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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  Audi TT 2008 - 2008 Audi TT
  By Patrick W - January 22 - 10:46 am

  Bought the TT after having an Audi Cab for many years. Loved the car at first sight and had to have it. It has never disappointed me. Handles in snow and ice without any difficulties or worries.

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  My Audi - 1998 Audi A4
  By Nehoda - January 20 - 2:10 am

  I love the quattro, it makes you stick to the road like no other. The five speed manual tranny shifts smooth. The clutches on these cars are weird, itll have lots of life left but still grab late.

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  Whats not so hot - 2002 Audi A4
  By The DUde - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Simply put great car with a few killer flaws! turbo blow-off valve not very good at all (choppy acceleration). ignition coils; alot of a4s are being towed off the road for this little kink that they forgot to think about. and lower gears should ahve lower ratios

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  A -stands for Awesome! - 2003 Audi A4
  By bostonDMD - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Just picked up my new A4 QM with sport,cold and premium packages. The car is awesome, extremely stable and secure.... nothing like my old slob, I mean Saab. If you are looking for a sharp looking car that you will be able to drive in any kind of weather conditions, this is it. Period. +

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  2018 vs 2010 Audi S4 Prestige - 2018 Audi S4
  By Twowheelsgood - January 18 - 12:59 pm

  After much cross shopping, including the Mercedes C43 AMG, I ended up replacing my 2010 Audi S4 Prestige (7A) with a relatively loaded 2018 (S- Sport and winter packages, 19" wheels, Dynamic Steering). Ive only had it for one week so this just my first impression, which is mixed. Whats better in the 2018 S4: suspension (more compliant with no loss of grip); brakes (less grabby with no loss of stopping power); steering (still lacks feel but quicker and more accurate, particularly off center); front seat adjustability; instrument panel; parking & driver aids; headlights; fuel economy. Whats better on the 2010 S4: exterior styling (except the lights); throttle response; transmission (DCT); difference in driving experience in different mode settings (comfort, auto, dynamic). It looks like the 2018 wins by a knockout but it doesnt. The new car is really let down by a tendency to bog on initial throttle application. It feels like some combination of poor transmission tuning, a very soft throttle tip-in setup, and some degree of turbo lag. It can be a party pooper and the car doesnt come alive in Dynamic mode they way the old one did. Well see if the 2018 S4 grows in on over time. Ive already discovered that using the paddle shifters helps with throttle response. Ive already shifted this car "manually" in one week more than I did in the old S4 over seven years. The ZF 8-speed in the new S4 responds pretty quickly to the paddles but doesnt cope well with stacked downshift requests. I read that the terrific new 10-speed auto in high performance Chevies drops multiple gears in an instant. More to follow once my new S4 passs the 1,000 mile break in period.

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  Excellence - 2003 Audi A4
  By Andrew - January 17 - 11:44 pm

  The car is amazing, the 5 speed is gear limited at 138 MPH, but it gets there fast with the 1.8T engine. Definitely worthy of a test drive, thats all it takes. One good pull away from a red light and youre hooked. If youre in it for luxury, you are by no means left out, this car has more features than any of the new lincolns, cadillacs, or beemers I have sat in. If youre in it for economy, Im seeing an average of 26MPG mixed city and highway (about 60/40% respectively), so its not too shabby.

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  THE Perfect Car - 2008 Audi TT
  By dani3786 - January 17 - 1:44 pm

  I have had this car for 8 months and I still get all giddy when I see it. I feel that the seats fit my body so well that when I sit down in them, my happy tt is giving me a hug. Its fast, its sexy and handles well. I have never felt that the car has put me in danger and I love how noisy the exhaust is (but its not an annoying noise like from some modified cars). I feel bad for people who have chosen to buy other cars in its class.

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  I love this little car - 2007 Audi A4
  By Ken Feingold - January 17 - 1:34 pm

  Im big, the car isnt, but all in all it is reasonably comfortable. The AWD 6 speed 2.0 T gives me all the performance that I really need for Canadian winters and driving distances. Mileage is excellent on the hwy in 6th and this car pulls well past the speed limit. I find the fit and finish as good as my previous bimmers but the car is more reliable than my recent X5s and is actually better in the snow. I reccomend this car wholeheartedly - I always enjoy driving it!

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  Love the car but... - 2007 Audi A4
  By Fred - January 16 - 4:12 pm

  Great car for driving around town. Convertable is really fun and in the winter, quattro really gets you through. One issue I have is that on a long trip, the drivers seat becomes very uncomfortable to the point of painful. I have had the pad replaced but it didnt help. I use a towel on the seat for long trips. Additionally, the german car makers need to upgrade their Nav system. Toyota and Acura systems win by a mile!

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  Please do not buy this Audi! - 2003 Audi A8
  By Do not like my Audi - January 16 - 2:52 pm

  I bought the Audi A8L about 14-15 months ago. It STINKS. I am actually going to sell it. One thing after another breaks. Two Audi places cannot figure out whats wrong with the sensors that monitor the tire pressure. The window regulator broke, the adjustable headrests broke on 2 seats, the adjustable lumbar support broke on 2 seats, and MORE. The car is not reliable. The driver controls are NOT well thought out. The NAV STINKS, none of the controls are self explanatory, you cannot see the display with polarized glasses on if you are in the drivers seat. The speakers are not that good, the responsiveness is not good, and gas mileage is BAD. I could go on!