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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  Great car but horrible service at dealership - 2017 Audi Q7
  By James Ouyang - August 16 - 5:29 pm

  This is the first time we purchased an Audi - we were sold by the excellent interior and a new, understated style that comes with the 2017 model. Let me start off by stating that we did not regret buying the car. Weve since taken it for two long distance road trips and we throughly enjoyed this new car: generous space, elegant and comfy cockpit. The building quality is superb. There are some minor issues which are not uncommon for a new model: there was a high-pitch noise coming out of the side mirror at 40MPH+; some of the features do not work consistently (e.g. easy seat entry - the steering column is supposed to retract when the car is switched off); the Nav is not as easy to use as those offered by other manufactures (we had a Lexus RX before whose Nav, despite from 8 years ago, was extremely well designed and easy to use). Having said that, the dealership I bought the car from - at Bridgewater NJ - is HORRIBLE. The only time they are responsive was at the time of sale. Once the car leaves the lot, you just wont hear from them. I contacted them couple of times for the issues stated above and for the key code they forgot to give to me - which I need for Audi Connect. Never heard from them. I finally drove up to their office, at which point they claimed they fired the service rep who apparently has been stonewalling all their customers. Well, how I wish that was the only bad apple! I had to make another trip to the dealership after I heard nothing from them for many weeks only to be told that they have assigned my case to another rep who conveniently was not in that day. After another few weeks without hearing anything from the "new" rep - all the while I was calling their office and even asking Audi US office to help - I had to drive up to the dealership again. This time I asked for the sale manager and told him that I wanted an answer from him directly. This guy, their sale manager, PROMISED to my face, that he would definitely get back to me within a week, "before next Friday"... Well, Fridays have come and gone and its been more than a month yet not a single word from anyone at that dealership. Granted, those issues (e.g. missing key code) are mostly annoyance, not exactly life threatening. But you expect certain service when you buy a $60,000+ car and want to have some trust in the dealership that they will take care of certain problems when needed. Its a shame because honestly we like the car, but the poor customer service has put a huge dent in our enthusiasm and adds a significant doubt as to how long we should hold on to this car.

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  My favorite car ever - 2001 Audi A6
  By Em.KIM - August 15 - 3:47 pm

  When I saw my Audi, there was no doubt that it was the one I wanted. I enjoyed it right from the start and still find it a pleasure to drive. I like a car that stands out--and it does. It catches the eye and it is the best car Ive ever owned. Its not perfect, but its fun to drive and the comfort cant be beat. The heated leather seats are soothing on a cold winters drive home from shopping.

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  An Awesome Automobile - 2005 Audi A4
  By ezrider - August 14 - 6:52 am

  I was attracted to the Audi A4 as an entry level luxury sedan primarily because it is one of the few that offer all wheel drive. The BMW 325xi was my other option, but turned out to be more expensive. I really like the look of the A4. The ride is smooth, quiet and firm. No rattles or shakes. Fit and finish is top notch. The warranty is generous, includes free maintenance to 50K miles.The sound system is excellent. Overall I am very happy with it so far ( owned it for 6 months). Planning to boost the HP by reprogramming the ECU.

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  Inspiring! - 2008 Audi A5
  By Inspiring! - August 14 - 3:07 am

  This car is incredible. You cannot look at it & not be moved or inspired. Anyone who loves cars immediately gravititate to its inspiring curves and uniqueness, a classic. People are just drawn to its stunning design.

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  Nice performance car for the money - 2001 Audi A6
  By 6sp manual - August 14 - 12:20 am

  I own a 6 speed and love it. I have enjoyed great mileage and its fun to drive. Every time I see the car I can’t believe the its mine. The engine is very sophisticated with 5 valves 2 turbos. What does bug me about the car is anti-lock brakes bounce back and vibration in the front end. I do get a loose feeling at low speeds in the suspension over bumps. I had the same feeling in my 96 A4.

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  2004 silver ultra sports 1.8T - 2004 Audi A4
  By pdowsakul1 - August 13 - 11:00 am

  When I first saw the car I loved it. Its fun to drive with an all wheel drive system, very comfortable and well built. The only bad thing that I had was the 2 weeks after I got the car the coil pack went out, which mean miss fire on one of the cylinders. Easy fix, and thats the only problem I have, since then its been a joy ride.

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  A Piece of Junk! - 2007 Audi Q7
  By N. Keenan - August 13 - 8:20 am

  Bought the top of the line model fully loaded and a year later it has proven to be a piece of junk! Brakes squealing since 5k and Audi is telling us "it is normal and acceptable - just due to the design". Even gave us a fancy printed brochure justifying the squealing! Motor in rear wiper already needed replacement, recall on trunk software, and MMI mysteriously stops working from time to time. Told we will need to replace tires "soon" despite only having 15.8k mi on car and have only owned it one year. Audi has produced a fine looking car but the quality stops there! Do not buy one!

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  My fourth--and favorite--TT - 2008 Audi TT
  By Tom - August 12 - 11:29 am

  Three years ago, after having three TTs, I traded the last one for an A3. But when the redesigned TT model came out, I couldnt resist. The 2008 coupe (3.2 quattro with S-tronic) is a step above the previous models in every respect: power, handling, styling, sophistication, fun. I especially like the smoothness of the S-tronic, which hesitated quite a bit in the last two cars I had. The larger interior is just enough to make friends say it no longer feels cramped.

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  Better than the S4 Cabroilet - 2008 Audi A5
  By peter - August 12 - 12:36 am

  I have driven the A5 since turning back my S4 since May. Wow, what an exciting car this is! I like it better than the S4 and find the power to be almost the same. This car is so well engineered with the weight distribution that it allows the 6 cylinder engine to put like a kitten. Gas mileage is reasonable, the running lights are amazing, the exterior design is nothing short of superb, and the interior is both roomy and driver friendly. I could not be without the backup camera due to neck surgery that will not allow me to turn my neck. The backup camera and assistance in backing up are a life saver, as well. I cannot say enough about the A5s drive. I am in love.

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  S4 vs M3 - different animals - 2005 Audi S4
  By Audo A4 no M3 - August 10 - 10:06 pm

  Im going to write something radical here. The Audi S4 should not be compared to the BMW M3. They are different and serve different purposes. I had an M3 and now an M5. I can speak to this: S4 - better family car. Better in weather. More comfortable. M3 handles better, faster. Both are solid built and of strong engine. Audi is a better value, but doesnt hold its value as well. AWD is a plus in the Audi, but it still doesnt handle as well as the M3. Reliability - BMW. Comfort Audi, Interior/Exterior - Audi, Fuel - BMW, Both are equal in the other categories. Summary, Audi for value and BMW for reliability. BMWs have become over produced and value watered down.