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, take care of it - 2000 Audi S4
  By Dan - July 25 - 4:45 pm

  The K03 turbo chargers run out of air in the upper RPM range. In order to get full performance out of this car the turbos will need replacement. You will probably blow the stock ones anyways so plan on either getting a car that has a warranty, or spending some serious dough out of pocket to get them fixed

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  Worth the wait - 2006 Audi A6
  By John F - July 22 - 9:46 pm

  I had to wait several months for my 06 A6 S-Line to arrive as 4.2 S-lines are few and far between. This is my 3rd Audi and this new A6 has exceeded my expectations. I used to drive an E500, but this is so much better. The first response from the accelerator is a bit soft. But, if you step on it - it moves! Build quality and interior design and technology are the best in ANY car I have seen.

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  More fun than the A4 or TL - 2006 Audi A3
  By Bill - July 22 - 8:46 pm

  I didnt start out looking at this car. I had narrowed it down to the A4, Acura TL, or Volvo S40 T5. However after test driving it it was by far the most fun to drive of the group. Also, considering I was buying an auto so the wife could drive on occasions, that awesome DSG tranny made a huge difference. Take it from me I never thought Id be yapping about a transmission but it changes the performance substantially. Styling wise I prefer a sedan, but this has a cool look. Ive had my people comment on the cars good looks, which may be cause its a new design. Either way it represnts well, and it functional as all get out. Faster, More Fun, Less Money- It Rocks!

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  3rd Audi & love this the best by far - 2005 Audi A6
  By Rich - July 21 - 8:07 pm

  Wanted an 04 A8L and "settled" for an 05 A6 and Im very glad I did. Black/Amaretto combo is beautiful and the interior looks (and acts) nearly as big as an A8 ... but not quite. Great highway cruiser!

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  Great car - 2001 Audi A6
  By Chris Rich - July 19 - 12:01 pm

  I bought this used 2001 A6 2.7T with the sport package this year after my 2000 A6 2.7 (without sport package) was totaled out. Both cars are very similar, but if you are a driving enthusiast, I highly recommend the sport package, which gives you larger wheels and stiffer suspension. It is a great car with lots of room. I love the Quattro in winter (here in Wisconsin).

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  The 2002 Audi A4 1.8T quattro - A winner - 2002 Audi A4
  By vpandya - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Have had a wonderful time with this car. Looks like a beauty (inside, out), is immensly fun to drive and is pretty well priced for its class - its tough to find a well engineered all-wheel-drive sporty sedan with great interiors for around $30,000 Have had the car for over a year now - with absolutely no mechanical problems so far. The only time I needed to take it to the dealer was for its 10,000 mile check-up - which incidentally was completely free and covered under the standard maintenance plan

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  Almost there - 2003 Audi A4
  By ks - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Got the 1.8QTip over the BMW 325xi. While I prefer the BMW design, I think that the Audi is classy and it grows on you. Quattro handling is unbelievable here in snowy New England. Its a solid car at a fair pricetag. Front seats are very comfortable, controls are where they should be. Fine city car.

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  Almost there - 2003 Audi A4
  By KS - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Got the 1.8QTip over the BMW 325xi. While I prefer the BMW design, I think that the Audi is classy and it grows on you. Quattro handling is unbelievable here in snowy New England. Its a solid car at a fair pricetag. Front seats are very comfortable, controls are where they should be. Fine city car.

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  Cant go wrong with an audi - 2002 Audi A4
  By Mike Dejohn - July 17 - 8:43 pm

  This vehicle is the perfect car to drive. I havent had any real problems with this car. I dont think Im gonna have any either. This is my second audi and the first one gave me about 140,000 miles and was willing to give me more but I decided that I wanted newer. The 3.0 liter engine is fast and strong. The style of the car inside and out are great and the quattro system is always a great add on. Nothing I can say bad about this car.

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  A new Audi fan! - 2005 Audi A6
  By NewAudiFan - July 17 - 12:25 am

  I was in the market for a new mid-size luxury car: as others who have posted, I had my mind set on a BMW 5 series. I had a friend recommend I take a look at the A6 before purchasing my BMW and Im glad I did. From its supple luxurious interior to the many gadgets (advanced key, MMI and Bluetooth capability), this car has truly been everything IÂ’ve ever wanted in a car (and more). After performing extensive research, I found that the A6 was definitely the best car for the money, particularly when a comparably equipped BMW 5 series and Mercedes Benz E-class could easily cost you an extra $7 - $10k.