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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  Audi A6 v. BMW 535xi - 2012 Audi A6
  By keiths7 - December 30 - 5:52 am

  I decided that my next car would be a BMW 535xi or the Audi A6. My wife drives a 2008 BMW 535xi T and we really love the car...it does drive like a dream. However, the new 2012 BMW 535xi is a big disappointment. Driving characteristics are null/void...nothing there...boring. Is the BMW nice- yes, absolutely. Is it refined, of course. But ultimately the BMW does not compare to the new Audi A6. I was shocked, floored and surprised. It is that noticable of a difference. We are thrilled with the purchase, ride, technology, and price ($2,000 off for current BMW owners). Most gorgeous car weve ever owned...and my 6 & 8 year olds love the heated seats.

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  One happy driver - 2012 Audi Q5
  By q52011 - December 28 - 9:41 pm

  Love my Q5 premium plus 2.0 turbo! I have owned it for 10 months and would not trade it for another SUV. Mileage is great and the drive is pure comfort. Bluetooth is wonderful if you NEED to talk. I would never get another vehicle without Bluetooth. A colleague is getting Q5 through a dealer swap in approximately 10 days.

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  Worth It - 1996 Audi A4
  By kyley1 - December 26 - 9:43 pm

  Ive had my 1996 A4 Quattro for about a year and a half now, and i love this car. Its very entertaining to drive, the 5spd shifts so smoothly and the all wheel drive makes the car feel solid and stable no matter what conditions youre driving in. My car has been very reliable lately, but when things break, youre gonna feel it. I shelled out 700 dollars to fix an oil leak, just because of the awkward design of the engine. If you find a well maintained one, go for it because you wont regret it. But be very strict on your initial inspection of the vehicle.

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  Premium with NAV - 2012 Audi A4
  By mstrongin - December 19 - 9:16 pm

  Have wanted a sport wagon for quite some time. Finally got around to it and found out that BMW 5 series Wagon, Audi A6 Avant and Passat Wagon are no longer being made. The Subaru is too SUV like, the BMW 3 series too small and the Passat Wagon not up to snuff. That left the Audi A4 Avant and the Acura TSX wagon. Was not an easy choice given the $8K to $10K price difference, but I like the look, drive, power and rear seat accessibility much better on the Avant. Only have 1,000 mile on it, but love driving it. Also, its pretty limited and will not be made after this year, so is not something you see every day. Am very happy with the Avant and really glad I bought it.

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  3 year update - 2009 Audi A5
  By appetites - December 18 - 5:47 am

  my 2009 Audi A5 3.2 manual has been just about flawless. smooth, sexy, quiet and enough performance to make me smile. Have the premium, technology, bang and olufson, side assist and ride select, so it is loaded. Averaging 23-25 mph wnter and summer imn all around driving, 28+ on a trip. Still getting gawked at as it is one of the most beautiful cars on the road. Only one warranty repair in 33,000 miles, a door sensor for keyless entry was replaced. By far the best overall car Ive owned in my 67 years

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  Good Go Kart.... - 2004 Audi A4
  By gabenerica1019 - December 17 - 4:18 pm

  Love the layout and the raw power of the Quat!!! Very fun to drive and take for the long hauls...so comfy...

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  Unreliable Disaster - 2001 Audi A4
  By jscala - December 17 - 2:35 pm

  Read the reliability reports. Everything in there and more has gone wrong with my Audi. The sludge problems w/ the 1.8T, in my opinion, are the engineering equivalent of a surgeon leaving a scalpel inside you.

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  Very unhappy with quality of Car - 2011 Audi A5
  By rpm15 - December 16 - 8:43 pm

  12 Months in and the car has been in the shop a dozen times. This time for 10 days. The car is a beauty. Drives well (Not a BMW). And is quattro. It has a a full trunk and the design is great. The reality is that the shifting is very suspect. It does not engage properly at slow speeds which is a safety issue when you accelerate. Audi says there is no issue. The bluetooth works when it wants to and the ipod hook up works when it wants to. I like the car but will never ever buy another Audi. Audi corporate is a nightmare and the build quality just is another nightmare. My service advisor is a good guy and we just laugh every time I call.

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  Awesome - 2010 Audi S5
  By kipn - December 10 - 7:40 am

  I just purchased this car and absolutely love it. Everything is what you would expect and more from a premuim performance coupe. The major defining factor in choosing this car was when I heard the engine start knew at this point that I had to have it. It is understated and over performing, but people cant take their eyes off of it. Another very nice feature is that you dont see many on the road. 3600 sold in the entire country last year. If you are considering one, their is no reason to hold back!

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  Love This Car.... - 2012 Audi A6
  By madkaw9562 - December 4 - 8:46 pm

  Was not in love with the new BMW 5 series (last car), so gave this a look and am really happy that I did. The interior is just very nice. Very elegant. Not that cold and sterile look that BMW conveys (my opinion of course). Just enough buttons to do what you want without that cluttered Acura "we have a button or knob for everything" look. The performance is a good balance between certainly gets the job done while maintaining good fuel economy which I actually car about these days. On the exterior, the LED lights and 20" rims give it that slightly aggressive and sporty look that BMW has lost (again, just my opinion). So easy to use everything. Good interface.