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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  Turbo Lag - 2004 Audi A4
  By a4 - January 3 - 10:56 pm

  Turbo lag, turbo lag, turbo lag The problems I have had with this car start with the fuel pump humming noise. The dealer replaced it twice. As of now no more noise. AC turns off when it feels like it. I live in florida & it get hot here so AC is a must but the A4 AC seems to have a mind of its own. I had a 1996 A4 with the same problem. Now to my biggest complaint. The 1.8ts turbo lag. Say you are in the middle of the intersection waiting for an opening. In the Audi dont even think about creeping in. You better have a big opening by the time you step on the gas and the car reacts its too late.

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  Always in need of repairs. - 2007 Audi A6
  By Marcelo - January 2 - 8:11 pm

  Since purchase, the car presented steering and eletrical problems. Audi USA claims the vehicle is operating to specs. It drifts left and right. Several alignments and hundreds of dollars later, I just got used to the way it behaves. Electrical problems include warning lights that will not go off. Stereo not working. MMI malfunction. Undercarriage plastic protection ripped off with RAIN WATER. Plastic parts wear off too fast. The AWD feature is very nice and helps with the handling. The interior is very nice. Hopefully Audi will master their product eventually. I will not be a repeat buyer though. Front bumper comes off when parking.

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  Great car - 2007 Audi A8
  By John N. Hill - January 2 - 3:35 pm

  Purchased in Sept 2006. Third Audi Ive bought in past 4 years. A6 2.7T and A6 4.2 and now this A8L. I still have the A6 4.2, which is 4 yrs old and in top shape with 54000 miles on it. No problems. The new A8 is rock solid, and just as peppy as the A6. Interior is absolutely top quality. MMI is a bit daunting for me, but I am working through it. (Never had one before.) I think the side mirrors could be a bit larger, but I love everything else, including the massage seats and front and back "radar" for parking. I will buy another in 3 or 4 years.

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  Dont buy an Audi - 2005 Audi A6
  By denniso482 - January 1 - 10:01 pm

  This car was great the first 12 months. I have had numerous problems with the car, the dealer and Audi NA. I would not recommend that anyone buy an Audi. The car is very unreliable and not worth the money. Parts are never in stock and service is a joke. I think I will be going to a Lexus from here. There are some good features but the are all overshadowed by Audi business practices.

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  Buy Used Save Money Have Fun - 2002 Audi TT
  By odachimaster - January 1 - 9:14 pm

  Car still had full warranty for 10 months. Just know what youre buying. You cannot go wrong with an Audi. Parts are expensive, but check salvage yards The car shifts smooth, corners great. Invest in good tyres always, do not have to be the most pricey ones. It rides a little stiff but it is supposed to.

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  2016 Q5 Premium Plus from Naples - 2016 Audi Q5
  By VinceD - December 29 - 3:59 pm

  My 2016 Q5 is an excellent overall car, looks great, interior finish is very good, and 2.0 Turbo runs very well with good acceleration. Gas mileage is ok for 4 cylinder turbo and large gas tank gives you great driving range. Gas mileage should be much higher on highway. I get upper 20s at best overall. Radio sound is excellent and easy media interface but no USB port. The Navigation system works well and its great to be able to send your directions to the car from Google. Overall the Nav is easy and accurate to set. Voice controls works as well as any of them but could use work. The push button start works well and the best feature is the side mirror closure when the locks and alarm are set. Works great and all automatic on closure and on open. The Audi grille and overall look is special and theres plenty of room in the rear compartment. I also like that you can roll the rear seats forward for more cargo room, very nice. Just a great car to drive and a great look and overall good functionality for a mid size SUV.

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  Best of the Mid-Luxury Sedans - 2006 Audi A6
  By Jim - December 28 - 2:08 pm

  In my opinion, the A6 is the new standard for mid-luxury sedans. Virtually all of its features - including handling, the console control system (MMI), and sleek looks - make driving this car a pure pleasure. Before buying, I compared the A6 to others in its price range, and it came out on top in almost all areas. And among the German-brand sedans, heres my humble opinion: If you want great performance, drive a BMW if you want a luxurious feel, drive a Mercedes if you want both, drive an Audi.

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  Transmission Killer - 2002 Audi A4
  By Audi A4 3.0 - December 28 - 8:40 am

  I love the way this car looks, feels and drives, however... We just put in our third new replacement transmission!! The car has been in the shop for 4 months out of the last two years. The mechanic had to order the tranny from Germany as they are on back order in the US. The transmissions are about $7000 a piece. Thank God for extended warranties!! Buyer beware.

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  A good value - 2007 Audi S8
  By xbeemerman - December 27 - 3:25 pm

  My decision was between a Mercedes S550 4 matic sport and the Audi S8. The S550 is nice, but the S8 just felt like something more special. The v10 engine (smooth and quiet at normal speeds, and unbelievably poweful and "baritone" when you want it to be), and the special "S" interior and exterior felt like something a step above the norm. Even the ride (with the std 20 inch rims) is wonderful in comfort mode... unbelievable given the potholes in my part of the country). I average about 15.5 mpg (70% city/30% highway). Not great, but hey, that v10 power/noise has got to come from somewhere. Net, no regrets so far.

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  Best Car I Have Ever Owned - 2017 Audi Q7
  By pcaddict66 - December 27 - 5:54 am

  I spent a ton of time researching and comparing the Q7 with the 2016 BMW X5 and the Volvo XC90. I traded in my 2014 MDX. This thing is light years ahead of the MDX in refinement and build quality. It drives like a sports car. As quiet as a Range Rover. Car & Driver made 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. Not bad for a 5,000 pound suv. The dash layout is sheer perfection. Real buttons to engage functions with a quality feel. The silly Senus system in the Volvo and my antiquated MDX required at least 2 button presses of the touch screens just to get to a setting. Ridiculous. This thing is so quiet, even when in dynamic mode. I sprung for the air suspension and 4 wheel steering option. It makes a very noticeable difference. The TFT gauge cluster displays Google maps in full glory and is highly configurable to show all information. The heads up display is a huge bonus. The safety and technology features are abundant and although some are intuitive, I recommend an evening of reading the owners manual from cover to cover. The MMI system works flawlessly for navigation, maps, telephone, audio and all of the cool Audi Connect services. This new Q7 is like a spaceship. Best car I ever bought by far. Driving this car after driving the MDX and X5 is night and day. The XC90 was a nice demo, but it just wasnt up to the level of performance that the Q7 has. XC-90 is a bit more luxurious with really nice front seats, but the 4 cylinder was loud when accelerating and idling was rough. In the Q7 you cant even hear it when stopped. But when I get on it for a strong burst of acceleration , it sings a pretty song. Just an incredible automobile. I love this SUV!