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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  Dream come true - 2008 Audi Q7
  By leshek - June 8 - 12:41 am

  Shopped for while... Mercedes, BMW... test drove all. All great but Q7 won. Special ordered, S-line, adaptive cruse and adaptive suspension together was worth waiting for. Love line assist and parking assist system. Bought 16GB USB drive and have all my favorite music at my steering wheel controls.

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  Fun car - 2007 Audi S4
  By Justin Haar - June 7 - 10:32 pm

  I love this car. It is one of the most fun cars you will ever drive. Putting that top down in a matter of seconds and zooming down the road with the air blowing in your face is just spectacular. The roar of the engine from the exhaust sytem is just invigorating. Love it.

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  Wont change it for the world - 1999 Audi A4
  By Andre - June 5 - 9:30 pm

  I bought her at 95000 miles and so far in almost 3 years Ive put about 30000 miles on it. Just changed the timing belt a few months ago. This is a good thing to do when you go over 100000 miles. Of course Ive had some problems with the abs module, and control arms that seem to be the common issues with this car. Most of the repairs to the suspension, brakes or rotors can be done by the home mechanic since the car is so well thought and with a set of wrenches you can do a lot. Also look for aftermarket parts since the ones from the dealer have some outrageous prices. Like somebody said "You have to pay to play."

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  Like a bleached blonde - 2000 Audi A6
  By jbszee - June 5 - 3:00 pm

  Flashy and fast. Your friends will envy you. But very expensive to maintain. Great fun to drive. Great performance/handling, great in snow. Comfortable, refined, roomy. Now the bad: poor gas mileage (17 mpg) eats brakes-pads & rotors every 18 month$, control arms bearings replaced twice in 3 years, water pump. Interior trim always falling off. Undercarriage airdam fell off while driving. LED display goes to black. "check engine" light goes on frequently, dealer says "intermittent"-no help. Dont buy one without extended warranty! I bought this used with about 27k on it. Warranty expires at 100k, then Im done with it. Scratched the Audi itch.

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  Too much fun! - 2005 Audi A4
  By jpouchet - June 5 - 11:43 am

  This car has the styling, fit, finish, and aesthetics to beat the more expensive brands. I felt the BMW was lacking in refinement and the MB was over priced. The CVT feels like a manual trans when starting – cool! The sport suspension is fantastic but BETTER BRAKES are needed. The top works well. The interior has plenty of room but the cup holders are less than ideal. Radio with RDS and in-dash display along with driver computer is really neat. Love the red gauge displays. Buy this car!

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  Satisfied After the First Year - 2007 Audi A4
  By Ben - June 4 - 11:30 pm

  The A4 Avant is agile on the road and its a blast to drive. For the price, you really get a lot for your money. Most significantly, I feel firmly tied to the road during poor driving conditions. The sleek look of the Avant puts to rest the popular notion that wagons are boring and unsexy.

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  Columbus Carbriolet - 1996 Audi Cabriolet
  By Beach Walker - June 4 - 11:04 am

  I bought the car new and it currently has 33,000 miles and looks/runs like new. Its always been maintained by my local Audi dealership and the only problem was one with the convertible top - something with a sensor - when it was 11 years old. Other than that and a replaced oxygen sensor, batteries, tires, etc., its only required regular maintenance. With gas prices soaring, I was shocked last week to discover I was getting 28 mpg on the highway. Ive had two Porsches and a handful of other sports cars, but this is my favorite car. I may never sell it.

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  SUVs arent dead - 2008 Audi Q7
  By Left Main - June 4 - 10:26 am

  Purchased this vehicle for my wife because of increased need for space but without the minivan appearance. It has been a pleasure to drive with good handling (minimal body roll) and reasonable acceleration for the class of car. (I drive an RS4 and still enjoy the Q7). The ride can be rough, however, especially at lower speeds -- some likely related to 20" wheels that were a part of the s-line package. Wish the air suspension was an option on the 3.6 which would likely improve ride quality. Gas mileage is reasonable with the 3.6 (21mpg at 70 mph) given size/wt of vehicle. Im willing to take 5-7 mpg hit over a minivan for the sportier ride and appearance.

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  Great Car - 2002 Audi A4
  By Walter - June 4 - 10:16 am

  This is the first Audi that Ive owned and have been nothing but satisfied with this car and Audi. The car looks great on the interior and exterior and is a great value for the money. Not to mention, it is fun to drive, gets decent gas mileage and is incredibly safe. I was in an accident in this car where someone hit me in the passenger door when running a red light. The car was damaged but I was able to get out completely unharmed. A friend was in a similar accident and her car was totaled and she had back injuries. This car is safe, fun, and all about luxury.

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  Dont Drive on Redbull - 2008 Audi TT
  By RobbyBobby - June 3 - 1:07 pm

  This car is amazing! Style, performance, and quality are all 10. The 4cyl turbo is great, plenty of kick to it. Peformance and economy, my last fill up was averaged at 30mpg. I was hesitant to purchase an automatic, whats the fun of a sports car that you cant shift? However, the paddle shifters are a lot of fun, and make up for a spouse that cant drive stick. The top drops smooth and speedy. Nice to be able to put it up or down when moving. The launch control feature is a blast! It will light the tires up like it had 400 horses under the hood. Great in the snow as FWD only.