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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  Love the Audi TT 225 2002. - 2002 Audi TT
  By yorgos3 - August 21 - 2:00 am

  After 10 months the Audi TT has become me! It has been absolutely perfect and I love more each day. You can not g back to regular cars after driving the TT a while.

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  AUDI MAKES ONE AMAZING CAR!!! - 1998 Audi A6
  By Gerrit Christopher V - August 20 - 2:00 am

  This car is by far the best thing I could ask for. It has all the best features any person could ask for. The assurance in winter in Chicago of FULLTIME Quattro, by far the best system ever made (just ask rallycross(A competition offraod race league that BANNED quattro from its track because it gave an unfair advantage, the same advantage Audi gives you on their factory cars, like my A6. I have gotten out of muck mudand 12 inch snow, more than my 4WD Chevy BLAZER could ever do. Plus you have a world calass car with better, more attreactive build quality than any mercedes or utilitarian BMW!!!!

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  A Real SUV - 2002 Audi S6
  By Cornelius Scriptor - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Probably the ultimate compromise between sport and utility -- as much room as an SUV, way more fun to drive, and any more performance would be too much for North America.

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  Third Time is NOT the Charm - 2016 Audi A6
  By bruce s. - August 17 - 1:25 pm

  This is my third A6. I loved my other two and actually went to a new dealership for the third and had a wonderfully helpful sales person. The third one is the best looking of my three and I was so ready to love it. I hate it. Literally, the worst car I have had since my first BMW 7 series. I bought the prestige model with all the technology packages including the heads up display and driver assist. Truly, almost nothing works right. I cant input addresses into the GPS, the brake assist never works, it rattles like the frame is not welded onto the frame, the phone system and voice activation never gets names rights and I constantly loose calls that I am able to keep when driving the same route in my wifes Mercedes. I have been on the phone with Audi Experience no less than 20 times. I have been through endless fights with service where I can demonstrate what is not working, take screen shots and they admit they cannot fix it. The regional service rep was going to call his software guy in Germany except the guy was on vacation. I think I will need to look into lemon law protection as this is intolerable. Going back to Mercedes or BMW. They are totally clueless. I went from being a loyal Audi fan to hating every day in the car. Buyer beware!

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  the first car Ive every really loved - 2006 Audi A3
  By matt w - August 17 - 3:00 am

  I had been waiting for a couple of years, for a sporty, upscale, SMALL car. To me the WRX is unrefined, the RSX too impractical, and Mazda 3 is nice, but somewhat cheap feeling. So this was the car for me, and I couldnt be happier with it. There are so many thoughtful details that arent obvious at first that make this car really special. For example, it comes with 2 different keys, and for each key, remembers the last setting on the dual-climate control. It is so fun to drive, full of safety features, and has plenty of room in back with the seats down (my dog approves!)

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  2.7T - 2000 Audi A6
  By davidm - August 17 - 2:00 am

  A fine vehicle in all respects, at a good value considering the contained technology.

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  Dissappointed - 2001 Audi TT
  By bobing - August 16 - 10:00 am

  I love the style and design and the interior touches. Too bad you have to be a contortionist to get in and out of the car. The seats are unconfortable, the cup holders useless, and the suspension creaks like an old lady every time you go over a speed bump at 3 MPH. Someone tried to steal my car ( too bad they didnt succeed). The ignition system was dammaged. It only took 2 months to get a duplicate coded key from the Audi factory - all the way in Germany. It cost me $2,000 in rental car fees waiting for the parts. But a BMW 5 series and forget the TT- or make me an offer and yo can have a silver 225 turbo. Fire sale!

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  Our Very First... - 2002 Audi A4
  By Coopus - August 16 - 10:00 am

  Today is the 2nd-week (900 miles) anniversary of our first Audi - the A4 3.0 Avant. What a great car. My husband and I love everything about the A4. I love the styling and the dual temperture control, and my husband loves the power and handling (he autocrosses regular in his 914). Comparing to all our previous cars, 3 series, E-class, and Discovery, this is the funnest car to own and to drive.

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  I was dupped! - 1998 Audi A6
  By German Crap - August 16 - 2:00 am

  VERY disappointed...thinking I was buying a luxury car, and I got a luxury maint. bill. NEVER buy an Audi again!

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  The other woman... - 2002 Audi TT
  By JamesUhl - August 16 - 2:00 am

  Wanna find out if your significant other is the jealous type, then you have found the car to fall in love with! A pleasure to drive and a dream to own - turns heads everywhere, people cant help but talk to you about it. Minor parts quality issues arent a concern with exemplary dealer service/care. Interior is divine.