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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  A great car with problems !!! - 2005 Audi S4
  By amp_ny - December 2 - 5:55 pm

  I got this car in May 2004. Its a great, fun car to drive but I have several minor problems but the most important one is, while driving between 900-1100 rpm or when i go down gear, I hear a vibration. it sounds like coming from the muffler but it doesnt. Went back to the dealer twice and finally second time, they said that its coming from the drive chain. Maybe they will have to take the engine out to fix it.

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  Go with a Lexus - 2001 Audi A6
  By JennAudiDriver - November 26 - 5:06 pm

  The Audi is indeed a sexy sleek beautiful machine but the maintenance is a nightmare. From the dash lights to the creeky noise of the steering wheel (that Audi still cant identify), water pumps and the wear and tear of the "aluminum" shifter plate. Id say that the maintenance money could be better spent. I came from a 1995 Lexus ES 300 with160,000 miles on it that still ran like a champ. My 2001 A6 has been to Audi twelve times now for warranty work. I have spent more time in the loaner car. Just my advice - you dont see many on the road for a reason..... Good luck.

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  Not What I Expected - 2001 Audi A4
  By Annabelle - November 26 - 4:25 pm

  I had high expectations for my Audi A4, and they have been dashed to pieces. I have had the same problem many others have had with engine coils (car broke down completely 3 times this year alone!) My dealership covered the repairs, but the hassle factor was extremely high. I also had to replace door speakers and had a problem with my drivers side airbag. My check engine light is on right now and as soon as I get it back from the dealership I am trading this car in. My mother also has an Audi A4 that she has had much worse problems with (replaced the entire engine twice along with the transmission!) My "Audi Experience" has not been a good one!

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  Fix the electrics! - 1999 Audi A6
  By jamccann - November 17 - 3:01 pm

  My 1999 Audi A6 Sedan is fun to drive, but is slow off the line unless you use the tiptronic shifter in first gear and stomp on it. The ride is soft for hard driving but very comfortable. The power options crap out and nit pick you too death. Basically I like the car though.

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  Never Again - 2000 Audi A6
  By Hunter S - November 17 - 12:04 am

  My 2000 Audi A6 2.7T Sedan was probably a candidate for a "lemon law" return. I have NEVER had so many problems with a vehicle and when I finally got rid of it I got clobbered on the resale value. Im back in a BMW and couldnt be happier!

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  Sporty and responsive, but UNRELIABLE - 2003 Audi A6
  By Racer_X - November 15 - 6:01 pm

  My final 2 test drives in 2002 came down to a choice between the BMW 530i and the Audi A6 2.7T. As most buyers who will read this review are already aware, every option on a new BMW is "a la carte", and the price tag really starts to add up as you add options to support its claim of being a "luxury performance sedan". Because a similarly configured Audi was about $5,000 less and had very comparable performance, I went with the A6. I now rue the day I made that compromise. Although the driving performance has lived up to expectations, the Audis reliability has NOT. After 6 trips to the shop (including 2 recalls) in only 24 months of my 39 month lease, I wish I had gone with the BMW.

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  Great Car Bad Company - 2004 Audi A8
  By GRepchickw - November 15 - 11:09 am

  A great car which deserves a company to stand behind it. The car spent a total of two months in for service, with the last one being 45 dyas in a row. The car has computer and transmission problems which Audi will not stand behind. It was a bad experience. the transmission slips and progressively gets worse.

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  Disappointed in CT - 2001 Audi A6
  By Dgnokids - November 14 - 8:11 am

  I loved my 2006 Audi A6 for a while, but problems seem to be non stop and very expensive. I needed a replacement rediator, had a misassembled dashboard, leaking transmission and differential, all 200 miles out of warranty, (dont count on any compassion from Audi). The AWD is fabulous, the interior is just beautiful, the fold down rear seats make it a mini-ute vehicle. It was the perfect choice for me, but I am done with Audi. My replacement car will be an AWD but from a company that stands behind its cars.

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  Terrible surprise - 2004 Audi A8
  By Jmyu - November 14 - 2:41 am

  Initially loved the car, until I went for a car wash and the trunk lid opened by itself...everything got wet in the trunk. How this kind of thing can happen in a luxury car??? Then I went to the dealer and supposedly they changed the motor of the trunk lid. I also changed the tires to all season for the winter (got unfortunatedly the 19 wheels with summer tires). The dealer messed up the tires and wheels (with quite a few scraches). Also they used the car for ~ 60 miles (probably the technician took for a ride). This is unacceptable from a luxury car dealership.

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  Audis Quality is not good - 1998 Audi A6
  By pelikan - November 13 - 5:27 pm

  I bought my 1998 Audi A6 Sedan with 51,000 miles on it and had numerous probelms. I Spent over $2,000 to fix things that should not occur in a car with 52k miles, including a new axle, head light washer, water pump, leakign oil seals, electonic display, etc...