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:

• 

  3 Years of Good Performance - 2002 Audi A4
  By RBT - September 15 - 2:00 am

  Its Reliable I have owned this car for 3 years. Until last month, I have never seen the engine until I had to give a lady in an 85 Ford Taurus a jump. I highly recommend Free maintenance. To illustrate My best friend has a 01 Civic, over two years, he has paid $19-$29 for 14 oil changes. $690 in repairs and tune-up cost and $60 for tire rotation. I have paid $109 for two rotations after Three years! The service plan is flawless. Everything is free, oil, brakes, anything except gas. Free maintenance for 50K miles, how can you go wrong? That said, It does need attention but every car does there is no such thing as a maintenance free car..

• 

  fun, fun, fun... - 2004 Audi A4
  By dandriver - September 15 - 2:00 am

  My Avant is the most fun, best handling car Ive ever had and that includes a 78 911SC! Its also practical, Ive loaded a 32" TV into the back and hauled bags of lawn supplies. To me its a more practical version of the Mini.

• 

  My 2005 S4 Avant - 2005 Audi S4
  By S4 GTR - September 13 - 2:00 am

  I got my S4 Avant about 6weeks now with 1500miles on the clock... Very happy with my decision, Got AWD, 4doors with a wagon, 340HP and a set of RECARO seats!

• 

  Great car! - 2003 Audi A4
  By Judy K. - September 13 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my Avant for 16 months and love it as much now as the day I bought it. It is a pleasure to drive, the most comfortable vehicle I have owned, and dependable. Although I am pushing 60 years of age now, I enjoy the power and sports-like handling this car provides. There is nothing like the way it makes you feel when you get it out on some country roads and put it through its paces!

• 

  I cant go back for less anymore - 2003 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By Normand - September 12 - 10:00 am

  I have to drive this car everyday and it is always a pleasure experience to get in and hit the road with this superb unpretentious machine.

• 

  Overall Package - 2003 Audi A4
  By kfenn27 - September 12 - 10:00 am

  This A4 is the best car on the planet and the biggest secret to the public. Many people have no idea of what they are missing in an automotible. Superb handling, ultra performance, great fit and finish!!

• 

  Driving Heaven - 2005 Audi A8
  By tobias - September 12 - 2:00 am

  We ba 2005 A8L and absolutley love it! It has the comfort and interior class of our former LS 430 but with even more perks. We love the ONSTAR system with the phone service. We dont talk a lot on the phone in the car, so the carry-over minutes for up to a year make it a convenient option for us instead of the additional car phone and the reception with the satellite phone in phenomenal. I have nothing bad to say about this car. The back seat has so much room for passengers that my 7 tall son-in-law fits easily. We have had no problems with the navigational system or batteries as indicated by other reviewers. The 2005 model has apparently fixed those.

• 

  A (may be A+) for Audi - 2006 Audi A4
  By Arul - September 11 - 12:16 pm

  Bought a Silver-black - 2.0T quattro. Very nice car. Very well done interior. Exterior looks sharp. Remarkable trunk space. All my drum gears fit in! Sure footed and excellent road manners. Comfortable ride and impressive mileage. I still feel that the steering is not as sharp as a BMW3.

• 

  Questioning - 2005 Audi A8
  By carlover14 - September 11 - 2:00 am

  Before I bought my A8L for my wife I had read nothing but good things about it. Now with 7 months of ownership Im questioning whether all that praise was just. There is no denying the cars excellent material quality, but the control layout is unergonomic. Even worse, though, is that the exterior is plain and from some angles looks like my sons Volkswagen Passat. My wife likes the car but prefers my MB S600. The Audi has better handling than the S600, but no where near the refinement. Ive had my MB for over a year and have not had a single problem, weve owned the A8L 7 months and its been back to the dealer three times.

• 

  My DSG Rocks - 2004 Audi TT
  By cao3895 - September 11 - 2:00 am

  There are very few cars that have the complete package: styling, performance, and comfort. This car has it all. The shape of this car is a timeless as the 911. No one comes close to the interior styling. There are faster cars, but none of them are as fun to drive. Believe me, I drove every sports car between $35,000 and $60,000 (except the Vette)before I purchased my DSG roadster.