. The A3 is so much fun to drive. Do yourself a favor and go test drive one today!

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  A8 still the best - 2008 Audi A8
  By New Hampshire - September 2 - 7:24 pm

  The A8 is still the best value among large luxury sedans. Ive owned BMWs and driven a colleagues S550 and the A8 is just superior everywhere it counts. I still cant believe how comfortable and fun this car is. I find myself looking for every excuse to go anywhere in this car on any errand. I opted for the L for extra leg room. Kids cant touch the back of my seat no matter how far they stretch. Important options are the acoustic glass which makes it quieter than the S550, ventilated seats, 19" wheels, and Lane/Side Assist because it actually helps. The ride is fantastic on rough New England roads and you never feel like youre rushed when youre in this car. Best car I have ever driven.

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  LOVE MY CAR - 2001 Audi A4
  By merz4 - September 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car over a year ago. I usually tire of things quickly, but I still LOVE this car. The engine is great, instruments and accessories are great quality, and it handles like a dream. I have the quattro suspension, and my husband and I tried to make it spin out in a gravel parking lot and in rain. It wouldnt budge off the road. Made it through the whole winter without a single slide or fishtail. I feel very safe in this car. This car has quality written all over it.

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  Brand new thrill ride! - 2003 Audi A4
  By Yannis Kolettis - September 2 - 10:00 am

  so far, so excellent! went with 2003 after after unable to find all options i wanted on remaining 2002... dolphin gray exterior is understated yet very elegant (much positive feedeback regarding this color)... steering wheel on 3.0 quattro now comes with radio control buttons... i happen to love the "sport" suspension, but if your goal is a "cushy" ride, dont get it... finding myself coming up with errands to run as an excuse to drive the car (!)

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  What a Car - 2016 Audi A6
  By Tom - September 1 - 5:31 pm

  This car handles like a sports car on the back roads. You would never know it is a mid sized car. I have a BMW Z and it is second fiddle to this car. Acceleration is quick and gas mileage is in low thirties driving 70 mph. Whats not to like. Plenty of leg room in both front and back with a pretty good size trunk. The led headlamps are amazing. I have two other cars with HID, but no comparison. The car is just fun to drive and the driver assistance with lane tracking works great. It does tell you to put your hands on the steering wheel after about 15 seconds, but I just like checking it out. Before I purchased, I tried the E300 and the 535xi. The E300 was old fashioned, the acceleration was subpar and it did not feel as sharp in the handling. My wife was leaning towards the BMW 535XI until we drove the 3.0 A6. Then we drove them again and it was no contest. The BMW handling was nowhere as good as this A6. Loving it.

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  Great fun machine in mountains - 2008 Audi Q7
  By balloonman - September 1 - 10:05 am

  Drove 4700 miles from Ohio to Wyoming and Montana, thru Chief Joseph highway and Beartooth pass. Typtronic tranmission was spectacular in moving through the passes, hair-pin turns and altitudes over 11000 ft. Six passengers very comfortable. Gas mileage acceptable and with hi speed western states 75mph limits a real dream to drive. Rear camera very helpful in parallel parking and in exiting parking lots. The water bottle storage in the doors was easy access and convienent. Air conditioning throughout the whole car was effictive. Access to rear seats challenging but once seated, very comfortable. Great car for a great trip.

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  Brilliant - 1997 Audi A4
  By AudiFan - September 1 - 5:48 am

  I bought this car after its 11th birthday, It had a very hard life before I bought it. But a bit of TLC took care of that. Even though I spent a lot of money on her, What she ended up costing me in total was still a bargain. I would rather have looked at a newer model if I could afford one, But the fact is it has served me well and will continue to do so.

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  Fun! - 2007 Audi A3
  By G Popenoe - September 1 - 12:19 am

  It has been very reliable. There are none of the squeaks or rattles identified in other reviews. It brakes confidently. Steering is wonderful and acceleration makes it plenty quick without being stupid fast. What the reviews dont tell you is that this is the ultimate city car. Compact, practical, quick and stylish. Yet it will pour itself done a twisty back road with verve. Its only weakness is touring on US freeways. For that you need something heavier with a longer wheel base. But since 90% of my driving is in the city, I couldnt be happier with my choice. Beware of the clutch take up on the DSG transmission. It is set agressively.

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  Good looking car - 2001 Audi TT
  By Brian Connolly - August 31 - 10:33 am

  I have about 110k on this car now, had several problems, the most serious being the instrument cluster (not covered by Audi) also the rear window melted away from the soft-top with no obvious way to glue it back on. The TT is a good looking car, comfortable and fun to drive with that unique Audi look but with the experience Ive had together with the type of problems Ive had I wont be buying another Audi.

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  Car Seat in the Center Rear - 2008 Audi Q7
  By LA Mom - August 30 - 5:44 pm

  I love the car but am so disappointed that with a Britax diplomat infant rear-facing seat (one of the smallet, most narrow on the market) installed in the center position (the safest), I can only use one of the two adjacent seats. The other is unusable because you cannot access the seat belt buckle! Even in my old A6 wagon this was not a problem. Further, with a carseat in the center location, it is impossible to move the seats forward to access the third row. You can move the carseat to the left or right but then your two rear passengers (imagine grandma and grandpa) are squished together and the one in the center has a very small seat. This is a silly problem to have in an SUV.