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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  One of my best purchases - 2014 Audi S4
  By Sam K. - January 31 - 5:54 am

  Was on the fence between the S4 and the 335i, and boy am I glad I got the Audi. Ive had the car for 2 years, and this is a short summary of what Ive learned. Ill go straight to the point and point out the bad first. Transmission: can get clunky; when you pop it into Drive, its response is laggy Handling: my previous Genesis coupe felt more confident-inspiring in the corners MMI: I prefer the MB Command or the Porsche interface Thats pretty much all the cons that I can think of. The car accelerates as well as any 3.0L Scharged sport sedan will go. Brakes are fantastic with a consistent feel. The seats are not plush, but wont give you any issues. Drove from FL to NY and did not feel too bad. Build quality is top notch. My brother has the F30 328xi and the Audi feels more sturdy.

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  I left my Lexus for an Audi Q5 - 2016 Audi Q5
  By Linda Nuckolls - January 26 - 1:23 am

  After 15 years with my beloved Lexus RX300, which I passed to my daughter, it was time for a new ride. I obviously adored my Lexus, but the new RX is huge, and the NX was a good size but had nasty yellowish pleather interior, boring handling and that awful spindle grill. Instead I chose the Audi Q5 in Cuvee silver with Chestnut interior. Gorgeous! Its appearance makes my heart go pitter-pat, and it is SO much fun to drive. My only complaint is the infotainment stuff. Too granny sounding on the voice, and not intuitive enough overall. But, I can forgive that part because I am in love with the classy looks, and the ride that is the perfect combination of buttery smooth and sporty/peppy. So far, Im proud to be an Audi Q5 owner. I considered an X3 too, but the Audi is just so much better looking. UPDATE, 12/27/2017, 1.5 years of ownership: I still love the looks and ride of my Q5. There are things I dont love, though. The mirrors are too big and block my view a lot, and the sun visors dont extend and arent long enough for me (Im 53"). Voice control granny is pretty slow. The bluetooth connection with my iphone is quite variable, and the voice with google maps only works about 50% of the time (the built in navigation I dont even use, Id much rather use my phone apps). The a/c is not as good as the one on my 15 year old Lexus). My windshield wiper sometimes takes a random trip across the window. The doors are very heavy and tend to close when I dont want them to if Im entering or exiting the car in a parking spot that isnt level. Stuff in the back cargo area consistently shifts around a lot more than it ever did in my RX, though Im not sure why, and I really dont like that I cant close the back cargo door with an interior button. These are all relatively minor drawbacks, though there are many. However, I really do love the way the car rides and handles, and its still one of the classiest looking SUVs on the road.

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  My Audi - 1998 Audi A4
  By Nehoda - January 20 - 2:10 am

  I love the quattro, it makes you stick to the road like no other. The five speed manual tranny shifts smooth. The clutches on these cars are weird, itll have lots of life left but still grab late.

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  2018 vs 2010 Audi S4 Prestige - 2018 Audi S4
  By Twowheelsgood - January 18 - 12:59 pm

  After much cross shopping, including the Mercedes C43 AMG, I ended up replacing my 2010 Audi S4 Prestige (7A) with a relatively loaded 2018 (S- Sport and winter packages, 19" wheels, Dynamic Steering). Ive only had it for one week so this just my first impression, which is mixed. Whats better in the 2018 S4: suspension (more compliant with no loss of grip); brakes (less grabby with no loss of stopping power); steering (still lacks feel but quicker and more accurate, particularly off center); front seat adjustability; instrument panel; parking & driver aids; headlights; fuel economy. Whats better on the 2010 S4: exterior styling (except the lights); throttle response; transmission (DCT); difference in driving experience in different mode settings (comfort, auto, dynamic). It looks like the 2018 wins by a knockout but it doesnt. The new car is really let down by a tendency to bog on initial throttle application. It feels like some combination of poor transmission tuning, a very soft throttle tip-in setup, and some degree of turbo lag. It can be a party pooper and the car doesnt come alive in Dynamic mode they way the old one did. Well see if the 2018 S4 grows in on over time. Ive already discovered that using the paddle shifters helps with throttle response. Ive already shifted this car "manually" in one week more than I did in the old S4 over seven years. The ZF 8-speed in the new S4 responds pretty quickly to the paddles but doesnt cope well with stacked downshift requests. I read that the terrific new 10-speed auto in high performance Chevies drops multiple gears in an instant. More to follow once my new S4 passs the 1,000 mile break in period.

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  I love this little car - 2007 Audi A4
  By Ken Feingold - January 17 - 1:34 pm

  Im big, the car isnt, but all in all it is reasonably comfortable. The AWD 6 speed 2.0 T gives me all the performance that I really need for Canadian winters and driving distances. Mileage is excellent on the hwy in 6th and this car pulls well past the speed limit. I find the fit and finish as good as my previous bimmers but the car is more reliable than my recent X5s and is actually better in the snow. I reccomend this car wholeheartedly - I always enjoy driving it!

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  Love the car but... - 2007 Audi A4
  By Fred - January 16 - 4:12 pm

  Great car for driving around town. Convertable is really fun and in the winter, quattro really gets you through. One issue I have is that on a long trip, the drivers seat becomes very uncomfortable to the point of painful. I have had the pad replaced but it didnt help. I use a towel on the seat for long trips. Additionally, the german car makers need to upgrade their Nav system. Toyota and Acura systems win by a mile!

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  So far so good... - 2001 Audi A6
  By dave - January 14 - 11:52 am

  Bought this used with 78k miles. Its a 2001 4.2 with sport package and all upgrades. First thing I did was do full timing belt service. Not cheap, but good insurance. Car runs great and performance is strong. Previous owner lowered 1.5", so handling is great, but ride is choppy. Hazard light unit failed shortly after buying -- a $300 fix. But with both fingers crossed, Im very pleased with the car. Around $20k invested in total now. Barring any major service, this is a good value for what you get.

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  Nice but UGLY - 2006 Audi A3
  By Me - January 10 - 4:00 pm

  I test drove the new A3. It was very responsive and quick. No noticeable turbo lag which is common in most turbo cars. The interior was well designed but it is an ugly car on the outside. It looks like an oversized VW GTI. If they kept it the same size as the GTI it wouldnt be as ugly. It shouldve been aborted in the design stage.

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  Buyer Beware - 2001 Audi TT
  By Disapointed in Houst - January 7 - 2:41 pm

  Consider the TT a hole that you will pour lots of money into. The reliability is horrible, and the repairs extremely expensive.

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  Nice but... - 1998 Audi A4
  By JC - January 7 - 6:20 am

  Nice car if you can afford the high dollar repairs. Ball joints have been a constant problem. Transmission went out completely at 80,000 miles even though the car has been very well cared for and driven lightly.