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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  Great automobile - 2004 Audi A6
  By mary sloan - October 22 - 2:00 am

  A great driving 300HP car. My major complaint is city milage but it is an 8. Just a comfortable great handling automobile whit lots of power.

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  1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20 Valve - 1990 Audi 90
  By DPAlcorn - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! Fun to drive, great MPG, a snow machine!

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  Highly recommended compact SUV - 2017 Audi Q3
  By Wendy - October 19 - 11:26 pm

  I’ve been a long-time Audi owner (A6, TT, A4) so it seemed pretty straight-forward to try out the Audi line when we were ready to replace our SUV. I had been eagerly awaiting the US release of the Q3 after researching it from afar. Before buying, I drove the Q7 and Q5 for comparison. Both beautiful cars, but we were looking for something compact. I give the Q3 5-stars in every category but acceleration, control logic, and road noise. The acceleration is fine, just a little less gutsy than some of the Audis I’ve fricen before. The control logic is great, except for the sound system control. They’ve moved it from the main center console to the center dash console. (Edit: after driving the vehicle for 8 months I no longer notice the difference) Road noise in an SUV is almost always going to be heard, add in winter tires on weathered roads and it’s pretty much impossible to keep it quiet. Not too bad, considering. Everything else has been exactly what I have come to expect from an Audi.

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  Love It! - 2000 Audi A6
  By sh - October 19 - 2:00 am

  The A6 is a great car, easily comparable to the BMW 5 series or the Mercedes E class. Test drive this before you purchase a car in this class!

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  No Doubt I am Pleased - 2004 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By Adrienne Wallace - October 19 - 2:00 am

  This is my 5th Audi. I lease every 3 years....I have never experienced vehicle let down. Additionally I have had the same salesperson for all 5 de

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  A8L Masterpiece - 2004 Audi A8
  By palm99 - October 19 - 2:00 am

  Choose the A8 over the 7Series. Glad I did. Care is a lot more personable. Excellent choice. Only dissapointment is the fact that I wasant aware of XM radio. Not available until 12/03.

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  AUDI - 2004 Audi A6
  By R BERKE - October 19 - 2:00 am

  OVERALL ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE EVER OENED. PREVIOUS CAR WAS JAG- S SERIES. AUDI EASILY OUTPERFORMS.

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  Totally Unsatisfied - 2002 Audi A4
  By Brian Gibbons - October 19 - 2:00 am

  When I purchased this car for 39,000.00 I thought I was buying a reliable car. I quickly learned that this car is anything but reliable. Thus far the blinkers went out, the windshield wiper blades broke, the sterio died, the coolent hoses were leaking the starting coils went out and the entire dash board system failed so the car read 140 mph all the time. Now my check engine light came on last night and the car was in for service 1000 miles ago. I am now looking to trade my car in on a much more reliable car like a Honda Accord.

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  underpowered but nice - 2002 Audi A4
  By slo poke - October 19 - 2:00 am

  Love the way this car tracks, but Im not satisfied with the power. There are very few cars that are slower off the line. This car needs about 40-50 more horsepower to be competitive. Low end torque is also weak.

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  avoid audi and vw!!! - 2004 Audi A4
  By denzo - October 19 - 2:00 am

  have it for 6 months, its been in the shop for 2,vw/audi doesnt have parts! upon any problems u will wait a month for parts,& very lucky to receive a courtesy car..the sport suspension is horrible! believe me,i drove benz bmw & lexus, this suspension is horrible, u might as well throw a horse in the front and call it a day..the pickup is a nightmare but the car glides at 85..i wish i can say, get this car, but dont!i have every option on the car & the only good thing about this car is the bose system..good luck..oh yea the low profile tires look nice, but i was slippin and sliding on the snow which i didnt expect from a quattro ..gonna need winter tires!