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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  total quatro fun - 2000 Audi TT
  By gary m bouvier - August 29 - 8:49 pm

  I have owned my tt for 15 years now and have just had my first bad experience with it. the repair shop charged me 400 bucks to replace an o2 sensor and it still ran like crap...they wanted another 700 to fix the problem...well...first of all this has been the best car ive ever owned, I normally do all my own work and have made some major upgrades such as brembo brakes and rotors, heavy duty torsion bars, larger turbo/ exhaust/ racing ignition..from audi..larger tires and rims but these were made when they needed replacement, except the turbo which I still have. I have driven this car from main to calif to florida to washington. fully loaded with my wife as copilot and were extremely comfortable. Even with the extra hp..about 300..I still get 34 mpg highway and have had fun with a few dodge challengers with their hemis. Im due for some shocks and a timing belt and hoping I find a reasonable shop to do that. my only [non-permissible content removed] is with audi, the dash acted up almost as soon as I bought it and they replaced it, then about a year later it happened again and I had to pay the second time. well it screwed up again but I have never gotten it fixed, the temp gauge never says its warm and the gas gauge light comes on at 1/2 tank saying its empty. in 2001 they changed the analog part of the dash and from then on their hasnt been a problem. but audi never admitted their was a problem until 2010 and then you had to be the original owner of the vehicle to have it replaced, well I was exempt because I already had mine replaced..another scam. so I live with it and its really not that big a deal. the car has been used for everything from hauling construction material, groceries, cement, windows and doors, 2x4s. camping gear, moving. and my work car everyday. I love it and wish audi would make a motorcycle.

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  A drivers SUV - 2015 Audi Q5
  By Harry Beratis - August 26 - 8:36 am

  If you want an objective review, read Edmunds own. Compair to Accura RDX, Volvo XC60, BMW X3 and MB GLK350. Own a 2014 Q5 with 24000 miles, two trips from Florida to Boston and zero problems to date. AC is great, MMI is difficult but once mastered it becomes somewhat intuitive. Needs to be simplified. Bad position of the Cruise Control stalk. Confusing, gets mixed up with Turn Signal at times. Need to move controls on the steering wheel. ( Are you listening Audi? ) Would I buy again? In a heart beat.

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  2013 Audi Q5 3.0T Premium Plus S-line - 2013 Audi Q5
  By JPH - August 14 - 2:12 pm

  Currently at 24,000 miles with no problems (knock on wood). The car is a great blend of luxury, performance, Audi & S-line styling, and daily function. The attention to fit and finish really delivers a first-class roomy/quiet driving experience. I previously owned a Q5 2.0T. I was really surprised at the difference in the 3.0T engine - SO satisfying! While the 2.0T is an excellent engine, I did notice some turbo-lag. A five-time winner of Wards 10 best engines, the 3.0L TFSI supercharged V-6 brings joyful acceleration with a flat-torque line (272 hp @ 4,780 rpm 295 lb-ft 0-60: 5.8 sec) – it really inspires! The 8-speed Tiptronic transmission is silky smooth. Panoramic sunroof 14-speaker B&O sound & rear view camera are all very nice. Four passengers fit very comfortably though five is a bit squeeze. Ample cargo space we have no trouble loading up for camping trips - You can fit a couple mountain bikes in the rear, but the best option is a hitch or roof carrier. With 50/50 city/highway driving using premium 93 Shell V-power, my Q5 is gets 20-22 mpg. All highway definitely better recent 600 mile trip managed 30 mpg.

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  Smoothest car - 2014 Audi A4
  By Seattle Car enthusiast - August 7 - 3:20 pm

  After owning a few BMWs and a Lexus, I was dead set on getting something cheaper. Walked into the dealer to buy a GTI and left with a 2014 A4 with the Black Optics package. First off - astounding looking car. Audi has come a long way from the bubbly design of early 2000s. Secondly, its the smoothest car Ive ever driven. Thats coming from someone who owned a 550, 135 and RX over the past decade. Its undoubtedly due to the higher torque at lower revs as well as amazing steering feel. One thing I wished: I think the car could do with a bit more power at the higher end (3-4k revs) but it doesnt necessarily need it for most Americans driving style. Overall, amazing car, buy it and dont worry about a thing.

