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 far, so good! - 2004 Audi A6
  By BamaBill - August 29 - 5:17 pm

  Love the look and, so far, love the car. Purchased used with 8 months remaining on warranty which provided a little peace of mind. Nearest dealer is 70 miles away but so far that has not proven to be an issue. Previously owned a 1984 Audi 5000 with manual transmission that I loved but didnt care for the high cost of maintenance and repair. I put more than 240k miles on it before I traded. This newer one is substantially more sophisticated than the 1984 version and, I hope, more reliable. Have been amazed by in-town gas mileage which averages over 22 mpg in town to go with a respectable 30 mpg on the highway. I do drive conservatively and plan to keep the A6 for a long time.

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  What a car! - 2006 Audi A4
  By willm411 - August 29 - 3:12 pm

  This car is awesome! I didnt drive much prior to owning this car, but it begs to be driven! I did chip it to get some additional HP and torque, and put on light weight 18" wheels and ultra high proformance tires to lighten it some but even the stock version was fun to drive! If you buy this car or have a chance to drive it, take it on a canyon road and really push the car! It responds great to tight corners and accelerates like a dream! Nothing anyone can write will express the true enjoyment you get with this car! Even rush hour traffic is bearable! Quattro is a must! Try it for yourself!

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  Great Car - 2004 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By NWuser - August 29 - 10:00 am

  Good all around car, perdect for people who are active in the outdoors and do not want a large SUV. A good sound system and clean interior make for a pleasant ride. More than enough power. Interestingly enough, since we bought this car, 3 others in our area have bought one and it is a common sight around NW portland.

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  All Around Winner - 2005 Audi S4
  By Eddie - August 28 - 2:28 pm

  I traded in my 350z for a beautiful red S4 cabrio with gray interior and black top. It felt a bit heavy at first after driving a sports car for so long but I quickly fell in love with the smooth ride and roomy, well appointed interior. The big car feel and rumbling V8 almost makes it seem like a 60s era muscle car, especially when cruising city streets at low speeds with the top down. It is also quite practical with a full sized trunk (with top up) and decent sized back seats, making it perfect for a long weekend of road tripping in the country. My wife and both of my parents all fit comfortably for short trips. In short, a well rounded combination of style, luxury, and performance.

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  Never Again - 2006 Audi A3
  By DavidK45 - August 28 - 12:26 am

  The 2.0 liter turbo jerks a lot and gas mileage is average. Rides great on the highway but too "loose" in the city. I have had several problems with my car and am just glad it is under warranty (though a new battery is not covered). My battery completely died after two years. The clip for the sunshade on the Open Sky system broke (as is common) and was replaced by a non-matching black clip (interior is grey). At 21,500 miles, my manual transmission broke where 1st gear and reverse did not work. My car is currently in the shop (over one week now) and Audi is going to replace the transmission since they are afraid the problem could spread to the other gears if they rebuild it.

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  Owned it for 2 yrs - 2000 Audi A6
  By Joel - August 27 - 10:06 pm

  Excellent ride. Great styling. Very reliable. Ive had it for 2 years and love this car. It does everything well.

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  A Big Car In A Small Wrapper - 2005 Audi A4
  By Spring Laker - August 27 - 12:45 pm

  This review is on the 2005 3.0 A4 Quattro Sedan. I owned a previous generation A4 and this one blows it away. This B6 is larger in every way than the B5 model. I came out of a 03 Passat 4Motion into this and surprisingly the front and rear interior dimensions are almost identical. The only place you lose room in the A4 is the legroom in rear. (-2 inches) and the trunk. Hard to believe if you park them side by side. I think that is why this car is so fun to drive. It pushes the wheels to the edge of the car in each corner giving it great handling. The 3.0 has plenty of torque and acceleration while still avg. 23mpg w/ 50/50 hwy & city driving. Overall a great car and have had no issues

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  Very happy with a few exceptions - 2005 Audi A6
  By Rizzo - August 26 - 4:40 pm

  I bought this car CPO (22k miles, nav, premium, convenience pkgs, parktronic, etc for $30.2). So far, it has been a joy to drive. I came from a 02 330i that I loved very much as I needed more room/AWD. For sure this is a very different car - less sport, more luxury as you would expect. Smooth ride, solid feeling and great looks/design. A bit disappointed in that there are some creaks and rattles (spoiled again by my 330i which was drum tight after 56k)

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  First Audi and not disappointed - 2009 Audi A5
  By JT - August 26 - 3:48 pm

  This is my first coupe and my first Audi. I picked up the car two weeks ago after waiting ten weeks from order to delivery. The car is absolutely beautiful inside and out, is fun to drive and very quite on the highway. Audi really got it right with this design.

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  Wow! - 2006 Audi A6
  By Michael B - August 26 - 3:17 pm

  I am very impressed with my Audi A6. We opted for the 4.2L V8 and have been very pleased with the performance. We looked at BMW and Mercedes, but there was no comparison with the luxury, technology, and of course the Quattro AWD. The car sticks to the road like glue in wet or dry conditions. The S- Line package makes the suspension so responsive that it is a pleasure to drive each time. The MMI is easy to use and the interior ergonomics fit like a glove. Im sticking with Audi.