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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  current leak from battery - 2005 Audi A8
  By kona358 - July 26 - 2:00 am

  The battery has gone dead twice and will go d ead if the car is not driven daily. Charge will fall b y 50% overnight. Has anyone else run into this p roblem- so far not fixed by dealer. Any solution? u sual mileage will be 15-20,000 per year

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  Good! Good! Good! - 2002 Audi A6
  By David Big - July 22 - 2:00 am

  Great car, comportable, easy to ride, good on long trips.

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  Problems already? - 2004 Audi A8
  By James Dvorak - July 13 - 2:00 am

  Lets see, I have only 400 miles on my A8L and it has spent 4 days in the shop because the MMI system locks up or just will not start. I really hope this is not an indicator of things to come. I had to get rid of a 745i for similar iDrive errors and recalls. Audi needs to nip this in the bud quickly before they end up buying back all of their first year models.

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  Love the performance hate the brakes - 2000 Audi A6
  By DonK - July 8 - 2:00 am

  I have never had a car that was so enjoyable to drive. It loves the freeway and provides all the comforts I need. The controls are all where I expected them to be. (AC controls are a bit difficult to remember, but I set and forget.) The brakes warp easily and give a shuttering often. Dealer says this is par for the Audis since asbestos disappeared from the pads. Other maintenance items so far are average. I dont do lots of miles, so look for reviews by those who match your driving style.

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  Fun to drive, but rotten electronics - 2004 Audi A8
  By lewis m weston - July 7 - 2:00 am

  The car drives well(but not as well as the 740iL it replaced) but the electronics are a horror. To tune the radio the driver needs to take his eyes off the road. About half the time the right outside mirror doesnt return to normal position after reversing.The MMI screen comes up blank if its been closed before, and needs to be opened, closed and opened again to work.After 2 months, something drained the battery and the car had to be towed to the dealer.

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  Here we go again - 2006 Audi A4
  By endophil - July 6 - 11:33 am

  I had a 2003 TT. Great car to drive, but reliability was terrible. With only 6700 miles everything went wrong. Well I deceided to try Audi again. Only one week old and the memory seats dont work. Hello Audi. They make a great driving car and thats it. Reliability is horrible. The current clutch is also a disaster. It has no definite grip point

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  Take care of it & itll take care of U - 1997 Audi A6
  By Bavariandream - July 2 - 2:00 am

  The A6 (C4 platform) is a great value, when purchased used. Mine is a high mileage car (127K) and it still runs and looks like (almost) new. Keep in mind that it needs some preventative care (not just the regular oil change) in order to keep it running flawlessly. Timing belt (yes belt, not a chain like most Beemers) need to be replaced every 60-75k. While doing this you should also replace the water pump, because itll break down at some point, and this will save you a lot of $$$$. Check and top off the differential/tansaxle fluids twice a year. Wear and tear repairs done: Front wheel bearing, front CV boot, timing belt and water pump, differential seal.

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  Luxury car goes easy on the wallet too - 2002 Audi A4
  By TheVone - July 1 - 2:00 am

  I had this Audi for a while and just love it. It has got the good looks plus the drive is fun too. The CVT feature helps when you want to get the power out of the car, which is not too evident when in automatic.

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  Should have bought a Mercedez - 2004 Audi A8
  By Coralreefmastr - June 25 - 2:00 am

  I bought a brand new car and within 3000 miles it broke down. The dealership has had our car longer than we have. We have no idea when we will get it back. A car that cost 85 thousand dollars shouldnt break down in less than a month. Im very disappointed with my first Audi and I will never buy another one. I should have bought a Mercedez.

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  Great car for the money - 2003 Audi A4
  By DonDiamante - June 24 - 2:00 am

  The best car you can buy for under $30K