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  Spectacular car, not cheap though. - 2008 Audi S6
  By C.J.S. - July 31 - 1:37 am

  Dont kid yourself, this car gets expensive fast, expect no more than 17mpg unless you do a ton of highway miles. Cheap repairs are 2k+ a set of tires is easily 1800. It really should be babied to keep up appearance and performance, plan for 400+/mo. If none of that makes you cringe, then I highly recommend it. It will keep pace with if not outright decimate most cars out there, and happily put domestic upstarts to shame, while looking so much classier doing so. It handles beautifully, even performs drifts well, especially for a heavy luxury sedan. Every day with this car is a treat, it makes every mile so much more fun than my 08 S4. The onboard tech is very impressive, and for someone with back problems, its extremely comfortable, even on very long drives (8+hrs). If youre considering this car and have the desire to spend the money on it that it deserves, just do it. Anyone who says the 3L turbo A6 is comparable is simply wrong. This is an entirely different beast.

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  Audi A4 Wagon, great car but is an oilaholic! - 2010 Audi A4
  By David TW - July 30 - 10:12 am

  I love my 2010 Audi A4 Avant, its the third Audi Ive owned but it slurps down oil at an average rate of a Qt every 670 miles. My previous cars which included two Audis (a 2004 S4 Avant and an 2007 AllRoad V8 never needed the hood opening between services. That is true for the four BMWs (three 7 series and a 535 xi wagon). Its just not right. My dealer Audi of Fairfield County tells me the consumption is within range but we all know thats a sham. Audi agreed to settle a lawsuit last year where they agreed to replace the crankcase pressure regulating valve. front crankshaft seal and front crankshaft bolt, they will also update the engine control module control software to match the new parts, all free of charge. I intend to take this up with them next week. I really love this car and hope this can be resolved or it will be time to move on. I will keep you posted

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  Fantastic Daily driver - 2008 Audi S5
  By Frank V - July 25 - 5:48 pm

  Great car, it is comfortable in every way, super quiet, great reliability, AWD comfort, sexy looks, and feels like you get your money worth. I drove several BMWs before going with this car and even the 2013 BMWs didnt feel like it was worth the money. I got in this car and i immediately felt like it was in a class above the BMWs. You feel sexy getting in it and I have had it for 8 months and it still gives me the same feeling. I have the 6 speed manual and I love it. Only thing I would like to mention is if you are a purist and love to feel connected to the road then this isnt the car for you. This coupe is not a sports car but more of a luxury touring car.

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  Great car, not perfect. - 2015 Audi A3
  By Aron Ma - July 21 - 8:23 pm

  Pros: Low MSRP for a luxury car. Interior was extremely well built. Very quiet ride, very comfortable. Driving was great besides acceleration. Good fuel economy if you dont drive it very hard. Cons: Tight headroom for the backseat. Subpar cargo capacity, less than a BMW 3 series. Slow acceleration. I think this car is amazing! If you dont mind the cargo being slightly smaller than average, Id say this is the best compact car EVER! Besides, the cargo space is enough unless your carrying something huge, in which case you dont want ANY compact sedan. Be aware that this is my opinion on this car, your experience will most likely be different.

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  German "cruise" missile - 2012 Audi A6
  By GW - July 15 - 6:19 pm

  I was fortunate enough to find a rare very loaded A6 just off lease. Previous owner had Audi Care so all the services were done-key to a used Audi. Car has Sport Package, night vision, HUD, Prestige, OEM 20" wheels, Havana black-incredibly cool color upon close inspection- nougat interior heated cooled, LED headlights and interior, adaptive cruise, Nav, becomes WIFI hotspot, on and on. Huge trunk, fold down rear seats-tons of cargo spaceDoes not have B&O sound, my traded S4 did. Have to say I find nothing to fault with the Bose surround to take nothing away from B&O both are great (Bose$6K+ additional cost on this car. MSRP was $67K. Bought for $34.5K with 49K miles. Car presents as near new. 8 speed auto is a pleasant upgrade from the 7 speed in S4. DSG was great but, this tranny shifts like silk and does not require costly DSG fluid replacement intervals. Plus you still get the paddles if you want to use them. Mileage is a solid 28-29 highway. 8th gear makes the difference. S4 struggled to get 23 on highway. Pick up is robust when needed but, super smooth and comfortable unless you get into the right pedal. Awesome car. This is my 4th Audi. I highly recommend the Prestige package, it costs more but is in my opinion clearly worth it. Great car.

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  It doesnt get much better! - 2015 Audi S5
  By Robert G. Dwyer - July 13 - 10:56 am

  I absolutely love the car! There are only two items I wish were different. On the piss ant side, I wish the side view mirrors could be stowed electrically like they are on our Q5. The other is a biggie for me. There is no Front parking assist on the S5. I cannot for the life of me understand why it is not standard or at least offered as an option as even A3 cabriolet has them. The color, Sepang Blue Crystal, is awesome and I constantly get compliments on it. In addition, just as on our Q5, the paint job is FLAWLESS - not a touch or "orange-peel anywhere. Finally, short of something like a Lamborghini, this has to be one of the sexiest cars on the road!!