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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  Great car - 2010 Audi S4
  By dan - February 26 - 10:51 pm

  I love this car !!! I have had 3 beemers. an Audi A8L and an Acura in the last 7-8 yrs. This car is the bomb. Not too flashy but just the right amount of class. handles like a sports cars with a comfortable ride. The features in the car are topnotch. quality,Quality, Quality!!!

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  A5 coupe driveability and performance - 2010 Audi A5
  By Mike D - February 26 - 2:15 pm

  The Audi A5 is a headturner. You must be social to buy this car because you will get stopped at gas stations and traffic lights.I have been driving this car for 2 months and it seems to be the only one in the area. Not many cars balance performance and drivability like the A5. You can drive it like a sports sedan or with the help of manual shifting or sports mode, drive it like a pure sports car.The car is glued to the road and loves to be thrown into corners. Ruts or uneven road are not a problem. Highway driving is smooth as butter. All of this and 26-34 mpg in a very powerful 4 cyl with only 211 HP but an incredible 258 lbs of torque.Very happy with this purchase .

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  A3 TDI perfection! - 2010 Audi A3
  By David-A3TDI - February 26 - 5:11 am

  Had been interested in purchasing a diesel for some time now but never seemed to make financial sense until the A3 TDI came out. Only $1200 more than a standard FWD A3. The Fed tax credit of $1300 covered the difference plus the state waives sales tax. What a great car! Love how it drives and rides. The TDI engine has plenty of pull to get on the highway and for passing. The interior is very impressive with surprisingly amount of room. The exterior looks fantastic especially with the LED/xenon headlights and black sunroof. Extremely happy with the purchase. Averaging 39 mpg. Great job Audi!

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  AUDI Q7 - 2010 Audi Q7
  By chris fields - February 24 - 2:12 pm

  Ive driven BMWs for the last 15 years but wanted a change. I looked at Audi because I liked the styling and pretty much knew itd be well built. Pros: After 25,000 miles I still love getting in and driving every day. Great power, common-sense functional, simple and effective layout. Plenty of space, easy fold down seats and awesome looks inside and out. Full time 4-wheel drive really grips the road.

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  Best Luxury Value - 2007 Audi A8
  By Jerry R - February 20 - 1:29 pm

  After selling my 06 A8L I realized what a wonderful car it was and found an 07 A8L with an MSRP of $90K, with 12k miles for $50K. New was out of the question due to initial loss. These cars are an absolute remarkable value (used). I dont know how Audi is able to get the mileage out of a 4000+ lb. car with all wheel drive. Both comfort and performance are unsurpassed. B & O radio is a must . Rear seat leg room is better than a new Rolls- Royce Ghost @ $300K, and anyone who rides in it (who doesnt know Audi) is amazed.

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  My Baby - 2010 Audi A4
  By Kaje - February 17 - 7:21 pm

  This car has exceeded all of my expectations. I purchased it in the fall of 2008. The gas mileage is unreal: occasionally I will get 37 mpg on the highway (10 mpg better than EPA projected). I am 6 foot 6 inches and it feels like this car is tailored for me. My father fits at 6 foot 11 inches and he it works for him as well. The LEDs are a must, as I have gotten an innumerable amount of glances and BMW 3 series wanting to race because of them. The Audi A4 is just as capable if not more so than the other cars with which it competes. The grip is unreal. And while other cars are sliding around on the ice, it drives just like it would on asphalt. This car is a dream.

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  Super car - 2001 Audi A6
  By Hermannr - February 16 - 8:55 pm

  This is our third Audi, was impressed with the first two, (67 and 71) so I took the chance to purchase this one off Ebay for my wife. Weve put 35,000 miles on it in the last 4 years and other than regular maintenance, we have had only the alternator fail. Average fuel economy 27 mpg in the summer and 23.5 mpg in the snow. Best fuel economy on a trip so far was 32.1 mpg. It is a little hard on tires (or is that me?) The turbos really help with the high altitude here. With all the driving we do on gravel and dirt roads, not a single squeak or rattle. Super car.

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  A well put together Machine - 2010 Audi A4
  By Dan - February 14 - 10:12 am

  Have had my new A4 for about 5 months and it is the best car Ive ever owned. I attended one of those Audi Driving experiences where they let you drive a Lexus, Mercedes and BMW, as well as the A4 and while the A4 wasnt superior in every category, it was the all around winner (atleast for me) Interior design is sleek and quality, exterior styling turns heads when I drive by. Fuel efficiency is off the charts, 24mpg city, and 33 highway, although I have taken a couple long highway trips and gotten 34-35mpg. I will admit, Audis past quality issues made me think twice about buying. I hope reviews of this model were correct.

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  Rock Solid Machine - 2007 Audi S4
  By joel - February 12 - 9:44 pm

  After a long and arduous search and having owned many brands/models prior (BMW, Infiniti, Cadillac, Honda, Benz) I still keep coming back to Audi. Without a doubt Audi still makes the most refined and well thought out interiors in the world. I kept going back and forth between M3 and S4 and after much local searching was able to snag a low mile, pristine S4 from a private seller. Having owned an A6, 2.7T manual prior I was more than ready for a return. This car is amazing...it fits you like a glove, handles like few others on the road and is a practical hauler for life.

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  All 10s - 2010 Audi A4
  By r. sterling - February 12 - 9:16 pm

  This vehicle is a remarkable example of German engineering and build quality. Engine, transmission and drive train are perfectly matched in this sub mid size platform. Body and interior tolerances are precise. Feature benefits are many leaving this driver with anything left to be desired. One word, impressive!