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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  Already 12 service visits? - 2002 Audi TT
  By Never German Again - October 28 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car new in Oct 02. Of course the interior and exterior design are unparalleled, the quality of the workmanship is something to be desired. Since new, I have been to the service dept. 12 times, all for petty things, such as blown speakers, stuck glovebox, new climate control unit, new instrument cluster, and many others. I love driving this car, but I expect better quality from such an elite marque. Guess Ill be buying a Lexus next time around.

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  Still love this car after 56000 miles - 2002 Audi A4
  By pmrocon - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Strengths: Stong 3.0 liter is a joy to drive, Tiptronic adapts to your driving mood and style. The interior is beautiful and funtional. This design still looks as fresh as it did 3 years ago. Weaknesses: Bose Stereo is not up to the level of the rest of this car, the passenger seat is not comfortable (so say my wife & son).The interior has not worn all that well. Reliability has been OK, the coils failed the same week that I received the recall notice. The bolt holding a pulley onto the engine fell out , an oil seal failed which left me stranded.Conclusions: I think that the A-4 is a better built car than my wifes M-B 240 AWD. Im ordering a new A-6.

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  Fun to Drive, but Awful Service - 2003 Audi A4
  By DSA - October 28 - 2:00 am

  I spent a great deal of time researching BMWs 330X, Mercedes C Class, and others. In the end, I chose Audi. My 2003 Audi 3.0 is a blast to drive. The car handles well and goes like gang-busters. The interior is well designed and very comfortable. However, in the past year and a half I have had the car in for repairs about a dozen times. Problems include keys that stopped working (3 times), replacement AC compressor, ABS, Airbag and other dash lights showing, drive train out of balance, key fobs that would not lock/unlock the doors, etc. Whats worse, Ive had to take the car back to have DCH either re-do their work on multiple occasions. What a let down!

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  Fun to Drive but maintainance high - 1996 Audi A4
  By lawoody - October 27 - 2:00 am

  My car is the FWD 2.8 with 5 spd. auto. The car is very smooth to drive and steers nicely. Strong brakes but the engine isnt the strongest. Great for long drives. Maintanance is costly compared to a honda/toyota/nissan but not out of line. Engine consumes zero oil at 65K. MPG is 23 mix or 27 highway. Some electrical glitches but nothing major.

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  Love This Car! - 2001 Audi A8
  By Philly B - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car a little over a year ago while still under warranty. Just past 50k miles, so no longer will get free maintenance. Very good driving car. Everyone who gets in it marvels at how smooth and quiet the ride is. Absolutely excellent in the snow. Great on the highway for long rides. Only had to replace a tie rod which I think got damaged when a hit a wicked pot hole in NYC. Love the sound system. Could use more cup holders, which I think was done with new 04 model. Will definitely consider buying another one in a few years...and thats unusual for me to get the same car again. Says something about this car.

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  My AUDI - 2000 Audi A4
  By Audi2K - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Audi on 5/04. The car is solid and preforms solid. I bought it used. My Audi came with 18" rims and low profile Kumho tires. It also came with a lower suspension and a custom dual exhaust that blows away every other Audi. The only problem is that my engine light just recently came on and I have kept my car in top shape by doing oil changes and tune ups. I have to take my car to an Audi dealer and if there is nothing wrong with the motor, the warranty I bought for it doesnt cover it. I this is going to be costly. But its definetly worth it. The tip-tronic shift on my car hauls butt.

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  Wouldnt trade it for the WORLD. . .Well - 2004 Audi TT
  By LovesIt - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Maybe. . .The DSG is amazing and the car handles so well. I just love the way that it moves. It makes me smile everytime I get in the car, that can be very hard to do in Los Angeles! It really is the greatist.

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  4TH Audi - 2004 Audi A6
  By EDDOC - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Great handling and performance. Well put together. No problems so far. Last Audi 2001 A6 2.7 had routine service and no problems over 45K miles.

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  Most FUN car EVER! - 2008 Audi A3
  By Jeremy - October 24 - 4:44 am

  In my years of owning different cars, one car stands out as the most practical, the most fun, and provides the most absolute joy when driving. That one car is my 2008 Audi A3 3.2 Quattro with DSG. I have gone from (in order of ownership) 87 BMW 325iC to 99 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro to 02 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro to 05 Audi S4 Cabrio to 08 BMW Z4 Coupe (Sunday car) and 08 Audi A3 3.2 Quattro DSG (everyday car), owning the last two the same time. I was a bit torn deciding between the Z4 and A3 before I moved to Chicago. I decided I just need one car so I had to sell one of the two. Needless to say, I sold the Z4 and decided to keep the A3. Sure the Z4 was sexier, faster, and just had more prestige maybe for the lack of a better word, but overall, I simply thought the A3 was just the car to keep. I am glad I did. I didnt want to regret giving up the A3 again. Rewind back to 2009, I actually owned a 2007 A3 3.2 Quattro DSG in 2007. After two years, Audi offered to buy it back from me, so I did sell it to Audi. It was a mistake because I really missed that car shortly after. And in the U.S. production stopped that year. So I went looking for another but none available -- not the A3 3.2 Quattro. So for some time I had the 08 BMW and I got myself a Subaru Tribeca as my everyday car. By chance I went looking for another A3 again in 2012 and found my now 08 Audi A3. Hallelujah! This Audi A3 is pure joy to drive. I have gotten out -- without digging around the car first -- of 19 inches of snow here in Chicago in the Blizzard of Super Bowl 2015; I have taken corners in this car that I probably would not dare take in any other car; I have gone up a circular freeway on-ramp at high speed enough to scare (and impress) my friend while he hung on for dear life to the "Oh Sh!+" handle; I have passed many cars on an uphill climb without the engine gasping for air. And whats another thing that makes this car such a delight to drive? Its that buttery and silky smooth dual sequential gearbox (DSG). Whether Im driving in automatic mode, or sport mode, or manual with the option to switch gears with the stick or paddle shifters, the double-clutch transmission is so silky smooth and quick shifting up and down. Of course, when down shifting it may not feel smooth as the engine will roar down-shifting at high speed, but that engine sound sure is music to my ears. I know there are other cars that can outperform this car out there. But for the what I get out of this 5-door hatchback -- 250 HP, 255-lb torque, DSG transmission, just to name a few -- theres no other car out there for me. I can now and honestly say, "I love this car!"

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  Unbelievable - 2005 Audi S4
  By asantrosyan1 - October 24 - 2:00 am

  Its like a cat - can be soft and purring, can be lightening-quick and aggressive. Im still in break-in period, so I dont push it to the limit, but I am yet to hear the wheels spin. The traction matches that of a Panzer. Some people know what "S4" means, but most dont. Imagine faces unsuspecting friends who test-drive your "new Audi" :))