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:

• 

  Traded in a 2015 Carrera 4 GTS for 2016 S6 - 2016 Audi S6
  By Fiore - January 22 - 10:05 am

  After one day I am greatly enjoying the car. Understated and powerful, luxurious and sporty, its a perfect fit for my lifestyle.

• 

  Fun in the Sun - 2005 Audi A4
  By Ingrid M. Dahlquist - January 19 - 8:43 pm

  I have been an Audi driver for years, with a recent interruption, but now Im back. My new 1.8L Turbo CVT Cabriolet is a sporty, responsive, yet elegant vehicle that is an attention-getter everywhere we go. Very fun to drive.

• 

  Reliable, Safe, Fun to Drive - 2005 Audi A4
  By Aceman415 - January 18 - 9:23 pm

  The quality of the this car is amazing. I like the design much better than the new 2.0 model. Acceleration is excellent. I considered the A4 and the TSX. The TSX feels like a car for children, while the A4 feels like a car for professional adults. Got the 1.8 with FrontTrak, which seemed more peppy than with Quattro. Also, the FrontTrak model gets really good gas mileage. I get up to 39 mpg on Hwy 101 during rush hour traffic. Purchased my car from Rector Audit in Burlingame. The sales staff was very professional and not like your typical car dealership. Projector headlights are fine - you dont need xenon. Standard stereo works great.

• 

  Dr. Jeckill & Mr. Hyde - 2014 Audi S4
  By Mike Kalnitzky - January 18 - 9:06 pm

  This car can be a street racer or a daily commuter and does both well. This was my first Audi with an automatic (7 speed duel clutch) transmission. I do not miss the manual and cannot think of buying another car without the duel clutch transmission. I was sorry to see that the 2018 S4 is back to an 8 speed automatic because of the torque spikes of the new turbocharged 3.0 V6. I have a 2018 Audi Q5 on order. It has the duel clutch transmission.

• 

  Beautiful Car but... - 2004 Audi A4
  By Abazar22 - January 17 - 10:00 am

  It is a great drive and an absolutely beautiful car but too many problems in too little time. Broke down and needed to replace a part within the first month

• 

  A4 1.8T Quattro LOADED - 2004 Audi A4
  By Kylie - January 17 - 10:00 am

  I love my new car.....everything about it. It looks good, sounds good and is so incredibly fun to drive.

• 

  Be warned - this car could bankrupt you - 2001 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By CT driver - January 15 - 6:33 am

  We bought this car as an SUV alternative - loved the carlike driving, decent performance and Audi style. Unfortunately, the car has been dreadfully unreliable. Weve lost $20,000 in depreciation in 30,000 miles and had over $20,000 of warantee repair work done - thats $40,000 to drive 30,000 miles!! WOW. The list of repairs (covered by Audi but inconvenient to say the least) is too long to fit here: 2 replacement transmissions; new brake rotors every 15,000; new front air suspension at 58,000; front tie rods at 55,000; 2 air flow sensors; 3 hazzard light switches; new radiator at 52,000 miles; steering angle sensor (controls ABS) No racing-no accidents-no excuse for this experience

• 

  junk - 1998 Audi A4
  By doctorrocket9 - January 11 - 8:46 am

  We bought a pretty pearl white 1.8T with sport package. Two weeks after the warranty expired, the dealer said we needed new brakes, tires, and rear ball bearings, total bill $3000. The car needed endless work during the warranty, but at least we didnt have to pay for it. This was our second and final Audi, both with extensive problems lasting and very high repair costs. Now we drive Hondas.

• 

  Love it with a couple reservations - 2001 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By likes to drive - January 11 - 2:00 am

  This has been a great family car!!!!! My husband is European and likes a car that he can really "drive". This works for us, and yes, we text drove everything out there. He drives it with the tiptronic and it gets a bit better gas milage. It is comfortable for long drives, has been steady when driving on flooded and windy roads; and still turns heads in the preschool parking lot. An unexpected benifit of raising the car has been less bending needed when taking the children out of the car!

• 

  Awsome 4 - 2004 Audi A4
  By New J - January 11 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Audi and they just keep getting better. The fit and finish is superb. Why pay 4,000 to 5,000 more for a BMW of Mercedes. Audi gives a better care for less money. You do the math,