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:

• 

  My A4: I think Ill keep it... - 1998 Audi A4
  By j.boy deluxe - June 17 - 10:00 am

  I factory-ordered my A4 Avant with the works -- Pelican Blue metallic over beige leather with sunroof, sport suspension, Bose sound and (most important) the five-speed manual. Although Ive put only 44,000 miles on it in four years, I still have to say that my A4s about as reliable as my old Acura Integra GS-R. Small problems arose at the very beginning (jammed CD changer and balky starter and cruise control switches) but since then its been smooth sailing. I foresee putting many more years and miles on this vehicle.

• 

  New A8L even better than old - 2004 Audi A8
  By amschmidt - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I loved my 01 A8L and didnt think that it could be improved upon - but the new car is better in every way. I didnt even consider any other brand. The MMI was frustrating for the first few days, but has now become second nature. I couldnt be more pleased.

• 

  What German Engineering Means - 2002 Audi A4
  By ChrisW - June 17 - 2:00 am

  What a well designed and thought out vehicle. A real pleasure to drive. Takes curves w/ ease. Fantastic gas mileage @70+ mph @ 35mpg. Roomy and seats 4 comfortably. Lots of amenities.

• 

  Q7 redesign is missing simple options - 2017 Audi Q7
  By happy-go-lucky - June 16 - 1:00 pm

  I just bought the 2017 Q7. Its disturbing that the skimped on some of the features found on lesser vehicles. Heres my bucket list of the features that this car should have came with: 1. Remote start from key fob. 2. Convex overhead mirror (to watch the kiddos in the back) 3. Wireless charging the cockpit (they missed it, even with all the technology), vents in the 3rd row (this is standard on all 3rd row vehicles. this is a huge mistake.) 4. Drivers key pad for vehicle entry (Ford may be the only company doing this). 5. Sunglass holder (pretty simple option). 6. Basic Tire Pressure monitoring system (they have some formula with the sensors to tell you if the tire pressure changes. Just use a standard TPMS valve). Im happy with the car, but at this price point the car should have these basic features. I would also have to agree with the comment about the run flats. Run flats are a huge disadvantage all around. I havent got into the maintenance phase yet, but Ill update my post at that time.

• 

  A4=Headaches - 1998 Audi A4
  By cepe - June 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for only a year and a half and have had numerous problems and annoyances: a continous squeeky driver seat, numerous "check engine" lights and to top it all off the engine seized. Luckily, the Audi Assured warranty covered the engine, but Audi refused to provide me a loaner car for the three weeks it sat at the dealership. To me, that is inexcusable.

• 

  What my Porsche Carrera 4S wasnt - 2002 Audi TT
  By TTDPM - June 16 - 2:00 am

  The Audi TT ALMS is everything my C4S wasnt, and what I expected it to be. My C4S was fast, handled well, and was awd. Thats where the similarities end. The C4S had switches from a JC Whitney catalog. The wipers screamed old generation VW bug. The ALMS TT is comfortable, well built, and has storage to boot, and at about 50K less than the C4, its a steal. Anyone who complains about this car should buy an exotic, and live in it for one week, and realize what a great car they are driving

• 

  Initial Assessment - 2002 Audi A4
  By Aegil - June 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned the car for less than a month, but right away some things are apparent. Biggest issue is lack of low- end power - get a manual and this thing will DIE starting on an uphill incline unless youre a master with the clutch. You cant go above 5mph in first gear ridiculous. Silver lining though - increased fuel efficiency, and once you have momentum the turbo can really kick in. Also, Audis start to fall apart after 30,000 miles... particularly with all the extra gadgetry that it comes equipped with. No surprises here - just buy the extended warranty.

• 

  love it and hate it - 2002 Audi A4
  By dvic - June 16 - 2:00 am

  love the car past 2nd gear and on twistys-hate the car at stop lights when tauruses and accords arent working nearly as hard to go just as fast or faster - audi shouldnt have allowed 1.8T to be purchased with sport package/wheels - this car looks fast but is not - remember guys, form follow function! plus my suspension started squeeking like an old stagecoach after 6 months - they still havent fixed it!! great looking and comfy overall - would buy another but either v6 or s4 - never again 1.8T!!

