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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  FUN! - 2007 Audi A3
  By haus147 - April 3 - 11:10 am

  Black on black, manual, open sky premium pkg, cold-weather pkg, purchased in December 06 after much research. The fit and finish tipped the scales. This car is such a blast to drive and gets noticed in traffic. Engine has great power, and the car handles like a dream. The traction control was put to the test during a recent ice storm and came through with flying colors. I wouldnt hesitate to buy another.

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  Gotta get one - 2002 Audi A4
  By lovemya4 - April 2 - 10:00 am

  This car is awsome! I just got it but i traded in a Volvo S60 and i love everything about it. As soon as i got in the car i knew i had to have one. I love my car and recommend it to everyone!

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  Better than a 350Z - 2007 Audi A3
  By k12 - April 1 - 2:58 pm

  My daily commute is 152 miles a day. Its a little noisy on some roadways. Overall its a blast to drive. I was recently driving through 40 mph winds at 75 mph and the car stayed glued to the road. Front wheel drive handles well in the snow.

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  On the rail and quick acceleration - 2002 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By ex-JPN-ITA driver - April 1 - 7:56 am

  The great satisfaction after one year ride. This purchase was the compromise of a sporty sedan and a SW, and perfectly satisfied the both. Remember, this is a near 2 tons weight of SUV-like wagon, but you can still drive it like a sport car on hwy or pwy. It goes exactly on the rail in almost any situation even with heavy rain or few inches of snow. Overtaking acceleration is excellent. (Use premium gas, that makes a difference!) The interior is chic and elegant with no complaints (for extra cup holders, use the openable sidepocket or the one under the rear seat). The build quality is definitely better than the same generation A6. Overall, the long lasting state of the art.

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  Has Been Flawless... - 2002 Audi A4
  By a4_4vince - April 1 - 5:03 am

  I cant complain because I am absolutely loving it. More power would make it perfect!!! 2k miles and counting...

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  2006 California A3-DSG-2.0T - 2006 Audi A3
  By Jeff - March 31 - 5:56 pm

  This Audi replaces my previous 2002 GTI 337 edition, and it is noticably refined even better than the 06 GTi which can be optioned to cost as much as an 06 A3. Prices for these cars [mine bought w/5K miles on odo] have a large range of prices. As a CertUsed purchase you can get upto 6years/60Kmiles on overall Audi warranty. More comfortable and vuality ride than anything previous. Slightly more body roll than I am used to, but it never pretended to be a sports car. Throttle response is good but occasionally confused with DSG happenings. Interior and creature comforts is where ths vehicle shows head & shoulders above the Mazdaspeed3 and WRX-Saab 9-2. Getting used to the DSG takes time.

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  Disappointing Audi - 2003 Audi A4
  By Disappointed - March 31 - 11:45 am

  My 03 A4 1.8T Quattro (53K miles) is constantly in the shop. The dealership once forgot to change the oil during scheduled maintenance, forcing a breakdown on 95. Another time, the oil pump failed, again forcing a breakdown on 95. Further, separate fuel coils have failed, forcing two additional breakdowns on the highway. Aside from reliability, the A4 1.8T Quattro is a sluggish car (although it handles nicely in bad weather). I previously owned an A4 and had similar issues. While this car looks good inside and out, its reliability is unsatisfactory, to put it mildly. I will never buy an Audi again, and I urge you to exercise caution before purchasing one.

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  Excellent Follow-up - 2007 Audi A4
  By Elias Guanchez - March 28 - 11:06 pm

  I just turned-in my 2004 A4 1.8T UltraSport (5-speed manual) and am very excited. I decided to go for CVT this time, and with a few less options. This car does not disappoint, it looks great, drives great, etc.

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  Excellent buy - 1992 Audi S4
  By Matthew - March 28 - 3:01 pm

  I bought this vehicle from a family member almost two years ago and have loved every minute of ownership. The vehicle did have a problem with first gear(its a 5 speed manuel)where there was a nasty grinding noise. I had to have the transmission replaced but I bought knowing this would have to occure. Since then Ive absolutely loved driving the vehicle. I agree with many of the posts that the turbo is a bomb when it kicks in.

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  A wolf in sheeps clothing - 2004 Audi S4
  By SimpleSam - March 28 - 2:05 pm

  The S4 is the first Audi I have ever purchased, and it will definitely not be my last. I have been a BMW fan for years, however, the interior design and class the S4 resembles cannot be matched by any current manufacturer. Power is plentiful even at low RPMs, giving passing lanes a sort of GT feel rather than mundane city driving. The grabby clutch did give me some issues during the first 1000kms, although the overall driving experience overcompensated for Audis slight imperfection. My only major complaint is Audi waited so long to bring the RS4 stateside! Oh well, I will just have to settle for the sluggish 340 hp, road gripping, eye catching juggernaut. A tru1ely remarkable car.