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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  It Makes Me Smile - 2012 Audi Q5
  By optionsf - March 31 - 1:14 am

  I have shopped for an SUV for three years, awaiting the Jeep Cherokee, then opting for the AWD Nissan Rogue. When I couldnt get the color and version I wanted on time, I found a 2012 Q5 very lightly used for the same price as these new cars...only12k miles. Today I took it on the infamous run to costco and found myself smiling...when the back gate opens automatically, when I stashed the wine bottles in the compartment under the rug, when I got in and turned on the Bang & Olufsen upgraded sound, and when the turbo kicked in and I shot past another car uphill. The build quality is excellent and this 3 yr old feels tight and solid. After my last Nissan Murano, it feels like a sports car

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  First week of my new love - 2015 Audi S4
  By carguy211 - March 28 - 9:20 am

  Now I have to say I am a car guy and like fast sporty cars. Did a bunch of research in my price range and lean more towards sport that comfort. Traded in a 2009 G37 that I had really liked but I am already in love and over that. This is my first German car and after looking at dealer inventory and not seeing exact features I wanted I looked at it and ordered it from factory my way. I couldnt be happier with the way my exterior, interior and sport options turned out. This car rocks literally with Bang Olfsun and rides like its on rails. The acceleration and drive handling are superb and its just fun to drive. I keep it in dynamic mode because its responsive and fast. Awesome car.

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  2nd owner of this wonderful vehicle - 2006 Audi A4
  By Jan Chambers - March 24 - 9:59 am

  I bought this car with 45K miles on it as a 2nd home car for Arizona. I had an A4 convertible in NJ, a 2007, and loved it. I love this car too. Great pickup and go, been a great car (now with 67K miles on it). Car looks almost new as I get it detailed inside and out every year in AZ. The only problem are the cloudy headlights which Id like to get remedied.

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  1st time Audi Owner/Love the TDI - 2015 Audi A3
  By dann902 - March 14 - 8:07 pm

  My last 2 vehicles have been BMWs. I was open to other German automakers and very interested in a diesel vehicle because of the fuel economy. I was also looking at the 15 328d, but ended up with the A3 as it was more affordable (also smaller). My last vehicle was a V8 550i with very poor gas mileage. Now with my new A3 TDI I am getting 45-48 mpg on my commute to work. The interior is very simple but elegant and uses high quality materials. I got the sport package and the sport seats are very comfortable. I am very happy with my purchase because I accompanied my goal of finding a vehicle that is very practical, fuel efficient, a luxury brand, and not too expensive. I highly recommend the A3

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  2015 s4 Stronic what a kick! - 2015 Audi S4
  By jygesq - February 5 - 10:10 am

  this car is fast, THIS CAR IS FAST, this car is fun!! The S tronic tranny makes this car a pleasure to drive.Acts like a MT without all the hassle.You can stay is D mode for all a round economy or pull down gear shift to go into S mode. In S the shift points are raised . You can also make car settings for steering, engine sounds, power, sport differential through MIMI.It can be reasonably tame or like a muscle car in disguise. The sport differential cost an additional $1100 ORDER it . It significantly changes for the better the way the car handles, and you can program it for different driving situations. Amazing sleeper car. Down side,the plastic trim on window frames scratches easily.

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  Pocket Rocket - 2015 Audi S3
  By ssincl3 - January 30 - 1:05 am

  I really love this car! Gorgeous looking inside and out. Probably my biggest impulse buy of all time. I wanted a Golf R but didnt want to wait much longer. Got the Sepang Blue and everyone falls in love with the color. It has all the options included, makes me nervous to see it practically drive itself. Of course the downsides. I really wish it had a manual trans. My drive gets boring real quick with the DSG. Ill change as soon as one comes available. $50k car in 2015 with no Homelink, memory seats, data USB, boggles me. Interior storage also sucks. Glove box is a joke! All the items fall out when you open it. This message is for Audi but I DO encourage anyone to buy it. Its awesome!!

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  A German muscle car, sleeper division - 2014 Audi S4
  By smerdyakov - January 3 - 1:53 pm

  This car represents a Teutonic variation on the classic American muscle car: take a mid-size car (the A4, in this case) and install a larger, more powerful engine. There is more to the S4 than that, of course, but that is the essence of it. The only way of distinguishing it from an A4, at a glance, is the presence of small S4 badges front and rear, and the V6T badges on the front fenders. The S4 gives excellent acceleration with superb handling and ride quality, combined with reasonable fuel economy. It is not inexpensive (especially in Prestige trim), but I cannot think of a car with its combination of virtues available at a lower price from any other manufacturer.

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  Just got it and its great so far - 2015 Audi Q3
  By favabeans5 - January 3 - 9:28 am

  We already have a full size SUV and found that 90% of the time we are just pulling around an empty trunk and hundreds of pound of extra weight. There was no purpose in driving that thing for the majority of our needs. So we got the Q3. It gives the SUV feel but you arent towing around all this weight and space that rarely gets used. The trunk is more than big enough for grocery trips. If you take out the covers on the trunk space and the door you can fit a lot more than you might have expected. We just brought home 8 27 gallon storage bins from homedepot with room to space. I wasnt sure they would fit in the trunk when we bought em. It has plenty of room in the back for carseats.

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  The Q3 had me at hello. - 2015 Audi Q3
  By mrsdeepblue - December 23 - 10:52 am

  After driving a sedan for the past few years, I was eager to to find a small SUV with sporty handling and all the bells and whistles. I did a LOT of research and considered Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, Lexus NX, BMW X1, MB GLA, and a number of others that were ruled out long before test drive time, either due to appearance, quality or feature combinations. Long story short, the Q3 won my heart on the test drive. It sailed easily over potholes, twists and turns, and accelerated nicely onto the freeway. I love how it rides, handles and brakes. It has enough cargo space for my needs. Its so fun to drive. The experience at the dealer was great as well.

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  great new toy - 2014 Audi A4
  By idcal - December 20 - 11:23 am

  Long term ex-Acura guy who loves manual transmissions. I really dont understand where Acura is shifting its target demographics, which is a pity, as they used to have such sweet packages. They no longer offer manual transmissions in cars worth buying. After long research the manual A4 quattro hit the sweet spot for features, quality and price. Drove one and got instantly hooked. So much technology, so nicely packaged on top of a mechanically exquisite car. A car that shares an engine and transmission with the Golf GTI, but packaged so much better. A blast to drive.