• 

  best Euro SUV on market - 2013 Audi Q7
  By SCVolunteer - June 16 - 12:21 am

  Bought Q7 TDI 3.0 used in 2014 with 25k miles. Exterior styling is very Euro-slique. LED headlight design is very eye-catching and bright. Crisp ride with almost no vibration or wind noise but a little harsh. I traded out tires for Pirelli scorpions and dropped recommended psi and that has helped. Still rides less cushy than Tahoe or Yukon and especially our Escalade which we traded. The interior is scandanavian like minimalist with easy buttons but lacks a factory DVD player option and any rear factory monitors for entertainment and rear seat climate control that is worth a darn. Thats a fail for Volkswagen/audi in my opinion since the Tahoe, Suburban and Escalade have a movie theatre quality rear entertainment system and rear heated and colled seats now. What you get with Audi is impeccable materials. Fit and finish is exceptional. Eveything in cabin is tied down, no rattles like US SUVs. Also, they use REAL leather in seats, not "pleather" like US brands. That means the seats actually last and wear over time and dont crack and lose tanning like our Cadillac did. Rear luggage space with 6 people is inadequate. Third row seats only big enough for 7 year old. Cant get two pieces of luggage behind 3rd row seats. Had to buy $800 roof rack. All that said here are the pros...acceleration with turbo diesel is nasty! Once it revs up it just goes like a stabbed rat. 0-60 in close to 5.5! At 75-80 highway it sips fuel. We have seen actual Mpg of 36 and close to 550 miles between fill ups. This engine is superior to any US diesel even in the Fords! I know they may have "fudged" on emission reports but I have to say (california tree huggers) worth it!! We have 100k on vehicle now and maintenance has been a problem. It has developed bladder control issues like all my prior Germans and leaks oil all over garage. Dealership said they could replace gasket between engine and trans to fix for a meer $7k. Ill get a drip pan...tnx. It also chews up tires like a 5th grader goes through tennis shoes. The Quattro does not allow a slip like other US AWDs and it takes 2mm of tread off every tight turn. It also consumes brakes like a teenage boy goes through food. Two complete sets of brakes (dealer will not turn rotors?!) in 3 years at $2200 a pop!!! No bueno...volkswagen needs to abandon Bosch and talk to Raybestos or Brembo. Overall amazing engine and impeccable attention to detail with interior finish, but add 10% to sticker price for post warranty and all maintenance. Its a pricey ride. Update on Q7: the car has now crossed 120k miles. We have had more engine problems and it has been back to dealer twice. We are considering buy-back with VW/Bosch class action for the emissions fraud. We love the gas mileage with the 3.0T diesel and the interior and exterior are holding up very well with little signs of wear. But the vehicle maintenance and reliability is starting to become a problem. Unfortunately, it seems to be following the tradition of my other German autos after 100k where they start to break frequently and the out of warranty repair bills become astronomical. Seeing at least $1100 per visit or more with $120/hour labor charges. We have friends with identical vehicle and they are at the same conclusion. Disappointed with overall experience of ownership with this vehicle, hoped it would hold up better than BMWs. VW needs to work with dealers to drop labor charges and high ownership maintenance costs and build them with more reliable parts.

• 

  Only buy if a factory certified car... - 1999 Audi A4
  By Glock88 - June 15 - 2:00 am

  Bought used as a factory certified car, 2yr/100k warranty. Unfortunately had to use the warranty several times. New turbo, new sunroof, a new rear speaker, new seals on awd axles, new mass air flow sensor. otherwise, a great car. My first German car, always had Japanese, not used to the niggling problems. It is quiet, great on the highway, the quattro is great can even notice in the rain turning corners. Only gets 21mpg around town (premium gas only). Love the way the car looks, get a lot of complements. Fast car for only having 150hp.