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! - 2006 Audi A3
  By KK - February 19 - 10:18 pm

  I love driving this car! It handles great around corners and has a nice tight suspension. The extra moon roof is a great addition. Not too happy with the cellphone charger application as it became out of date pretty fast but the bluetooth on the other hand was ahead of its time. Only at 38,000kms and pretty happy with it. I found when I put winter tires on it was really quite noisy in the car. So far the only issue I have had with it is my rear tail light keeps burning out and I am not sure why? I still need to take it in for some kind of recall with the gas cap issue. People actually stop me and ask me about this car, too bad they wont be making it with the 3.2 anymore.

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  Great but can be improved. - 2009 Audi S5
  By AUDI - February 19 - 6:16 pm

  First of all to all those who think this care is fast I hate to break it to you but its not. I shelled out close to 63 thousand dollars and I could have bought a Z06. Now on the other hand the looks are great and I love the handling. Since last november minor things have gone wrong with the car(electrical/led lighting etc). Audi should have built a faster car. I guess thats why they are coming up with the RS5 for 85K!

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  buyer beware - 2007 Audi A4
  By jill - February 14 - 12:20 am

  I wish I had researched my certified preowned 2007 Audi A4 2.0T before buying in 8/09. Have been to the dealer once for a check engine light and twice for burning through oil every 2000miles. On top of that, the rear seat squeaks like crazy, and Im unhappy with the "turbo lag. And the best part is...these are all "normal"

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  Beware of Oil Consumption - 2007 Audi A4
  By WhiteOak - February 12 - 12:18 pm

  This is a great car, in principle. Fun to drive, decent gas mileage, great design and quality of workmanship - all what you would expect. What one would not expect is the oil consumption: the 2007 A4 2.0T engines "normal" oil consumption is one quart every 1200 miles. Yes 1,200, not 12,000. I have had my car in the shop multiple times for this but Audi claims this is normal. They register my concern, find some faulty engine parts they replace but then send me on my way without fixing anything. So if you buy this car, be ready to drive around with a case of oil in the trunk.

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  Uneven Quality - 2009 Audi Q7
  By J-Man - February 10 - 3:07 pm

  There really are a lot of things to like about this car. For an SUV, it handles like a car and is much more comfortable of a drive than most of the other luxury SUVs on the road. However, there are a couple of things that really are unacceptable for a 60,000 car. 1. cheap plastic all over interior (see plastic foot rest just to the left of the brake pedal that cracked within a year) 2. doors are really cheap vs. bmw or mercedes. witnessed firsthand when I broke a interior mechanism in door opening on icy morning 3. MMI - why a cup holder right above a non-sealed system? 2 oz of gatorade fried out my track wheel to the tune of 800 4. handles HORRIBLY in the snow!!! 5. fuel mlg stinks

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  Beautiful oil burning machine - 2007 Audi A4
  By Wally - February 8 - 3:09 pm

  This is a long term update (hey I feel like an Edmunds pro!). The car is still fantastic to drive - its handling, acceleration and road holding are excellent. But it burns oil. While I dont know if this will affect the cars functions, I will be turning it in at the end of the lease instead of buying out the lease. Also, for those not used to turbos, they have tons of torque in the midrange, meaning they are fast at 20-50 and 50- 75. But they do have a slight hesitancy at low speeds, so if you are used to Toyota soccer mom vehicle where you blast off the line (then of course hold up the rest of the traffic later), this car is not for you.

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  Great looking and thats about it - 2001 Audi A6
  By Andy T - February 8 - 2:51 pm

  Purchased the car used with less then 30k miles. Had all the bells and whistles. Great looking car but no reliability in this vehicle. Before having 5ok miles timing belt had to be replaced and water pump went out. Great looking car but not up to par against Infiniti, BMW or Lexus...i will never buy another Audi again!

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  Very Strange Experience So Far - 2010 Audi Q5
  By Greg - February 4 - 11:25 pm

  The car runs well, but when we brought the car in for the first service we were told the water pump had a leak and they had to replace it, but it needed to be ordered. When they received the part we brought the car back to the dealer and they replaced the water pump but then told us there was a small leak in the transmission and they said Audi told them to replace the transmission. Went back when they received the transmission and they replaced it but then they said it was programmed for a diesel and had to order another one. Next one came and same problem. Now we are waiting for the 3rd transmission to arrive and the car has been there for 2 weeks. Still waiting for my car.

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  Beauty with flaws - 2005 Audi A8
  By John - February 4 - 12:43 pm

  This is my second A8 and I really love this car, but this might be the last one. These cars are very costly to maintain. Things like suspension parts breaking on a car with 32000 miles shouldnt happen, especially on a car driven very carefully on paved roads. Also electric gremlins that shouldnt happen, like parts breaking when I had it in for a software upgrade for other problems(telephone module broke). But, it looks and handles like a million dollars when its not in the shop!

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  steering problem - 2010 Audi A4
  By jimbo - February 3 - 12:23 pm

  After a turn, the steering wheel does not return to "straight" properly (too slow) which makes driving a bit nerve racking and seemed unsafe.