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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  $90,000 piece of junk - 2007 Audi A8
  By W. Stiles - July 12 - 5:40 pm

  I bought this CPO 2007 Audi A8L with 33,000 miles on it and have had nothing but headaches since owning it. It has been in the shop 4 times in less than a year for numerous electrical problems. The Audi A8 customer service line is a complete waste of time as they do nothing, but come up with excuse after excuse as to why the car is not performing as it should. We have had 2 aluminum wheel failures where the tire immediately loses pressure. One of these episodes almost caused my wife to be in a serious car crash on the highway. Audi says it is still safe and I completely disagree. I am now in the process of selling and getting a more reliable car (Mercedes or BMW)

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  Never Buy Audi Worst Experience Ever! - 2004 Audi A4
  By Jh27 - July 12 - 2:30 am

  I had to take my car into the shop 5 times so far this year. First time I had to replace all ignition coils with recall (engine light flashing and car vibrating). 2nd time replaced coil pack for V6 engine light went on. 3rd time they checked engine and had the light off for 2 weeks. Light came on again said it was spark plugs. Didnt replace spark plugs because they charge too much. 5th time came in and said i had to replace spark plugs and fuel injector. charged 195 dollars for labor. They rip people off. Replaced parts with labor was 370 dollars. My cars check engine light is on again now. Least reliable vehicle ever.

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  8 years & counting - 2002 Audi TT
  By J. Wolfe - July 11 - 7:32 am

  Fun to drive, love the 180 for around town drives because of the early & flat torque curve. Its as quick as the 225 for normal use for this reason (full torque @ 1950 rpm) & this is the last year for the true manual shift- which is a preferred feature for us- wanting a true old school style sports car. Burns Premium only. The trunk is roomy, AC is great. Had some minor issues- dip stick crumbled, cheap cd storage latch broke twice. We plan to keep this baby many years & are aware of timing belt issues that bear watching. Its a great sports car in the old tradition, but without the leaks & rattles of the old Brits.

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  What Should I Do? - 2000 Audi A6
  By GodBlessAudi - July 8 - 12:56 pm

  99,000 miles, no hard driving or accident, decently maintained. Here are quote for repairing items from local dealer "Biener Audi" today. $580.- Front break pads and rotors $560.- Rear break pads and rotors $165. Coolant tank reservoir $800. Radiator $1100. Exhaust complete $1100. Both front lower control/wishbone suspension arms $192.- An hour & a half diagnosis $1600. Timing belt w/all rollers & water pump thermostat $400. Mirror (rusted because water sipping in) $800.- LED dashboard Total: $7,297. What should I do?

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  Great Car! - 2010 Audi A4
  By jpr - July 7 - 11:18 pm

  Did a lot of research and decided on the A4 over 328xi. Fuel economy of the 2.0TSFI, and the 258lbft of torque really put it over the top. Sport suspension w/ quattro is definitely the way to go, great handling but not too firm on rough roads. Steering is firm and relatively good feedback. Sport seats are great with bigger side bolsters. Interior is comfortable, quiet, and fits two car seats in the back. MMI took a bit to get used to, but easy to use once I got used to it. Same with the cruise control, digital display of set speed is a nice touch. Car has been great on several road trips w/ family of 4. Trunk is huge, 2 suitcases + portable crib w/ room to spare.

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  Wolf in Sheeps CLothes - 2009 Audi A4
  By BostonB - July 3 - 5:17 am

  Retiring the 3.2 liter and making the 3.0T only available as a hopped up S goes down as one of the biggest mistakes Audi ever made. I commute to Boston daily 20 miles each way that takes anywhere from 25 minutes to 90 minutes. Sitting in traffic, slow easy driving its a dream. Drives on a cloud like the old Cadillacs i grew up driving (but smaller!). Hit the accelerator though and the wolf comes out. This car jumps and the power just seems to keep coming. Tested this against the new A6 3.0T (too big and disconnected from the road), G37 (surprisingly nice car but too many of them on the road), BMW - lacks the lady-like good nature of the Audi

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  Very Good, Could be Great - 2010 Audi A4
  By Mike W. - July 2 - 10:08 pm

  I enjoy my daily commute more than ever. This is my 9th car and by far the most enjoyable to drive. Build quality and attention to detail is superb. Only complaint is poor thigh and lumbar support.

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  Audi A4 2004 V6 3.0 6M Ultra Sport - 2004 Audi A4
  By Audi3.0B6UltraSport - July 2 - 3:53 pm

  I bought this car with approximately 40k miles on it after it had come off a lease. Its fully loaded with every available feature for that model year and has a full leather interior. Black paint, black leather. Its a sweet looking car and it drives really well. Overall Im quite happy with the car and if I had to make the decision again I would buy the same car. I average about 28 MPG - mostly highway driving. The Ultra Sport package offers most of the S4 styling with much better fuel economy. Over the years, Ive had the coil packs and the cat converters replaced under warranty, Ive had to replace the win regulators on both front windows. I still love this car though.

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  Acceleration issue? - 2010 Audi A3
  By Mark - July 2 - 12:03 pm

  Less than 2,000 miles on the car and Ive noticed a sudden loss in power twice now when accelerating from a stop. Once from a traffic light was simply annoying and the 2nd time pulling out of a parking spot into traffic was dangerous. Anyone else notice this? The normal performance is great. The car is at the dealer for repair now.

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  Traded up from the A4 - 2010 Audi A6
  By asix - July 2 - 5:59 am

  Traded in an 09 A4 for a 10 A6 3.0T Prestige with 18" sport package. The A4 was a great, fun car, but the A6 is better in so many ways larger, smoother and much more powerful engine. Love the understated, classiness of the A6 with its power, handling, and all the techno goodies. Car is quiet, solid and stable cruising serenely @ 70-80mph, and can also be driven fast/hard. Gas mileage so far is pretty good for a car of this size/power - averaging 21-22 with 70-80% highway. Very happy that I traded up! Car and Driver just did a comparison test and rated the 2010 A6 ahead of the NEW 2011 BMW 535 (3rd) and 2011 Infiniti M37 (2nd).