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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  Love it! - 2007 Audi A6
  By Pete - April 17 - 3:03 pm

  Bought mine CPO with 30K miles on it. Have put on 30K in last year. TERRIFIC car. The 4.2 is the only way to go.. I think the Edmunds tester slipped or something, my car rips off 5.8-6.0 second blasts to 60 all day long. But this isnt a stop light dragster. The V8 really comes into play at highway speeds.. going 60 to 90 in a blink. Interior is elegant and well thought out. I only have a few, very minor quibbles about ease of use. Maintenance can be expensive... but then again, its a German luxury sedan. My CPO looked practically new when I got it for 1/2 the sticker price. And the warranty still had bumper to bumper left + 50K miles in CPO. Ill never buy a new car again.

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  Great car but can be expensive - 2001 Audi A6
  By Keane - April 13 - 6:26 pm

  Excellent engine. Any review that says the power isnt there is way off. It produces almost 100 hp/liter which is excellent. Handling matches the power as well resulting in a very fun car. Also very comfortable on the interior. However, repairs will be expensive(count on that). I replaced both turbos which was roughly $4300. A word of advice is to make sure you have a mechanic who knows audis work on the car, not the guy down the street. Love the car but dont want to end up paying for repairs.

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  Oil Consumption Machine - 2008 Audi A4
  By Hugo - April 11 - 5:54 pm

  This is an excellent car except for the amount of oil it consumes. 1 quart every 1,200 miles is too high. If you purchase this car be prepared to have your trunk full of oil quarts. Other than that it is a good car.

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  All Cars have Maintenance Costs. - 2001 Audi A8
  By T in CA - April 11 - 5:32 pm

  Bought the car certified-preowned, (used). Car was in a front end/rear end collision so price was lower than listed. In spite of the collision history, body panel fit is excellent. Things that have gone wrong...whoever put the drain system for the moonroof in did so incorrectly causing a leak when it rained, the dealer took three trys to get it fixed. Other than that MAP air sensor, trans filter service and power steering fluid leak repair. Above and regular maintenance is all that Ive had to have done to the vehicle. Out of warranty so sought out non-dealer service which halved the cost of repairs.

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  Not what I was expecting - 2008 Audi A6
  By goodmaj - April 9 - 10:15 pm

  I sold my M3 because my kids were getting too big for the back seat and my wife couldnt drive a stick. I owned a 2004 Allroad at one point and loved it so I thought itd be cool to come back to Audi. Well, now its three weeks later and I just sold it for a BMW 535. The seats, while nice, offer very little support when going through hard turns. The headroom is terrible - Im 6 3" and my hair brushed the headliner every time. The car is very smooth - almost too smooth. I felt like I was driving a luxury yacht. Performance of the V8 is pretty good and with good mileage. If you like to float in luxury, this is your car, but if youre looking for a little better driving experience, pass.

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  Nice luxury vehicle for the price, but... - 2010 Audi A4
  By Casey - April 1 - 8:42 pm

  It could have been better. Lack of Auto dimming mirrors and memory seats on non Quatrro model is a joke. To get those two features, you need to go with a Quattro for an extra $2K (for automatic) and another $9K for Prestige option. Steering wheel can be little more stiffer. It is too light that I constantly have to make adjustments while driving. When Im on freeway, I go zig-zag. My girlfriend actually got motion sick due to it. I have an Infiniti which has a real stiff steering wheel, so itll probably take a while to get used to it. Audis Multi Media Interface(MMI) is not very easy to use. It is located in the center console, so you need to look down while driving to change something.

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  Fun Car - Very Poor Reliability - 2001 Audi TT
  By Justin - April 1 - 6:03 pm

  I bought my car with 30,000 miles. At 40,000 miles (5 yrs old) all the problems started. Alternator went bad, serpentine belt replaced four times, tensioner replaced, air sensor, fuel gage gives incorrect reading. I always have preventative work done to prevent timing belt issues (common). The car is very fun to drive and well engineered. My newer Infiniti doesnt have all the special features that Audi crammed into this little car. The top goes up and down in about six seconds so Im never caught in the rain. Having been a Honda/Toyota owner I am disappointed in the reliability of the Audi since it has broken down four times in six years.

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  Annoying quirks - 2008 Audi A6
  By chicagotiger - March 29 - 8:58 pm

  Our Audi for the most part has been fabulous. However in the 2 years weve owned the car, weve only put 7,500 on it and our check engine light has come on 3 times. Perhaps its dishonest gas pumps, but we always use the premium gas. Its very annoying to have to take it in for service, get no real details, a couple of dings on the car and not even a car wash at our local dealership. Even though its been a nice ride for the most part, Id like to get rid of it before something major blows.

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  Excellent vehicle - 1999 Audi A6
  By Pitt05 - March 26 - 10:26 pm

  This is my second 1999 Audi A6. Both cars have proven to be very durable. Each car had the same minor issues, ie: broken mirror adjust switch, et cetera. (easy fixes) The build quality is top level, classic styling , decent power, and unstoppable in any weather. I have done most of the things people complain about in their reviews, but they dont seem to understand its routine maintenance, control arms, timing belts, and others. That being said, if you maintain a car like this properly, it will last a very long time. Owning a high end German car is a commitment (but ultimately very rewarding) , if your not willing to pay, get a generic Japanese luxury car, what a tool youll look.

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  Great Convertible - 2010 Audi A5
  By Paul - March 26 - 9:00 pm

  Just picked up my 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet. I traded in a 2004 A4 Cabriolet. The new car is white with brown interior and brown top. It is a beautiful car and the bonus is a decent trunk as compared to the Lexus, Infiniti, BMW & Volvo hardtop convertibles which have little or no trunk room.