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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  Still not a Smooth Ride - 2009 Audi A4
  By Pascal - November 5 - 7:54 pm

  I have had my 2009 Audi for about 6 months now. Bought it slightly used with 12k, now has 20k. Love the looks, love the power, and love the quattro. But as hard as I try and as many times as I take it to the dealership, it still vibrates at speeds 75-85 MPH, as if the tires arent quite balanced right. I spend a lot of time on the road and this drives me crazy! Also, Ive developed several rattles in the speakers and other parts of the car. I had a 1996 Audi in the past that I would say I was much happier with than this car. Probably wont end up keeping it very long.

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  Twin Turbo bliss - 2004 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By quattro-fan - November 5 - 10:00 am

  My third Audi, this car is wonderful. Interior appointments are second to none. Seats are comfortable for long drives. Bose sound system is top notch. The car is quick and handles well for a big vehicle. Cargo space is excellent.

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  A solidly built German car - 2001 Audi A6
  By AmJosh - November 2 - 2:13 pm

  I bought this Audi A6 quattro with 2.8 V6 after reading a lot of reviews about this car. There were too many problems reported with 2.7T, so kept away from that. This 2.8 V6 can surely use more power, especially at low speeds. However, if you are little patient, the speed builds effortlessly from about 40-50 MPH. The ride quality is awesome. Little stiff for city driving, however the solid grip it has on the road makes for it. The car is built like a tank and you feel it at high speeds. The car gets more and more stable with higher speed. This is a huge difference in feeling after coming from cars like toyota camry and highlander. I love the interior and exterior looks and quality of material.

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  Love my Avant - 2003 Audi A4
  By parkcityxj - October 26 - 11:04 pm

  Been an awesome car, bought with 77K on it and now has 113K. Still running strong, I like to wrench on the car as a hobby and have saved lots of money. Ive done the timing belt as a precaution. The only repairs Ive had to do is disassemble the wiper motor which had frozen, a pain to do. Ive also had to fix the rear main coolant flange, a cheap part. I have had a few coil packs go on me and I carry a spare. Its two min fix if one goes. I only use Audi Synthetic Oil and Audi fluids as well. I suggest if you buy an Audi, check out one of many Audi Forums. There are DIY write ups for nearly every repair. Original clutch is still holding strong too.

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  1st Audi A6 review - 2008 Audi A6
  By rnayar - October 26 - 2:35 am

  Beautifully designed inside and out. Great drive. BOSE sound system is incredible. My A6 performed flawlessly the 1st year but then problems started. At 9k miles the # 5 cylinder coil had to be completely replaced. At 10k miles, carbon buildup caused the check engine light to come on again. The on-board computer had to be reprogrammed. In addition to all this, Audis consume oil like no other car Ive ever owned. I literally have to drive around with a quart of oil in my trunk because it needs to be constantly topped up. 5 times this year alone. Finally, the front suspension is starting to creak on rough roads and its getting progressively louder. Disappointing for a car this new.

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  It is what it is... - 2000 Audi A4
  By Chris - October 25 - 8:40 am

  When you buy an Audi you have to accept it for what it is. My 2000 A4 1.8 Front Track has 150,000 as of yesterday. Ive put 65,000 on it in my 5 years of ownership. Right now the dash is lit up like a Christmas tree, but rather than be obsessed with those lights, I just keep on driving. I think people should stop trying to keep the check engine light out and just accept the fact that Audis have issues. However, that doesnt prevent them from being an outstanding car. My Audi at 150,000 has many issues, but it also starts, stops, and gets me where I need to go. Its fun and has always been dependable.

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  My A6 Deserted Me! - 2001 Audi A6
  By Don Schwinn - October 24 - 9:07 pm

  I wrote a very positive earlier review about how reliable the car was after 6 years of ownership. It must have jinxed me. Since then Ive had an $1100 alternator replacement, a frozen front caliper and a broken right front coil spring (the day before I was to trade it in!) I bought a new 2009 Ford Fusion SEL AWD with nav, leather, heated seats, alloy wheels, rear backup sensor, Microsoft Sync, etc for 1/2 the price of a new A6. A close friend of mine who has the same car just spent $4000 in repairs on his 2001 A6.

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  Great car but... - 2005 Audi A4
  By Keith - October 23 - 4:54 pm

  Well, it is a great car. Convertible and great gas mileage. Fun to drive and gorgeous to look at. I recommend that you buy one if you can but make sure that it comes with a warranty. These cars cost a lot of money to fix when they break and make sure that the dealer will take care of the problem for you. My 05 A4 at 38k just encountered a transmission problem and I never thought that I would have any kind of problem with this car that involved the transmission. My warranty expired 3 months ago and the cost to fix is $1600 for a modulator. The next thing that Im going to purchase for this car is a warranty. But it is a great car!

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  Ultra Sport with Ultra Repairs - 2004 Audi A4
  By Ceizure - October 21 - 6:58 pm

  Car is gorgeous. Dolphin grey ext & Black leather int. Looks like the S4, but with the economy of the 1.8T. It kills me that Audi makes such beautiful cars but cant make them reliable enough to compete with Japanese cars. In a years time, Ive replaced both front window regulators, the clutch, the center armrest, steering control arm, the stereo head unit and now scheduled items are coming up (timing, struts, brakes). This car only has 65k miles... Japanese typically dont fall apart until twice that. Audi does make a great car to lease. Only lease... which is unfortunate as most first time Audi buyers probably buy pre-owned and get turned off by the time they make enough to buy new.

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  Audi A4 convert. - 2004 Audi A4
  By bobh20 - October 10 - 2:00 am

  This is my wifes car. Very easy to park. The trunk is a little small. The sound system is excellent. The alloy wheels extend too far from the tire and have caused curb scratches on the finish. The cvt transmission is very fluid and quick for her. (She drove a 91 SAAB) She now has three speeding tickets. The sense of speed is not a factor. Very little wind speed and rear wind deflector works great.