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 car but not reliable. - 2009 Audi A4
  By Bill - November 16 - 12:04 pm

  In three years of owning a CPO Audi A4, I have had seven trips to the dealership with the check engine light. On four separate occasions, I have had to return to a dealership after a repair when the repair was not properly completed. It is a great car, but the reliability issue overshadows other issues.

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  CLA 45 AMG VS S3 - 2015 Audi S3
  By Thomas Soukup - November 13 - 2:42 pm

  I have actual electronic track times for my S3. 0 to 60 = 4.4 and 1/4 mile@ 12.9. Is this S3 a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 NO, but for the money its a great value. When we launch we all dont all do it exactly the same way. If anything I took it easy when I tested my S3 for the first time, as it only had 100 miles on it. The one thing I didnt notice which some have mentioned is a bit of turbo lag. None Here. The Mercedes CLA 45 AMG is a great car but its going to cost you 20Gs more to better the S3 times by only 0.3 0 to 60 and 0.3 in the 1/4. Top end on both cars is governed at 155mph. I would like to see them on the track.

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  Perfect auto for my wife.. - 2015 Audi Q3
  By mudmansimon - November 13 - 9:39 am

  this auto is great. i had forgot about the german engineering. (had 2004 z4). we replaced an acura rdx. New style v-6 (Japan) I cant believe someone only gets 17 mpg. on the average mine is 4 mpg better than the rdx. way better ride than the rdx. The q3 is about 1 shorter than rdx.

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  SQ5 Great Drive But - 2015 Audi SQ5
  By William - November 11 - 4:37 pm

  The 2015 SQ5 has a great drive! But the MMI system is the pits. Too many buttons, levers, dials, etc. to search for and too many actions with them before what you want to happen does happen and too much time looking away from the road while searching for what you want. But it is fun to drive, good size, fairly comfortable, too expensive, visibility not the best, and, considering cost, behind somewhat in technology.

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  25,000 mile review - 2014 Audi S7
  By Stephen - November 10 - 6:35 pm

  This is my 4 th Audi since 2007. The S7 is fantastic. Its cramped in the back. And its not as comfortable or as quiet as my A8. It gets around 18 mpg. But beyond that, its fantastic. All of the great techno-baubles Audi has been delivering for several years now. Fortunately, mine does not have the bioptic adaptive cruise feature. I spent a day with a new A8 loaner with it and didnt like it. The S7 also does not have the Eco engine cutoff feature that the other A7 models have. I find that feature distracting. The S7 is very quick and while not as able on snow as my old 8 it seems sure footed on wet streets. It does misbehave in deeper water because of its wide tires. The 7 has been a great car with only one problem so far. The air suspension is making a BWEEP! noise when the car runs over bumps for the first few miles every morning. Audi acknowledges that they are aware of the problem and they acknowledge that my car has that issue but they say it is a comfort issue and not a safety issue. They have no recommended service for the issue. Having replaced the air suspension system on my old 8, $10,000+. Im skidish about air suspension issues. They are treating the issue as though it is an innate behavior of the car but only one axle is doing it and the problem has evolved over the last 3000 miles. If the suspension had always done it, I wouldnt be as concerned. Audi service has been exemplary since 2007 when my dealer told me my oil burning A4 was "within specs". This is my first disappointment with them since. I will probably trade it in to avoid having a big problem in the future. But would still strongly consider Audi. Unfortunately, most of their luxury models have air suspensions. Ive always considered them to be ticking time bombs, and of relatively little use. One more thing, mine does not have the super-tech package with all of the adaptive cruise control stuff. It was only priced in the low 90s. A very impressive, well optioned car at that price point. Occasionally, I consider buying another M or an AMG and Im always astounded at how much more expensive they are than their corresponding S.

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  Nothing drives like an Audi! - 2008 Audi TT
  By MJP - November 9 - 10:33 pm

  If you like precision, accuracy, speed then Audi TT is for you. Dont expect plush comforts. Its a real sportscar!

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  Love my q3 - 2015 Audi Q3
  By Heather - November 7 - 8:19 pm

  This is a perfect size small suv. I love it Im so glad they came out with this model. I get so many compliments on my white q3. It is vert comfy and drives great. Great on gas too.highly recommend this car.

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  Love hate relationship - 2004 Audi A4
  By Brett Duncan - November 6 - 1:05 pm

  I love the thought of this car, it gets good gas mileage, its comfortable and looks nice with the top down and its great at high speeds. What I dont like... The maintenance! Its very expensive, in just two months I had an oil leak, coolent leak, transmission speed sensor failure, a whole new ac, the gear shifter peace spilt apart, the car starts funny, etc. This car also isnt fast enough for me. I should have got the V6 Quattro but thats probably just me. I want to keep the car but on the other hand I could lease a brand new one for the same price as the maintenance on this one.

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  2015 Audi Q7 - A pure driving pleasure - 2015 Audi Q7
  By ACS - November 4 - 9:27 pm

  Pros: Real pleasure to drive, very quiet vehicle, roomy and spacious, luxury finish and classy interior. Very pleased with the overall performance, styling and technology features. Cons: Some items are smaller than competition - MMI screen, glove compartment, sun glass holder. Navigation is a little more complicated than the rest. Front camera not part of the parking assist package.

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  Time to debunk the Audi S4! - 2005 Audi S4
  By kevin raynard - November 4 - 5:03 pm

  Time to debunk some myths about this car that previous owners seem starstruck over 1/ The engine....well yes its ok but thats it, after all 340hp in a 3700lb body is NOT going to set the world on fire! For comparison the then new C5 vette in 1997 made 345hp and weighed 3400lb. So WHY does the S4 feel so lively? Very simple, its all in the gearing! It is running the equivalent of a 4.11 final drive which as any gearhead knows will give you blinding acceleration and instant thrust through the gears at the expense of fuel economy. Which brings me to.. 2. Fuel economy...TBH I do not find it to be awful, I average 19-20mpg and given the facts on the gearing is about right. Now if we were to swap the gearing to similar to a 1997 vette came with( 2.87, 3.23 or 3.42 if memory serves) you would see a large increase in average mpg, probably 5 to 6 mpg more. But then your highly rewarding impetus would be diminshed, oh well. Please do not get me wrong, I am NOT critical of the car at all, but it is not a miracle motor some claim, just a good old fashioned combination of sound engineering and gearing. Moreover Audi are to be praised for having the corporate balls to build this the way they did although in the mid 2000,s the economic rug if you like had not been pulled out from under the vast majority of Americans. Drive and enjoy, prepare for high maintenance cost and so so fuel economy.