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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  This baby is awesome - 2003 Audi A4
  By Old Town Boy - September 25 - 2:00 am

  Owned my 2003 A4 for 3 1/2 months and love it. Dolphin gray inspires comments from strangers. 9k miles in less than 4 months and drove from DC to FLA. So far Im thrilled. Handling is tight and effortless. Acceleration, particulary at high speeds, is top notch. Car is extremely comfortable - feels like settling into a cockpit, but with a luxurious surrounding. Soundsystem is beyond excellent.

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  My Audi - 1995 Audi 90
  By Dave Lewis - September 23 - 5:48 pm

  This car is fun to drive. It has a lot of power and extraordinary handling ability. The interior is very high end-especially the heated leather seats.

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  One of the best cars I have ever owned!! - 2006 Audi A4
  By lawgt23 - September 23 - 10:39 am

  In my opinion this is one of the nicest sedans made. This car is just awesome in every way!

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  Audi Rocks - 2007 Audi S4
  By george - September 23 - 7:44 am

  Such a fun car to drive. Mysteriously fast, but you dont feel it because of the quietness inside. The build quality is bar none. Rock solid smoothness and handling. At first I didnt like the sirius/navigation/radio controls because I missed having buttons to push to change stations. Having now used the wheels on the steering wheel, I find it much easier and less distracting then those old push buttons. One downside of this marvelous machine is its gas mileage. Audi needs to address this issue.

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  Open Roads of BC - 2006 Audi A4
  By Goco_m - September 22 - 3:12 pm

  I drove my 3.2 V6 Quattro Audi through the open and windy highways of the rocky mountains of BC, Canada. What an experience! We felt secure and comfortable even with 4 adults and a full trunk. Engine just kept giving more and more power through the steep mountain passes while the Quattro kept us secure through the tight zigzag roads. At times, I lose track of my excessive speeds! Word to the wise, it is best to choose the 3.2 engine if you want the heavier Quattro models. This is the most well rounded car in its class. Large trunk, more rear seating space than BMW 3-series or Lexus IS 350, excellent price, superior engine, and excellent fit & finish.

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  My Little Red Coupe - 2002 Audi TT
  By JRL - September 22 - 12:29 am

  This car has provided me with the most fun of any car Ive ever owned. Handles great in the snow and ice, and amazingly on mountain passes. Good thing skis became shorter in the past years, as theres not a lot of room inside, and Audi stopped making their racks for the TT. Audi service has been fantastic to deal with - Ive had very few issues over the four years Ive had the car. I think Ill end up keeping this one until the wheels fall off. Cant think of another car at the price range that packs the punch that the 225 hp TT has in terms of performance and craftsmanship.

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  What a sleeper of a CUV! This vehicle scoots! - 2016 Audi SQ5
  By Jim - September 18 - 4:13 pm

  I love my SQ5! I really thought I wanted the Porsche Macan S, which similarly configured would have cost me about $2 grand more. It had a better interior, certainly more head turning appeal and better steering. The practical side of me thought the Audi will net fewer tickets if for no other reason than the police wouldn’t get as big of a thrill writing a ticket on an Audi. Besides, this is my daily driver and bottom line was the best “practical” choice of the two. Now the pros/cons: The good – Wow! What a fun driving experience! It sits up high and accelerates like an S4/S6, even besting the hp output. I can’t say enough about how much fun this vehicle is to drive! It stops quickly and has a solid feeling stance as it hugs the road. The WiFi and Google maps round out a very nice technology package (I will always want Google Maps from here on in every vehicle). So the bad: no USB ports (really!?!) and a small 7.5” screen in a car today seems tiny. Rounding out my dislikes is storage space is not great and the steering, although tight is not what I would expect from a German-made premium vehicle. The overall sporty drive, understated classy looks, ride comfort and technology make this one of my favorite cars to own. I look for reasons to run out for something just to drive it! Lastly, golf clubs will fit fore to aft if you slide the rear seats forward a couple inches.

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  Long-term review 2003 180HP TT Coupe - 2003 Audi TT
  By JP - September 18 - 3:53 pm

  Driving before the turbo kicks in is painful. The paint is EXTREMELY susceptible to scraches, dents, and road damage. The Tiptronic chip had to be replaced along with the battery at 8000 miles. The instrument cluster had a problem at 28000 miles. The glove compartment handle broke during normal operation at 5000 miles. It tookthe dealer two CD changers (CDC) and several complaints to get the CDC working right. The brakes would "scarily push back at your foot when depressed harshly" the dealer never found anything wrong. Just like the exterior, all the nice brushed aluminum accents are extremely susceptible to damage/scratches.

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  Go for it. - 2002 Audi A6
  By ARun - September 18 - 9:42 am

  I was looking for a pre-owned A4/BMW325/MercC230/LexIS300. The A6 4.2 Quattro wowed me. I have never driven such a smooth car before. Excellent power and handling. The styling is great. Have owned it for a month and it runs great with 52K miles. I am still discovering the features. I have yet not been able to test the Tiptronic system. Still figuring out how to make the telematics and Sirius work. I read each of the reviews on this site and agree with all the positive comments about the car.

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  Pound for pound... - 2007 Audi A3
  By allan douglas - September 17 - 9:04 am

  This is my forth Audi, through All Roads and A-4 Avants. $ for $ and pound for pound the best car Audi makes excepting for the discontinued All Road and the A-4 Cabrolet converible which is some $ 12K more expensive to equip. I can do 35-37 mpg with a wax job and no head winds, so I can barely eek out 550 miles to a 13 gallon fill before hitting reserve, but if you want to hold 80 mph on 65 mph interstates and zip past some others in the passing lane, the economy will still hold 28 to 30 mpg. While it does not have some of the useless "bells and whistles" of the A-4 cousin, its all all around functional car with plenty of storage. Suggest you buy Continental Extreme Contacts, a great all season/snow tire with smoother ride.