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 Car - 2003 Audi A6
  By Jealonso - January 20 - 2:00 am

  I bought the A6 with CVT. Audi is completely right in that you dont feel it shifting, but it still feels like an automatic, while getting better gas mileage. The interiors are just incredible. I also own a Lexus RX- 300 and there is no comparison to it. The Audi is far better in quality of materials, and I love the aviation-red controls. Finally, the Bose system is just spectacular.

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  best all-round car - 2000 Audi S4
  By lee j - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Ive been through everything in this car! Love the acceleration,smooth power.Handling is great,typical oversteer for 4 wheel drive.Great long distance too.Gear shifting needs to be tighter.As strange as it sounds i got hit at 70mph on the passenger side last summer,to be honest the car saved my life.Quality build.Quality Car!

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  No Regrets Here! - 2002 Audi TT
  By K. Julien - January 18 - 2:00 am

  Handles great and it is extremely fun to drive...this car turns some heads! Great in all weather conditions. The interior warms up fast, even in single- digit temps. Drives solid like a larger vehicle with the manuverability of a sports car. I highly recommend getting the Bose Audio System for the ultimate TT experience! The sets are very comfortable and the manual transmission is smooth. A little disappointed that it doesnt have power seats, but the overall design and engineering of this car is superb-right down to the headlight spray/washer. Definately get the 225hp rather than the 180hp.

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  all good - 2001 Audi TT
  By ronp - January 18 - 2:00 am

  i bought my quatro roadster used,had 22000 on it whith the stock pilot mich on it i have driven through the nastyest winter in memory,,i cant belive this car makes it through snow storms.i dont know of any other sport cars that can do that,,,plus handeling is unreal,ive had many rx7 turbo..corvet,,and the like ,,none as good,,,fuel economy ,,awsome,,i love my tt

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  NOT MY FIRST WONT BE MY LAST - 1993 Audi 90
  By CHRIS ROE - January 17 - 2:00 am

  I started off with an Audi 5000 which was 14 years old before it was rear ended and totaled. After thinking I needed a Lincoln and Mercedes I gave in a few years later and purchased an Audi 90S. I was now back home. As with my other Audi I have experienced a good ride along with wonderful engineering. I am able to maintain and work on my Audi therefore avoiding the costly Dealership. The ride is excellent, acceleration is promt and handling is in your control.

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  My Audi Rocks! - 2003 Audi A6
  By Varouj - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Test drove: BMW 540 - interior was too small, handling was good but not good enough MB E500 2003 - very nice, but $1000 gas guzzler tax! Infiniti M45 - interior too small even for a mussel car. Lexus 430 - nice but made me feel old (bad idea) Porche C2 - very nice but I am a famliy man and in need of seats in the back that can carry something more than just my tennis racket & gear. Finally, Test drove A6 4.2 Quatro. When I made the right turn going 40 with no breaks and the car did not skit and stuck to the road... That did it for me.

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  You need one of these - 2002 Audi A6
  By GE - January 15 - 2:00 am

  I looked at the BMW 530 to compare, probably the only truly comparable car, and was not impressed. A6 beat it in styling, luxury and overall comfort (5 series has almost no rear leg room). With the quattro,sport package and 17 inch wheels, this thing is stuck to the road like a roller coaster (the dealer had me take a right turn at about 40 mph, not even a skid). A true sports sedan that screams "class."

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  S4 Review - 2002 Audi S4
  By RockyJohnson - January 14 - 2:00 am

  I was looking to purchase a vehicle to replace my huge 2001 GMC Yukon XL with a bit better milage and more performance. I looked into the S4, the 330xi, the IS300, and the Subaru Impreza WRX. None of them compared to the S4. The performance and smoothness of the S4 blew all of them out of the water except the Impreza WRX, but the build quality of the S4 made that difference quickly. The dealer service has been excellent, though the oil changes are a but infrequent.

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  Still great after all these years - 1999 Audi A4
  By mtnmeister - January 12 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned this car since bought new in late 1998, and I remaian as pleased as when I purchased it. No mechanical issues despite nearly 60,000 commute miles, and it has held up well consmetically as well. My daughter looks forward to when it can be her car (in five years when she gets her license!)

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  Reliable sporty coupe that still looks great - 2011 Audi A5
  By Andy - January 10 - 5:49 pm

  Ive had my 2011 A5 s-line 2.0t for over 4 years now, and it has met or exceeded all expectations. It did have an oil burning issue that is common to certain years of a4/a5/q5 with the 2.0t engine. This was fixed under warranty without issue and the car hasnt burnt a drop of oil since. Only other unscheduled maintenance in 4 years was a pcv valve that recently went bad and started making a screeching noise ($350 iirc). Overall at 73k miles now it has been very reliable, maybe moreso than expected, given my previous experience with owning vw/Audi, knock on wood. The car is on its 3rd set of tires, and I have not replaced brake pads and rotors yet in the 4 years and 50k miles I have owned it. City driving will give 21-22 mpg, with 30+ on the freeway (Ive gotten over 500 miles on a tank before). The car is not fast but it is quick enough, and handles well. The build quality is great, especially interior materials, with no significant rattles on what is almost a 6 year old car. Rear seat space is good for a two door - I am 62 and have ridden back there comfortably on reasonably short trips. Trunk is large for a coupe. If I could change anything, it would be to have the sunroof open and not just tilt. Bluetooth audio would also be nice, not just phone compatibility. I am still a huge fan of the a5s styling and think it will look classic for years to come. I plan to keep it for at least a few more years. Overall I would highly recommend this car to a prospective buyer, just make sure it has has the piston ring/oil consumption repair done under warranty!