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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  2005 A6 3.2 - 2005 Audi A6
  By Richard Jacoby - June 18 - 6:49 pm

  Car rides wonderfully. Much better performance then the old model. MMI is a breeze to use and enjoyable

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  Even better than I expected - 2004 Audi A4
  By Dan - June 18 - 4:19 pm

  We liked many things about the A4, but the seat comfort that sealed the deal. Had to order an unloaded model to keep cost under $30K. I worried about reliability issues, but with 18K miles the only issue has been an improperly installed headrest. We go 5 hours non stop & our 55 year old bodies have nary a complaint. Power is adequate at under 2,500 rpms, more than adequate over 2,500 - passes with ease. Biggest surprise is gas mileage (relatively conservative driving habits). 33-36 mpg on highway & 26-28 in urban driving. Great balance between ride & cornering, feels heavy & a bit mushy in a fast, tight turns, but great & no complaints for daily driving. CVT very smooth & slick.

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  creature comforts - 2005 Audi A6
  By tom - June 18 - 1:42 pm

  I test drove the BMW 530xi series looking for all wheel drive to navigate colorado weather. I had my heart set and even put down a deposit to reserve the in-demand car. Then I decided to test drive the audi A6 to find out why every other car on the road in Boulder is an audi. Lets just say I drove away from the dealer in an 05 A6. The main reason I chose the A6 over the 530xi was the interior comfort of the car. It is truly luxurious as opposed to the stripped down beamer interior. The power is nice but nothing to write home about but the accomadations (mmi, nav, voice control, audio) make one feel like very executive.

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  great balance - 2014 Audi A4
  By terry gongaware - June 18 - 10:33 am

  Just a great balance of features, performance, economy, comfort in a good looking package. Black with sports pkg and black optic package. 24 mpg around area, 31-32 mpg on long trips. 4cyl turbo does really well on the move. 6 spd manual involving and smooth/precise. room for 4 adults without stuffing them in. bang and Olufsen system if very good

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  Awesome - 2005 Audi S4
  By Thomas - June 18 - 4:33 am

  The Audi S4 Cab has beautiful leather interior with a highly functional cabin and a beautifully designed exterior top quality paint and materials. The S4s 340hp V8 is super responsive and hums like a song. Handling is superb the ride is solid. Top down with Bose audio system entertainment, the S4 is a dream come true! Highly recommended

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  First 2000 mile impressions - 2005 Audi A6
  By JRamieri - June 17 - 7:34 pm

  The car is a joy to drive. Has a lot of power and the "Sport" mode on the trans is great. I love the new aggressive looking front and the understated elegance of its syle. The interior is as close to perfect that I can think of. No rattles or noise. The MMI takes a bit of learning to master but once done is intuitive. The premium sound system is so good that I almost hate to get out of the car while listening. I actually wish I had a longer commute. I dont like the absence of body side mouldings for protection from the inevitable dings so I installed aftermarket ones. The voice commands and Bluetooth feature as well as the DVD Nav system are great fun. The Nav system is excellent.

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  This is my third Audi - 2005 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By Kramer - June 16 - 10:06 am

  I traded in my A6 for the Allroad. I wanted the features of a wagon but did not want a suv. This car is fun to drive, very similar to the A6, but gives greater flexibility to carry larger items, without sacrificing ride, handling, and comfort.

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  Great Redesign - 2005 Audi A6
  By DRM - June 15 - 1:10 pm

  This is my second Audi and I love it! It is a sheer pleasure to drive, handles in snow with aplomb, has styling that turns heads, and the interior wow! So far this car has exceeded my expectations in a newly designed car from the ground up. I will definitely buy Audi again.

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  best of its class - 2005 Audi A6
  By asalman - June 13 - 3:31 pm

  The new A6 Drives like a Dream. The comfort level is very high. Looks are great. Great handling in the rain

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  Well done, Audi - 2002 Audi A4
  By A4 lover - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Its been fun to drive an A4.