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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  Sooo fun to drive, when its not broken - 2003 Audi A4
  By paul - August 4 - 1:04 pm

  I bought the car new over 7 years ago now. Shouldve known after 2 weeks when my AC compressor blew up that this was going to be a love/hate relationship. Ive had it in the shop for: AC compressor, AC condenser, engine speed sensor, engine temp sensor, power steering pump, power steering rack, brake light switch, instrument panel malfunction, rear window regulator, and of course the common coil packs. And just now, the AC compressor blew AGAIN. And this is only off the top of my head. Its a shame because i LOVE driving the car, it handles like a dream, is great in the snow, but its just NOT reliable.

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  My three years with an A3 - 2007 Audi A3
  By Quag - July 30 - 9:33 am

  This is a great driving car. I dont particularly care for FWD, but it does handle great! Fun to drive, great MPG, 26-27 in normal, mixed driving and recently 32 mpg at 75 mph on a road trip. The DSG has been as enjoyable as I thought it would. I cannot compliment the "interior experience" of this car enough..great driving position, comfortable, relatively quiet (now that Ive replaced the original P6 tires), excellent drivability and great brakes. 4 banger is quiet and smooth.

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  Love my car, But - 2003 Audi A4
  By John - July 26 - 9:32 pm

  I purchased this Audi A4 about 18 months ago, and i have loved it! Its a blast to drive, super comfortable, and amazing in snow! But all this does come with its down sides. About every month it seems like something else breaks on it, from the alarm horn, to the Ignition coils, to the gauge cluster, to the ignition read coil, to the water pump, and timing belt. These are fun cars, but they cost A LOT to maintain! Be prepared!

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  Audi A4 3.0 Quattro with Manual - 2003 Audi A4
  By Mike - July 25 - 10:59 am

  I have owned this vehicle since new. At 145K miles, engine gave out, with $6K repair needed to replace major engine components. Serviced regularly with oil change q 5K miles. Never driven hard, still has original clutch. However, both catalytic converters had to be replaced at 82K and 110k miles. Multiple parts inside needed replacing as well. When Audi USA was contacted over the engine problem, they blew me off (which I would understand if this engine defect were unique to my car, but it isnt!) I would highly recommend that anyone buying A4s with 1.8 or 3 L engines carefully read other similar events on the internet before buying a used Audi. Dont make a big mistake.

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  Great Car, but it has its Highs and Lows - 2005 Audi A4
  By James G - July 24 - 12:43 pm

  Ive owned my Audi A4 Ultrasport since 2006 when I bought it with 12K miles and it looked brand spanking new. It now has 138K miles on it and a lot of storys to tell. The car looks great, I get compliments on it all the time. The car gets decent gas millage (22 combined, 28+ on road trips) and is fairly mechanically sound, but has had many little things go wrong with it which adds up to a great annoyance. The car is expensive to own especially if you want everything working properly and looking good, I was used to Hondas before and the Germans clearly have a different outlook on vehicles. My take Great car for the enthusiasts, not for your average commuter.

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  Good Car - 1991 Audi 90
  By Aj - July 20 - 7:38 pm

  Excellent Vehicle. Fun to drive, handles well, compact, economical, expensive to fix, but reliable. And once polished, it catches everyones eye.

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  The Ladies Love It - 2009 Audi A5
  By matt - July 17 - 10:05 pm

  I was stopped one day at a party by a woman who said, "Are you the guy who has the A5 that was parked outside of the cleaners?" The exterior styling is amazing. Its a true head-turner. Nothing like it. I have the windows tinted and the rear badging removed (except the Audi circles) for a stealth look. Its a bit over-priced though. For nearly fifty grand, you get cheap floor mats, only 260 HP, no push button start (that package is another $2,000) no auto folding mirrors, cheap "leather" and an engine that burns about a quart of oil every five thousand miles. Notwithstanding, Audi hasnt imported a lot of these so it wont be like the A4 where you see one on every corner. A blast to drive.

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  Dont get the CVT - 2010 Audi A4
  By columbiaguy - July 15 - 12:45 pm

  I was given this car as a loaner car while my 06 A4 was being repaired. Even though my older A4 was broken, I still prefer it ten times over this new model. The CVT hesitation is absolutely unbearable! Do not buy the front wheel drive car with the CVT because you will regret it. The new A4 redesign is nice, but I actually think that the old A4 was prettier, and more engaging. This new one just feels similar to a Lexus, with less reliability. You feel disconnected from the road, and in a German car, that is not a good thing since that is the whole reason you buy one.

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  Bad audi - 2006 Audi A4
  By wrongaudi - July 13 - 7:18 pm

  Bad Audi the first week. The engine noise sound like a diesel engine. Battery dead after 2 yrs. Misc. Controls and knobs stop working. When top down the driver window rattles. I think I bought a lemon. Brought to the dealer. They said the engine noise was normal. They didnt do nothing with the window.

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  $90,000 piece of junk - 2007 Audi A8
  By W. Stiles - July 12 - 5:40 pm

  I bought this CPO 2007 Audi A8L with 33,000 miles on it and have had nothing but headaches since owning it. It has been in the shop 4 times in less than a year for numerous electrical problems. The Audi A8 customer service line is a complete waste of time as they do nothing, but come up with excuse after excuse as to why the car is not performing as it should. We have had 2 aluminum wheel failures where the tire immediately loses pressure. One of these episodes almost caused my wife to be in a serious car crash on the highway. Audi says it is still safe and I completely disagree. I am now in the process of selling and getting a more reliable car (Mercedes or BMW)