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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  Rear hazards of the car - 2012 Audi Q5
  By krosenquist - October 6 - 2:09 pm

  Overall, great car. However, I would alert families to that the 2 tailpipes are nice looking but extend too far out from the car. I have a crescent shaped burn on my shin when I let the dog out of the back. Three small boys eating a snack off the back nearly missed being burned by these pipes. Since these events, Ive noticed that most car makers do a better job of hiding the tail pipe under the bumper. Also, rear door does not stop quickly enough and for small objects in its line of descent to a closed position. My son who is only 9 had it push down on him. If you cant get bags, body parts or dog paws out of the way in time, it could dangerous.

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  2013 A6 2.0T Quattro - 2013 Audi A6
  By mrweeks - October 4 - 11:54 pm

  I owned a 2006 A4, and just traded in my 2012 Audi Q5 in on my new 2013 Audi A6 2.0T Quattro. I loved my Q5.(I was scared of the decrease of value since the 2013 facelift.) I have had this car a little over a week, and driving it feels safe and exciting. The car handles brilliant. The engine would trick your mind if you didnt know it was a 4cyl. It really feels like a 6 cyl. I was really tossed up between the E350 and this and I am glad I choose the A6. I also love the dynamic & comfort switching feature.

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  Poor transmission on the front track model - 2012 Audi A4
  By tvivier - September 20 - 12:43 pm

  The cvt transmission is a nightmare on the front track model. At a stop, it takes a second for the car to take off when you press the gas. This can be a safety issue. I got rid of A4 Front track after two month of frustration and got a quattro instead. This bad choice cost me quite a bit of money. Fortunately, the quattro is a great car.

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  forget BMW, Mercedes, and Jaguar - 2013 Audi A6
  By 55george55 - September 12 - 5:04 am

  I reviewed and tested the 5 series, e class and the jag but decides that the A6 was the next car for me. The interior, technology and price won me over. I have the car about a month already and am 100% sure i made the right choice. I recomend the A6 to anyone looking at a midsize car in the $50k range.

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  very nice CUV - 2010 Audi Q7
  By billyq - September 7 - 12:07 pm

  had this truck for about six months has less than 11,000 miles very fun to drive a tank this size like a sports car really drive great on the twisties, and off road - WOW i cannot believe some of the stuff ive climbed with this truck it just goes up dirt and mud road, will report back when snow finally falls in the Lake Tahoe area, i gave a "3" for interior design cause a small spill on the MMi cost $1,100 dollars to replace, oh well no drinking in the truck.

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  Amazing Car - 2013 Audi S5
  By u2nelson - August 29 - 12:12 am

  I have had this car for 4 weeks now, and it is still impressing me. The power is smooth and strong, it comes on early and just keeps puling hard. Very addictive. Handling, is well not as brilliant as my old BMW 330CI, but it is still exceptionaly good. This car is very fun to drive and did I mention it has gobs of smooth power. The quality of the finish, both inside and outside is superb. Initially I was not sure about the alcantara seat inserts, but now that I have the alcantara, I am 100% sold and glad to have it. Its superior, both in looks and function and very easy to clean, just wipe with a damp cloth. Its hard to believe someone would pay extra to not get the alcantara.

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  A good choice for its class - 2013 Audi A4
  By ziglveitshtook - August 26 - 3:23 pm

  I just upgraded from my 2010 A4 to the 2013. The 8-speed automatic provides smoother acceleration and better mileage (averaging over 25mpg in mixed driving). They fixed some of the annoying bugs in the "Infotainment" system. However I was disappointed to see the folding rear seats move to the premium plus package. The new brown interior is ill-conceived. Should have been a lighter saddle-brown as offered in the BMW. Overall, its a good value for the class, and works better for me than the 3-series.

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  The best of the best - 2013 Audi A6
  By nstrane - August 22 - 1:46 am

  I had a chance to test drive the 2012 Jag XF and the BMW 535 and 550. I opted out of Mercedes finding the styling of the E-class too uninspiring. the A6 which in my mind was perfect. The car is easy to maneuver at low speeds which the steering tightening up at higher speeds. The build quality is impeccable. The styling is more forward thinking than that of MB and Lexus. The LEDs set the car apart as does that Bang and Olufsen sound system. I found the Audi MMI very intuitive and actually fun to operate. The A6 3.0t is a fast engine with a transmission and chassis that makes it feel like the car is hardly working at high speeds. Plain and simple, it puts a smile on my face every day.

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  Reliability Issues - 2011 Audi A3
  By a3owner1 - August 18 - 6:05 am

  I have owned for 2 years and put 55K miles on my A3 TDI. Bought car for performance and great MPG - commute is 100 miles per day. With 500 miles left on warranty Mechatronics unit went - first time had issues was 25K miles and dealer did software update. (its roughly$3,200 repair if out of warranty). At 54K miles EGR valve clogged with ash - ($800 repair & AUDI offered no help) I called AudiUSA and got nowhere. DO NOT BUY this car for MPG savings, youll give it all back in repairs. Overall nice car but, I also own 2 Toyotas and Im spoiled by the fact that they dont break...I had always heard that Audi/VW reliability issues were a problem, definitely some buyers remorse on A3

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  The best Audi Ive ever owned! - 2001 Audi S8
  By ioannistx - August 17 - 11:29 pm

  The S8 was an over-engineered vehicle by Audi. This has been, hands down, the most reliable, most value-for-the-buck Audi Ive ever owned. Its virtually impossible to make the decision to trade it in for a $10k-$12k downpayment for a...mid-size sedan of any type! Amazing build quality, power (even 11 years since first rolled out), comfort, and passive/active safety. My 2001 S8 has 75K miles, and I intent to keep it until it reaches into the 100Ks...