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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  A6 3.0 CVT - 2004 Audi A6
  By Bruce Huffa - July 12 - 2:00 am

  At first it was a little strange getting used to the new type of transmission. I tike the tiptronic gear shift for driving up the mountain roads. the handling of curves is fun and safe. I now find that the pickup of the car is much better than the 2.7T. It has averaged about 23 mpg since I got the car with over 26,000 mile on it.

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  The New Top Quality German Marque. - 2003 Audi A4
  By jpspann - July 12 - 2:00 am

  I tested the same class vehicle of Mercedes and BMW. The Audi, as I perceived it was best i class. The Mercedes was not even close in handling acceleration and overall sporty feel. The BMW was a close second very similar in handling & acceleration but the quality of fit and finish were not up to the Audis. I had to look trough many of the 300 series before finding one that was close. So overall in my opinion The audi has come a long way in every aspect. The BMW has slipped a bit in quality, still a fine car. The Mercedes was actually disappointing for such a costly entry level sedan. There you have it...One mans opinion, three fine cars.

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  Awesome A6 - 1999 Audi A6
  By dreiter - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Rock solid car, even after 50,000 miles. Every aspect of this car is well engineered and manufactured. Audi dealer treats me with respect and takes excellent care of the care. Warranty issues dealt with promptly and efficiently.

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  Love It!!! - 2006 Audi A4
  By Jen - July 10 - 4:06 pm

  Just got my car less than a month ago and it is pretty much impossible to get me to stop driving it! It is a really fun car to drive and I was much more impressed with it than I was the BMW 3 series.

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  Stay Away From Audi - 2000 Audi A4
  By AudiHater - July 10 - 2:00 am

  Having owned an Audi it is the worst car buying experience I have ever had. Dont buy an Audi and stay away from Flemington Audi. The technicians dont know how to diagnose or repair a problem without you bringing it in multiple times. Audi themselves, dont stand behind their cars. The build quality is extremely poor. I have had the same problems everyone else has experienced. The service area told me that German cars have a lot of electrical problems and I have had more than my fair share. The quality of parts going into the cars is the main issue. What ever you do dont buy an Audi!

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  Audi A4, great car - 2001 Audi A4
  By newtoncd - July 10 - 2:00 am

  I love in Colorado where the quattro is very nice to have. I have just over 45,000 miles on my A4 and it has been very reliable. The only problem I have had is with the drivers side window whistling a bit. After 3 trips to the dealer, it was finally fixed, under warranty. Other than that, I absolutely love the car and plan to purchase it when it comes off of lease in August 2005.

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  Love the performance hate the brakes - 2000 Audi A6
  By DonK - July 8 - 2:00 am

  I have never had a car that was so enjoyable to drive. It loves the freeway and provides all the comforts I need. The controls are all where I expected them to be. (AC controls are a bit difficult to remember, but I set and forget.) The brakes warp easily and give a shuttering often. Dealer says this is par for the Audis since asbestos disappeared from the pads. Other maintenance items so far are average. I dont do lots of miles, so look for reviews by those who match your driving style.

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  YEEEE HAWWWw - 2004 Audi TT
  By popster - July 8 - 2:00 am

  So far it has been a complete joy to drive whether short trips to the store or on long highway drives. I find the car to be quite comfortabe to drive and easy to handle. The best part is, it always makes me smile when I sit in it.

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  So far so good.... - 2004 Audi A4
  By Owen Leeds - July 8 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned mine for about two months and really love it so far. I can get tons in it, put my bikes on top and drive it hard in the corners like a sports sedan. What SUV drives like this?? Just wish it got a bit better MPG around town..im getting 17-19, but have heard it improves over time.

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  Bang for your buck - 2016 Audi A3
  By Sid T. - July 7 - 4:32 pm

  This is my first Audi. Ive always been a fan of the A3, even before it was changed to a sedan. When the sedan came out, I knew I was going to get that car. Although one of the bad things that this car is always dinged on - The Backseats - I have no complaints. Sure, its tight back there but Im never in the back seats so I dont really care that its small. Perky little engine! So much fun to drive. I cant say that Ive driven up the arroyo parkway at about 80-90 mph though.... lol The fuel mileage can be better but then again, I live in Los Angeles and its stop and go traffic at any point of the day. I have gotten great mileage when I hit an open road. Sound system is good. I feel like theres a slight delay on initial accelaration but I may just have to tweak the settings to fix that. Overall, its a great car to drive and you get your monies worth.