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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  Beautifully refined car - 2004 Audi A4
  By Eric - December 26 - 4:46 pm

  I have the 3.0 A4 with UltraSport package. The rims and trim associated with this package turn this car into a head turner. My previous vehicle was a 1991 MR2 Turbo. Although it might be the slowest car in its class, I love it. The biggest difference I experienced (compared to Japanese brands) is the attention to detail. Things such as storage under the seating, lights under each door to illuminate where you are going to step, and a cool hidden trunk release, just to name a few. It feels super solid on the road, especially in rain. I chose the 3.0 over the 1.8T because I dont want to deal with all the problems associated with high-mileage turbos.

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  A 1 Thats our Q5 - 2016 Audi Q5
  By audiguy - December 24 - 10:26 pm

  Every category is 5 star except a USB port. We have owned the Q5 for 9 months, great vehicle! Couldnt be happier. As I noted prior a 2016 Q5 sh have had a USB. However, purchasing an adapter is not a "big deal"....

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  Q-Tastic! - 2007 Audi Q7
  By Q-tastic - December 24 - 4:30 pm

  This car is Q-tastic! I have owned/driven some of the nicest cars on the road today, and I believe this is one of the nicest luxury cars on the road. We purchased the car used, and have had no issues to date. I do worry about the cost of ownership long-term, but I believe that with a good extended warranty and a little planning, that risk is very manageable. We purchased the V-8, and I was very worried about Fuel MPG. It is actually better than the Volvo XC90 T6 we replaced it with. It gets really thirsty if you jackrabbit at every stop, but a mix of City/Highway will easily yield 18mpg or better. Audis are great because they are highline but not snobby. You will love this car!

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  Comfy and Quiet - 2007 Audi Q7
  By Dreiter - December 24 - 6:25 am

  This is the most comfortable car we have purchased (have had Mercedes, BMW, VW and other Audis). This car has a luxurious ride for all and a high quality interior finish that is better than BMW and Mercedes. The car feels huge when driving, especially in tight spots, this isnt good or bad, its just the way it feels. The Quattro system is outstanding in wet or snowy conditions and we always feel secure in this car in bad weather. Our rattling panoramic roof was quickly adjusted at the dealer during regular maintenance and hasnt rattled since. No other issues. It is a very heavy car so expect items that wear out to do just that (tires/brakes) especially if youre hard on them.

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  The S7 is a Sexy High Performance Machine - 2016 Audi S7
  By Mike McQ - December 23 - 9:21 pm

  I love this car! Smooth, smooth and smooth. Fast, smart tech, quiet, and great gas mileage for a 4.0 twin turbo. 0-60 in 3.9. The European delivery was excellent! A couple of small things I would recommend to Audi: 1. Clockwise should be zoom in on the nav, not zoom out. Its counterintuitive. 2. After I hit the start/stop button to turn off the engine, the home link wont activate the garage door. 3. No S7 rubber door mats, just with A7 logo. 4. Dual clutch Transmission has needed service twice...but now fine. Getting in/out of the rear seats is fine, for some reason other reviews think this is cramped and it really isnt. Grip is excellent on summer Pirelli tires, so I got the winter Pirellis.

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  Great Vehicle - 2010 Audi S4
  By PG - December 23 - 8:24 pm

  I drove the S4 and ended up buying it with the prestige package, rear sport differential, rear side air bags, and silk nappa leather. Hands down a nicer quality car than the BMs I tested. The S4 is much nicer inside and out. The ride is smooth and the car is quiet, until you unleash the beast under the hood. The S4 handles great and is very fast, I highly recommend this car!

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  I Love This Car! - 2008 Audi A3
  By Buck Greenlaw - December 22 - 5:33 pm

  This car is an absolute riot! The A3 is truly an Audi, truly a German automobile. One might be inclined to assume that the bottom-of-the-line Audi is just that, a tepid facsimile of the brand. On the contrary, the A3 possesses all of the presence and character of a complete European luxury machine. I continue to be amazed with the build quality. The driving experience is just phenomenal. The engine note is something that must be experienced youd never guess a small five door could sound this wonderful. I could gush unapologetically about the car for far more than 700 characters so I will conclude with this summation: This car is sick!!!

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  This is a great car!! - 2000 Audi A6
  By yukon - December 20 - 9:23 pm

  I have had the car for 7 1/2 years. It still looks and drives great. I just looked around, since I figured it was time to replace the car, and there is nothing that I like enough to justify replacing this car. I upgraded the suspension, and chippe dit 7 years ago, and it is still just a great package.

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  Very responsive in both handling and accelerating - 2000 Audi S4
  By Robert - December 20 - 3:19 pm

  This car is very responsive in both handling and accelerating. The ride quality is still good, but may be a bit too soft for some prospective buyers looking at sport sedans. There is a wide variety of performance after-market parts for this car.

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  Excellent - 2010 Audi Q5
  By pvp2 - December 19 - 6:52 pm

  The interior is outstanding and the handling has been a pleasant surprise. It has the right amount of firmness and handles hills and acceleration beautifully. I am thoroughly impressed. The only negative comment I have is about the iDrive feature or whatever they call it. I was pretty proficient in the BMW iDrive and came to like it. I hope that I will eventually learn to navigate my Audis too, but so far it has not been intuitive. I think I will come to like it but it is going to take a few weeks to get used to it.