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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  Absolutely the "best crossover" now!! - 2009 Audi Q5
  By bi - July 19 - 10:11 pm

  Test drove many SUV / crossovers in this segment including X3 and RX350. Hands down Audi Q5 won. I have owned it now for three (3) weeks -and- the car is simply perfection in all aspects from comfort to performance.

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  Best car for the money! - 2007 Audi A4
  By Jonathan Lloyd - July 17 - 4:46 pm

  I bought this car for my daughter, who previously had a Volvo S40 and a Volvo S60. Both are very good, safe cars but lack any sense of excitement. I drive a Porsche and when it was in for service I was given an A4 as a loaner and loved it. Tight as a drum, well-balanced, great handling, outstanding gas mileage and really fun to drive (I grab it whenever I can!). Excellent build quality, great exterior design and an interior way beyond anything in its price class. Buy it!

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  Excellent Luxury Crossover - 2009 Audi Q5
  By patel1234 - July 15 - 4:58 pm

  Amazing ride, quality and craftsmanship. Drove the X3 and XC60 and the q5 beats them hands down in all areas. Audi has really done a good job in engineering this car. My only complaint is that Audi should include more standard options on a premium plus. Bang and Olufsen, in my opinion should be standard on a premium plus. Heated seats are standard but currently there isnt an option for Cool/ventilated seats. They get really hot in the summer. For a 40+ thousand dollar car, one would expect more standard options. If there was a option to score on Value, i would give it a 7 or 8 simply because you can find more options for the price in Cadillacs, Lexus, Acura.

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  The perfect commuter car - 2006 Audi A3
  By bradley_earl - July 14 - 11:06 pm

  Living in Los Angeles, this car nearly perfectly suits my urban needs. The DSG transmission is brilliant. It actually shifts faster than the manual, which (according to Motortrend) translates to faster 0-60 times than the manual as well. Shifting is as easy as driving a playstation car- yet a visceral experience equal to the best of any performance car Ive driven. The 2.0T is perky, and offers plenty of performance- unfortunately, more than the suspension and all-season tires can handle. Fit and finish are typical Audi- which is to say exceptional. The interior is a blend between the A4 and the TT. It isnt nearly as industrially stark as the TT, and yet not as anonymous as the A4.

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  Love to Drive - 2005 Audi A6
  By Terry - July 13 - 9:33 pm

  I have owned my A6 for four years and 70k miles. Problems: 1. Trunk latch needed replacing at 10k. 2. Push button start would not work at 30k but only needed a software update. 3. Brake pads replaced twice and rotors once. 4. back up sensors stopped working at 53k just after warranty expired. 5. Something is rattling in the door at 75k and will have it checked out. I have low profile, performance tires and need to replace at each 25k. However, I have had to replace five tires due to damage. Thats all the bad. The good is that the car is very attractive, solid and drives great. Lots of fun. Overall, I am very happy with the car would recommend it to anyone.

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  New Q5 - 2009 Audi Q5
  By Jeff M - July 13 - 9:22 pm

  Took delivery of new Q-5 with Premium/Prestige Packages and immediately set out on 1,200 mile trip. Vehicle performed almost flawlessly. The GPS stopped functioning necessitating the rebooting of the MMI. Q-5 held the road well at speeds to 80mph. Gas mileage averaged a whopping 25mpg. Interior is well appointed. Everything about the Q-5 is solid. The B&O stereo is without equal. This is a great vehicle.

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  New car is great minus a little problem - 2009 Audi A4
  By lagirl2 - July 13 - 8:40 pm

  Ive only owned my new car for about a month and a half, almost 2 months now. The day after I bought it, it had a check engine light on. 3 trips to the dealership in a month and a half later, I got the fuel pump replaced. Im hoping this problem doesnt continue because I really do love the car. I feel I should relate my experience to others so they can be informed buyers, though. Aside from this inconvenience, I really do like my car.

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  Cost $54k, people think it cost $75k - 2009 Audi A5
  By mgd99 - July 13 - 9:07 am

  I held onto my 1998 A4 for 11 years, before getting the A5 S-Line 3.2 MT in early May. I was looking for something sportier, but with the same quattro like 4WD since I live in CT and I like the feel of quattro on a snow covered highway. The A5 has been a dream. The looks and fit of the exterior is exceptional. The interior is remarkable for its price range. The 265HP is completely sufficient to address the 98% of my driving. I got Drive Select and it feels like two different cars in one. Best yet, so few of these on the road and people regularly proffer estimates of $75k. You want a daily driver that satisfies a need for sport without spending a small fortune? This is it.

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  New Audi Guy - 2006 Audi A4
  By Spidermac - July 12 - 2:53 pm

  Just purchased my A4 and I love it. Driving in Sport mode is an absolute blast, the car takes off like a rocket. The fuel efficiency is pretty good so far too, which is a pleasant surprise. Everything on the car is tight and the ESP (electronic stability program or some such) keeps the car going straight. With the scheduled maintenance (first 50K miles) included in the car is a great value for the money.

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  Who Needs an SUV? - 2004 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By 5timeaudiowner - July 11 - 2:00 am

  We swapped an A6 2.7T for the allroad. It is simply awesome... my wife doesnt ever want to give it up! Great acceleration, braking, steering feel, very comfortable, large cargo area, adjustable suspension, towing capacity. Love the beige interior. I get more looks driving this than my 2002 A4 avant w/sport pkg. I think its the wheels/flared arches and aluminum accents.