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 A4 - 2006 Audi A4
  By ROY - February 5 - 2:43 am

  I enjoy cycling and skiing, and spend a lot of time on weekends driving to pursue my interests. Things that are very important to me are: good all weather capability, fun to drive, room for all my gear, and fuel economy. After exhausting myself with test drives and research, I narrowed the field down to BMW X5 3.0 and the A4. I went with the A4, and admit that it was a very tough decision. After a few months of ownership, the A4 has exceeded my expectations in all areas. Truly a great car, my first Audi, but not my last!

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  My opinion - 2004 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By RDWILLIA - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Solid ride,ease of access and easy view of all controls (both daylight and nighttime.Driver’s seat and passenger seat have power adjustable.The driver has lumbar suprt. Stiffness of ride can be adjusted. The higher you raise the car softer it is. Lowest great for highway. In town raise it one setting so it will smooth out city potholes. It has twin turbo’s but that unfortunately includes turbo lag, which can be compensated for by using the Tip-tronic shifting when necessary. My car came with ESP and handles like its on rails. It’s an SUV with touring car comfort. Versatile.

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  Amazing - 2004 Audi A4
  By BigMic - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I couldnt ask for anything more. The look and feel of this car is amazing and Ive had nothing but compliments from all of my friends. I highly recommend this car to all entry level luxury car shoppers.

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  A4 1.8T Wagon Practically Rocks - 2004 Audi A4
  By RastaJoe - February 4 - 10:00 am

  This practical yet fun to drive wagon is the best of both worlds. The 1.8T engine with Auto/Manual mode has a lot of giddyup and when youre cruising on the highway, Ive gotten as much as 33 mph! Put the 2nd row seats down and the cargo space is awesome. I get some looks when I load the stuff in there. This Audi is so much more reliable than the Lexus IS300 Sportcross I had. Only 1 10,000 mile checkup vs. 6 times into the shop for the Lexus. (So much for the passionate pursuit of perfection) Audi uber alles!

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  Great car, but why a cassete player? - 2004 Audi A4
  By lfrancisconi - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Great car! I just wonder why they put a cassete player in this car. It does not make sense. It has been like 3 years Ive seen a cassete tape for the last time. If you have money to buy this car, having a cd should not be a problem. Audi should offer that as an optional for those that want a 2004 car with with a 1970 audio system. Overall great!

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  Continued Audi Satisfaction - 2004 Audi A4
  By robertkaye - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I chose the A4 Cabriolet 3.0 Quattro over the BMW 330ci, Volvo S70 Covertible, MB 320 Cabriolet, Infiniti G35 Coupe and others based on four previously satisfactory experiences with Audi. Their cars continue to offer an unbeatable combinatgion of some of the highest build quality, design, materials and performance at a very competitive price. My new A4 Cabriolet is (so far) the best of my Audis.

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  Practical Performance - 1999 Audi A4
  By Eric Hunter - February 4 - 9:30 am

  I had been a VW owner since 1982. I decided to move up to the Audi because of the All Wheel Drive. The car is solidly built. The engine is very smooth and powerfull. All weather handling is superb once you shed the stock rubber. The interior is a bit cozy for a six footer, but everything is within reach. Rear seat room is very tight. The trunk is cavernous for a car its size. I would recommend this car to anyone who needs to go anywhere fast in any weather.

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  Great Car For The Money - 2004 Audi A4
  By 2004_A4 - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Took delivery of my 04 in August and still try to find reasons to get myself behind the wheel. If youre coming from a faster car it may be a bit slow for you (not the case for me). The "Turbo Lag" is not an issue on the automatic in my opinion. Overall Ive never owned a better car and still try to find reasons why this car isnt perfect. There were some reported issues in the original B6 platform models (2002-3 A4s) but those have been resolved (mainly coilpack stuff). I hope anyone looking at a BMW 3 series or Saab 9-3 has a look at the Audi, it certainly has something to offer.

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  Audi A4 - 2002 Audi A4
  By true - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Interior is best I have seen, everything else is self-explanatory.

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  Audi A4 - 2002 Audi A4
  By marlins - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I love the fact that my wife will be riding in both safety and comfort without sacrificing style.