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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  Brilliant - 2006 Audi A3
  By abv - July 28 - 12:03 pm

  Brilliant Black with Gray Leather as equipped: Navigation & Sound Package Sport Package Open Sky Cold Weather Xenon Bluetooth I’ve had it a month now, and I am thoroughly impressed... Whether it is around town, or on five hour road trips, this car is a lot of fun to drive. Acceleration and braking are superb -- and fuel economy is remarkable considering there is a 200 hp engine under the hood. The A3 has plenty of get-up-and-go even in DC traffic. The fit and finish of the car is flawless. The metal latches and handles and upscale materials rival cars that cost substantially more. Although very comfortable, my A3 has manually adjustable seats and that is just wrong.

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  Love it - 2007 Audi Q7
  By calli - July 27 - 7:20 pm

  I love the SUV. Audi has done it again. The car is a pleasure to drive. The only problem I had is the air compressor was defective and I could not fill my tire with air when I needed to.

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  I am Surprised!!! - 2007 Audi A4
  By Miami_Baku - July 26 - 9:09 pm

  I recently bought the A4 2.0T CVT previously I had an A4 2001, 2.8 V6. I liked that car a lot, but this new one is more powerful. Even though is 4 cyl, it has 10 HP more than my previous V6. Exterior and interior design is awesome. I got 6 years 100000 miles of warranty (for certified cars only), so I can drive non-stop and have fun. The only thing that my old car has the advantage over the new one is a silent engine noise, I believe it because of the turbo. I like more silent powerful engines, but otherwise everything is just excellent! AAA+++

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  Upgrade from unreliable VW Jetta 1.8T - 2007 Audi A3
  By Jeff Lesica - July 26 - 9:14 am

  I upgraded from a very unreliable, but fun to drive, manual, VW Jetta 1.8T. I was nervous about staying in the VW brand but the second I drove the A3, I knew I had to buy it. I thought Id miss the manual tranny by getting the DSG, but its more manual transmission than automatic and I dont miss the stick at all. The interior quality is outstanding, the seats are not as comfortable as the A4, but still fine for daily driving. The Open Sky system is a splurge, probably not worth the 1100 MSRP sticker price, but I couldnt imaging the car without it. Golf Clubs dont fit in the back without the seats being folded down, but there is a ton of rear passenger leg room.

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  Best car Ive ever had! - 2008 Audi TT
  By James - July 26 - 12:11 am

  Ive had the new Audi TT Roadster for around 2 weeks and it is by far the best car I have ever owned! Ive had the Z4 and the 2006 Boxster and none of the come even close to the 2008 TT Roadster. Everything about this car is flawless!

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  Its a Beauty - 2005 Audi A4
  By smanawar - July 25 - 11:40 am

  I just purchased my 2005 Audi A4 3.0 Cabriolet with quattro after a long research period as I needed an all season convertable which can withstand harsh winters. This one perfectly fit the criteria. It is excellent for cold weather winter driving, being all wheel drive. It does not have a rough sports car feel and has a comfortable smooth ride. It is slightly low on horsepower but OK for my driving nature. The interior and exterior are the best in its class, especially the interior. It has enough back room for two average size adults. So far I love it.

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  2008 Audi A4 2.0T CVT - 2008 Audi A4
  By Jim V. - July 25 - 9:43 am

  The car can be summed up in one phrase: performance and luxury in a compact design. I drove a 2003 and 2005 3.0L A4 prior to getting this one and the performance stands up well. There is definitely noticeable turbo lag, but this can probably be overcome by changing driving habits. The sound of the engine will also take some getting used to as the turbo is a bit "throatier" than Im used to. The car handles extremely well, though, hugging curves and accelerating very smoothly. The now-standard S-Line exterior features definitely give the car a sportier look. The interior is outstanding. The layout is getting better and the list of available features is exhaustive. In all, a great car!

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  I like it! - 2007 Audi A4
  By floridabob2 - July 24 - 1:43 pm

  This is my first sedan. I never thought Id get one, but I truly like my Audi. Going from a V6 engine has been my only real adjustment. The lag still bothers me a bit, but once you pick up speed, wow! The car really moves. I had considered a BMW, but Audi had a better deal, and I am very pleased with my car. Its a classy car.

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  You gotta pay to play! - 2002 Audi S6
  By John in VA - July 24 - 9:16 am

  A sports car with lots of room! I talked the wife into getting it because of its inherent virtues of safety, stability, reliability, versatility, and luxury. I just wanted something fun to drive that would fit a family. You wont win many off the line against some of todays high performance vehicles, but the power delivery seems endless once you get past 60. I might as well pay in advance for speeding tickets. Maintenance/gas aint cheap! 8 quarts of synthetic oil/$40 filter 20+gal of premium (I get 19-20 combined MPG, when Im easy on it). Big vented brakes = big $$. Trust me - it is all worth the experience! So far it has proven to be very solid and reliable.

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  Luxury without flaunting your wealth. - 2007 Audi A8
  By DLBoston - July 23 - 12:22 pm

  I have owned Jags, Mercs, BMW, and Cadillacs and they all have their outstanding features. The regal look of the Jag, the comfort of the Merc and the Cadis smooth ride. The Audi L W12 (my first) took the best features of luxury automobiles in its class and built a car that has lived up to my expectations. Yes the car has a six figure price tag fully loaded however the car delivers on all its promises and gives the driver a senseof royalty without being to flashy. Would it be fair to say that I am an Audi man for life? YES!!