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:

• 

  Design ERROR - 2007 Audi A3
  By PKWadkins - February 7 - 10:39 am

  Have an A4, love it, decided to get an A3. Worse mileage than our truck, turns 3000 RPMs at highway speed, cant even make 10MPH in 1st gear. TERRIBLE design point. Weve contacted Audi, they blame everyone else (dealer, etc) - but it is the worst design I have seen in 30 years of buying cars. Lighter than the A4, same power (V6), smaller, and about 10MPG worse than the A4 - blows my mind. We wont touch Audi again - due to Audi USA refusing to discuss, acknowledge, suggest fixes (ie, different gear ratio in the differentials). By the way, Im an engineer, have extensive auto experience...

• 

  Never by an Audi again - 1999 Audi A4
  By Steve - December 27 - 10:06 am

  This car was reliable for the first 5 years but since then it has been nothing but a money pit. It has broken down at the side of the road several times and every time its at least a $700 dollar visit to the garage. The interior quality is bad. Cup holder broke, hatchback interior paneling broke. The engine is underpowered. Like many AWD cars, it goes through tires quickly. It is just not a well built car.

• 

  A big headache! - 2017 Audi Q7
  By Isabel R. - November 26 - 12:55 am

  I own a new 2017 Q7 for 7 months and its currently 6500 miles. I love the esthetics and the drive but the electronics of this car are absolutely terrible! Dont buy this car! I have had a steering wheel malfunction in this car 4 time where all the controls in the steering wheel stop working, -and next day everything is working again! . I took it to Audi 3 times and they cant figure it out! Also the rear camera doesnt work every time it rains. My volume button stopped working temporarily 3 times! My oil change light went off when it wasnt due for an oil change. The light went off the next day by itself. There is a clicking noise everytime I start the car. Like a processor sound. I took the car to Audi and none of the issues where fixed yet. I am planning to apply to lemon laws.

• 

  Good Engineering, Poor Customer Service - 2007 Audi Q7
  By kerryjth - November 15 - 12:41 pm

  I enjoy driving the Q7 and it is a well built basic SUV. Unfortunately for $60K price tag Audi falls short on customer service and attention to detail. I had serious electrical problems the 1st week I drove out of dealership and the dealers reaction was "so what". They fixed it but it was as if it was expected. Next the battery died several times and had to be jumpstarted. After bringing it in 3 times Audi finally figured out the Software had a glitch. The MMI system(electronic brain) is unsealed and located below the tilted forward cup holders- so if you spill even a little liquid on the shifter the MMI shorts out and it costs $1000 to fix. Audi said not their design flaw my fault.

• 

  Never Again - 2006 Audi A3
  By DavidK45 - August 28 - 12:26 am

  The 2.0 liter turbo jerks a lot and gas mileage is average. Rides great on the highway but too "loose" in the city. I have had several problems with my car and am just glad it is under warranty (though a new battery is not covered). My battery completely died after two years. The clip for the sunshade on the Open Sky system broke (as is common) and was replaced by a non-matching black clip (interior is grey). At 21,500 miles, my manual transmission broke where 1st gear and reverse did not work. My car is currently in the shop (over one week now) and Audi is going to replace the transmission since they are afraid the problem could spread to the other gears if they rebuild it.

• 

  In pieces on the shop floor at 400 miles - 2016 Audi Q5
  By Rather Have Mercedes - July 17 - 2:15 am

  Beautiful paperweight for the first four weeks I owned it. Timing shaft tensioner failed, then second time in it was the camshaft that failed. Audi refused buyback saying basically "too bad."

• 

  A rebadged VW w/ nothing to offer - 2001 Audi A4
  By Roger - July 5 - 5:19 pm

  I purchased this car a few months ago due to my new job where I needed to drive daily, since prior to this Ive had 2 sports cars (350z, mr2 turbo). I needed something comfortable with that didnt look old and was cheap. Ive always love the red color scheme of Audi interiors so I picked up this car. To be honest if youre looking to buy an A4, save yourself the money and go buy a VW jetta/passat. Aside from the quattro there really isnt much of a difference between them, the cars options are all kind of crappy, and this car is not as luxurious as my old Lexus ES, and definitely wasnt as fun as my 350z, plus its horribly unreliable, and the little problems that come up tear away at you.

• 

  What a shame - 2018 Audi S5
  By Fred Kiepe - June 12 - 8:37 am

  DRIVING THIS CAR WAS GREAT.The major problem is the trim at the bottom of the door that hits you in the bottom of your calf when entering. This item kept me from buying the Audi S5

• 

  look elsewhere - 2005 Audi A4
  By David Wycliff - June 8 - 5:26 pm

  I loved this car for its exterior design although the interior design feels cheap(its same just a Volkswagen). I had so many problems with this car I dont even know where to start. It wont accelarate when entering freeway.. dealder replace turbo related crcuit borad and the problem came back three times now. I sent a letter to Audi under New Jerseys Lemon law. I hope I can get my money back. Numourous rattles coming from all over the place. and I cant believe I bougth a 30K 1.8 liter car..total lack of power. interior design is so busy.. distracting red light all over the place. this near luxury car is cheaper than competition cause its cheaply made

• 

  Dont Buy an Audi - 2007 Audi A4
  By Dont Buy - May 3 - 1:19 pm

  Several issues with the vehicle 1) Engine Noise - the car sounds like a diesel. Not Quiet it will bother you. Dealer says that is the injectors 2) Brand new Car that burns oil according to Audi corp the engineering tolerances allow for a quart to be burned every 1200 miles - All I can say is WOW. This is a serious problem that will cause engine failure in the Future 3) The HID Lights vibrate. Taken in on several occasions there is an NTSB release on this safety issue. AUdi wont do anything about it till someone dies. 4) Poor Value. Poor Resale Value. 5) TURBO LAG . . . . Turbo Lag. Step on the Gas Pedal and count 2 missisippi. God forbid you need to quickly accela