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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  Reliability isnt bad, but could be better - 2001 Audi A4
  By eddy_e84 - March 2 - 5:47 pm

  I bought my 2001 Audi A4 1.8T in November of 2010 & its now March 2012, so 15 months (almost a year & a half). Keep in mind this car was 10 years old when I bought it... 4 months into owning it I need a new flex pipe: $250 parts and labor At 12 months I needed to change some hoses: $50, change the boost value for the turbo: $150 and fix a leak in the brake assembly: $50 for a total of: $250 parts & labor. At 15 months (today) I needed to fix the turn signal relay: $50 and do 1 of my rear bearings: $300. Total: $350 parts & labor So Ive $850 in repairs. Excluding regular maintenance items, ie Ive changed the brake pads, windshield wiper, tires and the oil changes.

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  2010 Audi A4 Buy used, Its a better bargain!!!! - 2010 Audi A4
  By lcmm55 - February 26 - 1:29 pm

  I bought the A4 Prem Plus with Nav and Backup camera USED and certified from local Audi dealer. A 2012 would have been up around $45,000, I picked up the 2010 with 40k for $24,448. The car is absolutly amazing to drive considering I was driving an 04 Suburban daily. There is a huge learning curve with all the gadgets. I can live with that. Performance of the 2.0T is really nice. Took it on the highway around the corner and goes like hell, was doing 100 before I knew it. Then on another day took it to the casino about 75 miles one way, 36MPG at 60MPH on cruze. At these gas prices in CT that is a real pleasure. I was going to buy a new one year old Lacrosse(2011), but this was better.

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  Really Enjoying My A6 - 2012 Audi A6
  By autodriven - February 25 - 7:36 am

  I looked at several cars including BMW, Mercedes and Lexus. The detail to fit and finish on interior materials was the deciding factor for me. Audi is top notch on their quality materials. Plenty of power from the V6 engine love the AWD and the car simply has a smooth feel to it.

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  MISTAKE - 1999 Audi A4
  By mnels - February 20 - 9:09 pm

  This is a terrible car. Do not do it. I sold my Lincoln hoping the AWD would help me out in the winter and I sold the car within 2 months of having it. My clutch was bad, the back axles were screechy (500 fix), wiring for blinker was bad (200 fix), the CD player didnt work right, the tape player ate tapes, the cigerrete lighter wouldnt open(I couldnt charge my phone or gps) one of the rear windows wouldnt roll up or down, the display screen was broken, the bumper began to fall off after 2 weeks, the buttons were coming off on the key fob.. AWFUL

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  Oil Consumption issues resolved - 2007 Audi A4
  By carissa - February 20 - 11:42 am

  This is for all consumers having Oil Consumption issues. I purchased my 07 A4 used with 54,500 miles on it. Right away I noticed the oil consumption problem. I tracked the consumption for about 10,000 miles and made sure the dealership knew the mileage everytime I had to put another qt in. The light was coming on down to just less than a 1000 miles to add a qt. I paid the out of pocket expense and the test came back that there was an issue. Audi Corp covered 85% of the repair and the dealership I purchased from, Elk Grove Audi, covered the remaining balance. Audi replaced the Piston rings. I now have close to 8000 miles since replacement and holding strong. Added 1 qt at 5000 mi.

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  Great car, bad brake! - 2012 Audi Q5
  By charles98 - February 18 - 6:45 pm

  Purchased the car new. Love everything about the car with the exception that from day one the brake squeaks, especially before it is going into a complete stop. In addition, the car produces a ton of brake dust: it will coat all the wheels with this dark metallic powder just a few days after cleaning, which completely messes up the appearance of the car, makes you feel like dressed up in a piece of brand new suit matched with a pair of stinky, worn out sneakers!

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  Love My A3 - 2006 Audi A3
  By aimhigh2000 - February 18 - 10:27 am

  I bought my car in November 05 when it first hit the dealer. Ive had no problems other than a couple factory recalls (and I never had a problem, but took it in anyway) and recently, a misfire in cyl 3 code which seems to pop up. New plugs and coils, so not sure what the issue is. I still get 32MPG on the highway, and yes, that is actual with cruise set @60MPH. I get my car serviced as required. I did have an issue with the front sunscreen. That is a cheap part they could have done better with. I just put 62k, and still going strong. It still has pep, and still looks brand new inside and out. Power when I need it....overall, the car has been great.

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  Do not buy! - 2001 Audi TT
  By yunaluna - February 17 - 10:00 pm

  This is a very fun to drive and very cute sporty car but its not worth the trouble. Ive owned this car 2 years and replaced the temperature sensor twice and the temperature housing. Ive replaced all 4 tires, water pump, alternator, battery, shift rod, and had the transmission rebuilt. It kept blowing fuses Id have to dig in and replace every few weeks. The oil change is expensive. Ive spent more on this car than its worth just trying to maintain it. It just spent literally 2 months in the shop for the shift rod and transmission with parts being on back order and so on. The phrase "cost an arm and a leg" does not begin to cover it. This car has cost me my soul! It is the devil.

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  Cannot duplicate - 2012 Audi A4
  By a4avantguard - February 15 - 11:54 am

  Purchased Nov 8, 2011. Odometer now shows 4015 miles (as of Feb 10, 2012 when it was towed to dealer). Beginning at about 1000 miles, engine made serious noise when first started in the mornings. To an untrained ear, it sounds like a bad bearing noise emanating from something at the front of the engine. Car has been to dealer service twice for a cumulative 9 days. Techs and Service Advisor have listened to audio recordings of the noise, but report that they cannot duplicate the problem hence, they cannot fix the problem. I found several YouTube postings by A4 owners with the same problem. Dealer says, "its normal," yet, it did not make the noise for the first 1000 miles.

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  Almost perfect! - 2012 Audi A6
  By big_g - February 13 - 11:25 am

  Everytime I look at my A6 I seem to love it just a little bit more. WE looked at EVERYTHING, including E-Class (hated the plastic interior), 5 series (hated the nav system), ES350 (nice car but unstimulating), GS350 (overpriced), S80 (questionable reliability) and Genesis (couldnt bring myself to spend that much on a Hyundai). The A6 blows them all away with the understated class and top notch interior. iIf I had to find one thing, I would complain about the the size of the side pillar between the front and back seats (I am not a card designer so I dont know the official name). its a little too thick and when making a let turn you sometimes have to lean forward to check for traffic.