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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  Great traction - 2001 Audi A4
  By JD1 - December 26 - 2:00 am

  The steering with quattro is fantastic - travelling on a wet and rainy I-95 at speed, a wheel cover from an oncoming car, came over the central median - closing speed at least 140 mph. I swerved to avoid a direct hit the car calmly swung right and then back left to avoid the wheel cover and the car on the inside lane without missing a beat - having owned a BMW 540i previously I can safely say that had I been in that car I would not have stayed on the highway ! Also the handling is exceptional in snow conditions - brilliant,cannot say enough good things about the handling of this car.

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  The A4 won me over - 2006 Audi A4
  By dpark - December 24 - 4:10 am

  I walked into the Audi dealership on a whim; up to that point I was looking primarily at the new 3-series, the G35 and the IS 250. Without question the A4 has the most functional, egonomically-pleasing and well put together interior in the class. In fact, the A4 feels like it is in a higher class than theother cars mentioned above (particularly the G35 and IS 250), which shows that brute force only goes so far. I test drove both the 2.0T and the 3.2. I went with the 2.0, which performs like most 6s and so far is averaging about 30 MPG (I commute approximately 70 miles total each day). If reliability holds up Audi has earned my repeat business.

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  What a blast! - 2004 Audi TT
  By BuddyDog - December 24 - 2:00 am

  The ride is very firm but not punishing, even driving 800 miles in a day. Steering is immediate and has excellent road feel. The suspension improvements give the car excellent handling. Altitude does not seem to have an effect on the pulling power of the V-6. This car draws a LOT of attention from other motorists, so be prepared to answer questions when you stop. The dsg handles up and downshifts with no fuss. A nice feature is being able to downshift by pulling the paddles by the steering wheel to use engine braking, even when the transmission is in D or S. Fuel economy is very good for a high performance car, averaging 26 mpg so far.

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  eleven out of 10 - 2004 Audi TT
  By willford - December 23 - 2:00 am

  an auto where form and function meld into a marriage of art and performance. comparisons only yield in a clear confident choice of one.

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  2003 Avant I love it - 2003 Audi A6
  By rk - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Love this car. The best car I have ever had and definitely worth every penny. Ride, comfort, flexibility, handling, all wheel and load capacity are all great. Audi has nailed it here. And improved heat and airconditioning since the last time I owned one. Good solid performance with elegance and no in your face badge nonsense of BMW and Mercedes.

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  Hidden tiger - 2016 Audi A6
  By Edguapo - December 21 - 11:49 am

  A visual esthetic high performance car.

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  A8L tops all others - 2004 Audi A8
  By William Mountbatten - December 20 - 2:00 am

  I have rotated back and forth between Mercedes and Audi, and occassionally the nightmare of BMW. I have traded in my 2001 S500 4Matic for the new Audi A8L. The ride of the new A8 is comparable to that of my Bentleys. I must say it is one of the best luxury (non-exotic) cars I have owned especially with Audis Quattro AWD system, best in the market. Benzs 4Matic is no comparison, had many near accident experiences with the S-Class along with other numerous technical errors. This car has a classy and sport look, exquisite and spacious interior, and to top it off, it bears Germanys most prestigious brand. Yes, that is the four-rings of Audi!

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  Great Car - 2003 Audi A4
  By audibound03 - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Great car for what you pay for. I use to love the BMW 330 but when I drove the A4 I fell in live with it. Audi has thought of everything. You can buy the performance chip from Audi performance Racing APR witch increases the horsepower by 40 hp. This is a great investment. This gives the A4 the little extra power needed.

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  Too Fun! - 2005 Audi A4
  By 05AudiFan - December 19 - 8:33 am

  My 2005 Audi A4 1.8T is fantastic! I drove everything from a BMW 330, Acura TL, Infiniti G35, Volvo S60, and Saab 9-3 before settling on the Audi. Its the perfect blend of performance, luxury, and comfort.

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  one great car - 2001 Audi A4
  By soccerbaby104 - December 17 - 2:00 am

  Awesome really fun car...i have a BMW and this Audi....love them both...I will be buying another...I hear the 2004s are even more evolved..