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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  Best Car ever Owned - 2004 Audi A4
  By popeyes - April 7 - 10:44 am

  Original owner of this 3.0 A4 since new. Right off the lot, negotiated 5% down. Now 7 yrs experience with it with 81K kms traveled. Quality, stability, stance, control, performance are all above great with decent gas mileage of 7.9l/100km highway 9-10l/100km city with quattro using synthetic. Audi maintenance covers everything during 3 yr warr and dealers have provided exceptional service. They replaced all my brake discs, pads and spark plugs all under warranty. Burnt bulbs, lighter socket, wiper lever seized from salt also replaced /w warr. Coils replaced under recall, but never problems just glithces with electronic in window controls, sunroof, and resets of A/C.

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  2004 Audi A4 3.0 - 2004 Audi A4
  By pjs2011 - April 5 - 2:00 pm

  Pros: When running properly, the performance of this car is impressive. It was built for the Autobahn and is fun to drive fast, but were not in Germany. Cons: Ive had many mechanical and computer issues. Driver side electric window mechanism replaced, catalytic converter replaced, speakers go in and out on the front driver side, ignition coils replaced, uses a lot of oil, check engine light on more often than not. At least a $1000 everytime I have to take it to the shop. The interior design isnt practical. The second cup holder is in the middle console but its very cumbersome to access. Im shopping for a new car and it wont be an Audi.

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  Watch out for the 2.0T Engines - 2011 Audi Q5
  By atlas4 - April 2 - 11:40 am

  I tried to do as much research as possible and every review kept pointing to the Audi 2011 Q5 with the 2.0T as the best at this time. So I bought one. The ride is excellent, gas mileage is very good, the fit and finish is excellent but now comes the big issue. The car burns oil at a very high rate. At 4000 miles I had to add a full quart of oil. The manual says it can burn 1 qt. every 600 miles so I guess that mean at almost every fill up of gas put a qt of oil in. That sounds ridiculous. I called 3 dealers and all said yes it does burn a lot of oil. Well that is just not acceptable so I sold it got a Toyota Rav4 4WD with more power, more cargo room and does not burn oil.

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  HELP!!!!!!!!!...."TICKING" NOISE - IT IS GOING TO BLOW UP????? - 2007 Audi A4
  By agretty1 - March 29 - 11:30 am

  I purchased my 2007 Audi A4 Convertible Quattro about a month ago, with only 39,000 miles on it. It is a great car, but with one exception, it "TICKS" after I power the car off. What Ive noticed is that it when I drive a short distance, its a low faint ticking noise, and when I drive a long/extended period it is a high/loud ticking noise when I power off. Yes, Ive been told that it is "Normal", but it is such a distraction from the beauty of the car, when the attention its receiving is due to the "ticking" noise it makes. Is anyone else experiencing this problem, and is there a fix for it. Please advise, as I feel that I am driving a "TICKING TIME BOMB".....

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  Bad decision - 2009 Audi Q7
  By rembo1 - March 25 - 2:59 pm

  Have driven LR3, X5 and Q7. Q7 just doesnt seem to be the same quality. Many problems - breaks wear out extremely quickly, rear lift gate problems (twice), MPG is not as advertised based on my calcs, nterior feels cramped, ergonomically uncomfortable. Teen kids keep asking when can we get a new SUV. We end up driving our BMW sedan to local ski resorts, beaches. Cant wait for lease to be over.

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  Great to drive, horrible to maintain - 2001 Audi A6
  By Plova - March 25 - 1:23 am

  Where to start ? Bought a 2001 A6 avant in 2006 with 106K on the clock. Car was in very good shape. Within a year started having some issue. Did timing belt replacement which is normal maintenance (about $500 in Audi parts if you do yourself). Have replaced the ABS module, 2 combi (EGR) valves, valve cover gaskets, etc. At 149K had to replace 3 steering arms ($700 at shop). Now transmission is acting up and need to replace at 151K. Still have problems with secondary air system and was told by tech probably carbon build up in intake manifold after all other attempted repairs. Great car to drive but very expensive if you dont do the repairs yourself.

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  Be prepared to spend $$$ on maintenance - 2004 Audi A4
  By uknowhu - March 24 - 7:08 pm

  Its great when it everything is in running order. I bought the car new and have since run it to 188k miles. At 115k, the engine died on me. Something came loose that ruined one of the cylinders. Fortunately, I have a friend whos a mechanic that was able to procure me a used engine with 60k on it. After that, the bushings had to be replaced and then the fuel pump. I love my car and still have it, but I dont think Ill buy Audi again. Too much money for maintenance and gas.

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  Worth the wait - 2011 Audi A5
  By rs691919 - March 22 - 2:25 pm

  It took almost five months to receive the car, but I took delivery last Friday. I was apprehensive about the 4 cyl engine, but now 200 miles in I love it. It is smooth and yet has enough power for a driver who is not looking to set speed records. There is a slight turbo lag, but it doesnt bother me one bit. The engine sound isnt brawny, but I just turn the music up so I cant hear it anyway! The design, both exterior and interior, is immaculate. It is truly a joy to drive, and even my eight year old son keeps running into the garage to sneak peeks in it. I also feel the Prestige package is worth it for the smart key alone.

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  Spectacular Beauty - 2011 Audi A4
  By cottonmouthbev - March 18 - 2:48 am

  I just picked up my 2011 A4 Manual Quattro and I cannot stop ogling at this car. In fact, Im jealous of people outside the car because they can see how stunningly gorgeous it is. This car simply stands out as the best combination of finesse, power and style. Im not sure if car designs can improve much on this overall shape because after a certain point, aesthetic appeal gets lost in radical designs. I have the premium package which does not sport the LED lights but without them, the headlights are leaner and more aggressive looking and its intense. As for the interior, its plush and solid while having being supremely user friendly after a quick run over of the controls.

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  Ultimate Q-ship - 2008 Audi A8
  By tolimits - March 17 - 7:39 pm

  Cleanest design of all large sedans. Extreme comfort and adequate power. Purchased a used one off lease and saved 50% of sticker price. Not sure if it was very well cared for or the build quality is that exceptional, but the car is in nearly brand new condition after 36k miles.