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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  Awesome Audi! - 2010 Audi Q5
  By Q5ACK - July 22 - 6:55 am

  This is my first Audi and I absolutely love it! I have owned several other vehicles including BMW, Volvo, etc., and this car is far above the rest. If you are thinking of any other vehicle in this class, I highly recommend a long test drive and you will be convinced.

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  Good Car - 1991 Audi 90
  By Aj - July 20 - 7:38 pm

  Excellent Vehicle. Fun to drive, handles well, compact, economical, expensive to fix, but reliable. And once polished, it catches everyones eye.

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  2010 audi a3 2.0t quattro titanium pkg. - 2010 Audi A3
  By bobby - July 20 - 12:37 am

  Had the car almost 2 months now and cant stop driving it. I make excuses to take it out for spins all the time. The car is pretty rare i have only seen one in my town which makes it pretty exclusive. i have had people follow me just to ask me questions about it. It is definitely one of those cars which look better in person. Pictures do not do it justice. The interior is very classy and understated. the exterior has good lines and looks like it will age well. The performance is excellent though it is hard to compare it with anything, its sort of in a class of its own. The grip is amazing i was surprised on how nimble it was, especially having quattro and using launch control from a stop.

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  Reliable and fun for 180,000 miles! - 2003 Audi A4
  By vballannie - July 19 - 2:21 pm

  Ive been driving this car 120 miles round trip to work every day along with taking the family all around town and it has been fantastic! Ive done nothing but scheduled maintenance over the last eight years. And its not your average station wagon. I scream by those monster SUVs on the high ways. The best part is driving in the snow. On a day when every car was unable to get up a steep road, only I reached the top out of about 50! My only disappointment is that I cant replace this car since the Avant no longer comes in stick. Thank god I can rely on this car for many more miles!

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  Best Crossover SUV - 2010 Audi Q5
  By nebulas - July 18 - 7:09 pm

  Traded in my BMW X5 and havent looked back. Eye catching exterior and interior design, comfortable ride, good acceleration exiting ramps, quality build throughout.

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  Quattro! - 1999 Audi A4
  By raudi - July 18 - 2:18 pm

  This car handles like no other car I have driven in my life. The Audi grips and grips, and that more than makes up for the lack of power from the 1.8t. I have more confidence in the handling and the solidity of the Audi. The only thing that Ive had to replace is a window regulator on my car. It cost 250, but that was reasonable.

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  The Ladies Love It - 2009 Audi A5
  By matt - July 17 - 10:05 pm

  I was stopped one day at a party by a woman who said, "Are you the guy who has the A5 that was parked outside of the cleaners?" The exterior styling is amazing. Its a true head-turner. Nothing like it. I have the windows tinted and the rear badging removed (except the Audi circles) for a stealth look. Its a bit over-priced though. For nearly fifty grand, you get cheap floor mats, only 260 HP, no push button start (that package is another $2,000) no auto folding mirrors, cheap "leather" and an engine that burns about a quart of oil every five thousand miles. Notwithstanding, Audi hasnt imported a lot of these so it wont be like the A4 where you see one on every corner. A blast to drive.

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  Dont get the CVT - 2010 Audi A4
  By columbiaguy - July 15 - 12:45 pm

  I was given this car as a loaner car while my 06 A4 was being repaired. Even though my older A4 was broken, I still prefer it ten times over this new model. The CVT hesitation is absolutely unbearable! Do not buy the front wheel drive car with the CVT because you will regret it. The new A4 redesign is nice, but I actually think that the old A4 was prettier, and more engaging. This new one just feels similar to a Lexus, with less reliability. You feel disconnected from the road, and in a German car, that is not a good thing since that is the whole reason you buy one.

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  Bad audi - 2006 Audi A4
  By wrongaudi - July 13 - 7:18 pm

  Bad Audi the first week. The engine noise sound like a diesel engine. Battery dead after 2 yrs. Misc. Controls and knobs stop working. When top down the driver window rattles. I think I bought a lemon. Brought to the dealer. They said the engine noise was normal. They didnt do nothing with the window.

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  Love my AUDI A4 1.8 AWD - 1998 Audi A4
  By lalo - July 13 - 12:17 am

  I love my car. I have owned it for over a year and it still runs like a champ. Thankfully the people I bought it from took very good care of the car, and I have continued the same maintenance. It has great gas mileage, and is a beautiful car. It doesnt have the power when you first hit the gas pedal but once your moving it goes.