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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  Best in class - 2005 Audi A6
  By iamsville - November 21 - 10:55 am

  This is my first Audi and am happy! Very refined interior, lots of features but not gimmicky. Excellent ride and quattro is amazing. Little roll in corners, excellent brakes and pick up. 30 mpg on highways and can take regular fuel if pushed. Nice looking exterior though the grill stands out. Though Im on my 3rd read of the manual, the MMI is generally intuitive and you can get the basics without reading anything. Generally, a great performing car with excellent road manners. Is sporty, quiet, elegant, frugal, refined and satisfying. I like just sitting in it and my family too.

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  6 Years of great Driving and Reliability - 2001 Audi A6
  By donschwinn - November 16 - 2:50 pm

  Im the original owner. 78k miles now. Replaced brakes and tires twice. Had 2 minor mechanical problems fixed under warranty. Gets 26 mpg on the highway 22 around town. It has the perfect combination of sporty handling and acceleration along with comfortable cruising. I keep thinking about a new one (the 6-year itch) but this one has a lot of life and fun driving left in it. This is my 3rd Audi--1988, 1996. Each was excellent.

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  08 Audi TT - 2008 Audi TT
  By wenglish23 - November 15 - 12:37 pm

  I have only had the car for less than a month but love it. I traded an 03 Audi TT which I thought was a great car but it pales in comparison to the new one. Extremely fun to drive but be careful, I just got my first speeding ticket in 10 years with it. Very tight, responsive, and roomy for a 2 seater. Bluetooth has not worked properly since I bought it and am taking it back to service (again) next week. The bluetooth receives very clearly but transmission is broken up to the point the other person can barely understand what I am saying.

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  Unsafe Transmission - 2006 Audi A4
  By ed sokolofski - November 14 - 7:35 pm

  Owned an Audi 5000CS during the unintended acceleration scare years. Fun to drive but a nightmare with repairs. Waited all these years to buy an Audi A4 wagon. Great design and overall build. However, had to have it towed after it died in the middle of an intersection. Supposed bad fuel pump sensor. Under warranty. Much bigger problem is the transmission (new design) that hesitates between 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Hesitates so long that it is unsafe when pulling out into traffic, etc. Dealer said its the nature of the beast and to change the way I drive. Cant wait to return car. Luckily, I only have 9 months left on lease. Feels unsafe to drive. Take a long test drive before you buy.

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  Excessive Fun - 2008 Audi TT
  By Eddie - November 14 - 3:53 pm

  Wait -- let me wipe the silly grin off my face. How much fun can you have in a car? Design, build, performance are all first rate. First Audi I have owned and I am impressed. Its quick, nimble, but comfortable and accomodating. The interior looks and feels so much better than the Mercedes and BMW we test drove (forego the standard Alcantara upholstery - the Napa leather upgrades are worth the extra money). It turns heads wherever it goes.

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  Damn good car - 2008 Audi A4
  By cant say - November 13 - 11:13 pm

  Ive looked at everything - BMW, Acura, MB, Lexus, etc - finally settled on the Audi and havent regretted it since. The car is a pleasure to drive and its obvious that someone put some thought into building this monster. Fun to drive, beautiful inside and out - cant get enough. I didnt go with any of the "extra" options - theyre a bit pricey and dont really add much to the experience. I think you can figure out when to turn on the lights and wipers.

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  2001 1.8T A4 Quattro Wagon w/Sport Pack - 2001 Audi A4
  By Lisa Macaluso - November 13 - 2:38 pm

  First few years car ran smoothly and was a lot of fun to drive except rear wheel bearings needed to be replaced twice by dealership - luckily still under warranty. Rims allowed snow/slush to build up which made car shake when driven in winter. When 2-3 years old, rattling sound was heard. Brought car in several times and was not given diagnosis. After 75,000 miles (no longer under warranty), dealership was magically able to diagnose the problem: needs a new cam adjuster (dealership claims no prior awareness of problem) Car has 100,000 miles and has had all four wheel bearings (and ball joint) replaced again by local mechanic. It is no better than tupperware - disposable after 3-year-use!

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  Love my Audi A8L - 2006 Audi A8
  By Bill J - November 12 - 11:20 am

  I have owned every major brand of luxury car and without question, this is the finest. The fit and finish is exceptional. The interior surrounds you in the finest wood and leather and the attention to detail in the interior trim is second to none. The exterior styling always draw attention whereever we go. We have had the car for 18 months and it has been trouble free. Several times my wife and I have been stuck in traffic and we have commented "so what" this car is one of the most comfortable places we could be. The car has plenty of power and actually feels like a much smaller car in the way it handles. This is my first Audi and I highly reccomend it.

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  2002 A4 1.8t quattro manual - 2002 Audi A4
  By evlfred - November 12 - 2:00 am

  best car Ive owned

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  Avant - 2002 Audi A4
  By gtka4 - November 12 - 2:00 am

  This is my second A4 (1.8T prior) performance is excellent with the 3.0. Instead of 30 mpg, I now only get around 25mpg. Car looks good, drives good. Exceeds my expectations.