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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  Audi Quattro 1.8 - 2003 Audi A4
  By Audi - February 2 - 4:49 pm

  I purchased my Audi brand new and had to replace the fuel pump twice. Once at 28,000 miles (under warranty) and just recently at 57,000 miles (out of warranty, a $500 repair). Other than that the car has been very reliable and fun to drive. With the Quattro all wheel drive it is very easy to get around in the snow.

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  Audi Loyalist - 2001 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By Audi loyalist - February 2 - 4:03 pm

  Purchased car used with 48,000 miles but with a six year 100K warranty. Auto has proven to be the most versatile vehicle I have ever owned. Now that the car is getting up in mileage (82,000) I am getting concerned about ownership costs. I had both front air struts replaced at a cost of $2,700 (ouch)and have had two sets of front brake rotors warp and the air bag sensor needed to be replaced, all major items but my extended warranty covered everything except the shocks (coverage expired two weeks before shocks blew). Regardless I have greatly enjoyed the ownership experience and am actually scouring the market for a low mileage 2005 model as no other car on the market comes close.

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  DSG Rocks - 2006 Audi A3
  By JIm - February 2 - 5:43 am

  I just test drove an Audi A3 with DSG and was amazed! The DSG has converted me from a committed manual transmission driver. The A3 was fast and fun, however I will wait for the new VW GTI that is now on sale in Europe because it has the same engine and transmission but is lighter, bigger, better looking, and cheper.

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  Excellent Touring Car - 2007 Audi A8
  By bigdognc - February 1 - 8:40 pm

  The Audi A8L is the perfect vehicle for me. I drive about 50k miles per year between North Carolina and northern VA/DC and it can get very tiring in the wrong kind of car. The Audi is fun to drive and is very quiet and comfortable. The quattro drive is great when there are some icy conditions on the VA highways. The bluetooth connection with my phone works superbly and keeps my attention on the road while driving. The rear camera and front and rear parking sensors are very handy when parking and backing out of crowded parking garages. The rear seat area is very spacious and will seat 3. The rear leg and shoulder room is unbelievable. I can easily fit my 2 biggest clients back there.

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  fantastic - 2003 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By brocky - January 31 - 2:00 am

  a great fun family car

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  THe best Yet - 2003 Audi A4
  By Kevin Taggart - January 31 - 2:00 am

  THis car is very well assembled. Quick quite, and affordable

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  94 UrS4 classic AWD performance/safety - 1994 Audi S4
  By Brian - January 30 - 3:35 pm

  I have owned my dark green on ecru leather S4 for over 2 years now, and I love it. It is costly to maintain, but it is very safe and fun to drive. Roomy for everyone and comfortable. The 5 spd is beautiful and the turbo makes this car Porsche fast! I have 107k on it now, perhaps I will keep it forever. I get about 22 mpg. It is lowered and has 17 inch BBS wheels on it. It stops, corners, and drives excellent. ***** star crash rating keeps me driving this with ease and poise. A few AMGs, WRXs, and R32s know what these are, but for most it is a sleeper. I have only had it up to 125 mph, but I have heard it will go 165 mph easily if you had the space to do it! IA chip, fun car, find one-love it.

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  Audi TT - 2000 Audi TT
  By audi tt - January 28 - 6:05 pm

  This is a hot car... it turns heads everywhere I go. Also, on the functional side it is very reliable, no problems at all with it.

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  Sports Sedan of the Decade - 2001 Audi S8
  By ed - January 28 - 1:01 pm

  The 01 to 03 S8 is the best sports sedan of the last 20 years. It is an all business, aluminum engineered masterpiece. Ask any engineer with knowledge and they will agree. I bought it Audi certified with no regrets. I strongly advise buying one of these S8s if you are into subtle from the outside and awesome from the inside type of driving experience. I read another review before I bought that described it as a 4 door Porsche 911... I agree. My wife thought I was nuts for buying a 4 year old car (certified), but now fights for the keys. Can easily carry 2 kids and gear on any excursion. Would buy a certified one with warranty again!!

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  New SUV is Welcome Addition - 2007 Audi Q7
  By Karen - January 28 - 11:03 am

  After 6 years driving a Lincoln Navigator, the Q7 was a wonderful change. It handles like a sports car seats are very comfortable engine and ride are extremely quiet and smooth luxury features such as MMI, bluetooth, rear camera, air suspension system, large sunroof and sunscreen, and rear hatch are very useful and the electronic stability system really works - I felt very safe descending a steep, winding, icy road without having to use the brakes. While the purchase price is high, I feel it is worth it. I actually look for reasons to drive this car. My gas mileage is a bit better than estimated: 21.5/highway, 16 city. I have received many compliments on this car.