Audi Reviews & Ratings

2009 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro Review

By Megan Benoit
September 22, 2008 -

Over the last few years, the last generation Audi A4 was growing increasingly stale. Updated offerings from BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, everyone but Volvo have overtaken Ingolstadt's brot und butter model. To keep the faith-- or at least the faithful-- Audi’s engineers initiated a massive redesign of the A4. Obviously, it’s a better car. Vorsprung and all that. But can the new A4 leapfrog the luxury brat pack? Or is it more of the same? Yes.

2009 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro Review continued »

2009 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro rating summary and performance review

Posted in Audi | Car Reviews | 86 comments

2008 Audi Q7 4.2 Premium Review

By Frank Williams
July 21, 2008 -

Full disclosure: I really like Audis. I own two of them: an A4 Avant and an A4 Cabriolet. So when Audi offered me the chance to review a Q7, Ingolstadt's answer to "how late can you be to an SUV party and still not wonder why you bothered to show up in the first place," I said game on. After all, it's an Audi. What's not to like? 

2008 Audi Q7 4.2 Premium Review continued »

2008 Audi Q7 4.2 Premium rating summary and performance review

Posted in Audi | Car Reviews | 32 comments

2008 Audi R8 Long Term Test

By Jay Shoemaker
July 5, 2008 -

I've been pining for the Audi R8 since I first laid eyes on the "Le Mans" show car five years ago. Last February, I test drove Audi's 911 redo in Vegas (baby). Although I found the R8 lacked some of the the Porsche Turbo's user-friendly OMG WTFitiude, Audi gave their everyday supercar a far more appealing wrapper than the ass-engined Nazi slot car (thank you P.J. O'Rourke). Yes, I knew the movie Ironman would define R8 ownership for non-owners. But I was willing to take the risk of being associated with an actor who's spent more time in rehab than any five celebutantes you can name. So I placed an order and arranged for delivery of my R8 at the Neckarsulm factory.

2008 Audi R8 Long Term Test continued »

Posted in Audi | Car Reviews | 25 comments

2008 Audi TT 2.0T Convertible Review

By P.J. McCombs
June 30, 2008 -

I drove the Audi TT 2.0T Convertible prepared to hate it. Its wrong-wheel-drive, mandatory two-pedal transmission, extra-chunky-style curb weight and econobox-based platform violates all that I hold sacred in a two-seat drop top. Similar formulas have belched forth such embarrassments as Mercury’s legendary (for all the wrong reasons) Capri. But the topless TT is no Capri. And thank Gott for that.

2008 Audi TT 2.0T Convertible Review continued »

2008 Audi TT 2.0T Convertible rating summary and performance review

Posted in Audi | Car Reviews | 25 comments

2008 Audi A5 Review

By Jonny Lieberman
May 19, 2008 -

"Nice Audi." Every time I rolled up in the glossy red A5, I heard the same refrain. Young, old, rich, poor-- if the onlooker had a tongue, they wagged it at me and my Audi. And there you have it. The people have spoken. I find this curious for two reasons. First, das volk haven't driven it. Second, the A5 is a two-door variant of the new A4. Has anyone other than a nurse or desperate housewife looked at an A4 and exclaimed, "Nice Audi?" Perhaps so, but the ad hoc A5 admiration society still raises an important question: is it a nice Audi?

2008 Audi A5 Review continued »

2008 Audi A5 rating summary and performance review

Posted in Audi | Car Reviews | 68 comments

2008 BMW M3 vs. 2008 Audi RS4

By Mike Solowiow
May 14, 2008 -

The fact that we’re even having this discussion tells you how far Audi’s come in the uber-sports sedan sweepstakes. Normally, this comparo would write itself. BMW M3 = driver’s car with super smooth, vicious punch. Audi RS4 = sure-footed supersonic GT with numb tiller. BMW fun. Audi fast. BMW wins. But since this contest was first mooted, The Boys from Bavaria have made the jump to V8 space, while Audi have finally figured-out how to make not dying entertaining. But has anything changed? 

2008 BMW M3 vs. 2008 Audi RS4 continued »

Posted in Audi | BMW | Car Reviews | 36 comments

2008 Audi A4 2.0T Review

By Samir Syed
January 2, 2008 -

Buying an Audi sedan without Quattro all wheel-drive is like dating a Swedish brunette. That said, there’s nothing wrong with the right brunette, Bergman movies notwithstanding. And Audi makes and sells plenty of products where only the front wheels are driven, from economy cars to its aufwendig TT. In fact, Audi’s UK website proudly proclaims “a front-wheel-drive car is in principle more controllable and tracks better than conventional rear-wheel drive.” OK then, in advance of the all-new A4 headed our way in '09, let’s have a look at the Audi A4 2.0T and see if we can get past the FWD thing.

2008 Audi A4 2.0T Review continued »

2008 Audi A4 2.0T rating summary and performance review

Posted in Audi | Car Reviews | 55 comments

Audi S5 Review

By Jay Shoemaker
December 26, 2007 -

I really want a Mercedes Black Series AMG. It’s a practical, sharp looking car, and nothing clears my head like Saturn V quality thrust. But my spouse’s desire to share her dotage with yours truly conspires against it. So, after driving a BMW 6-Series and finding it a bit… sclerotic, I wandered over to my local Audi dealer in search of something slinkier and kinkier. And there she was: a brand new S5 coupe on the showroom floor, shooting me come hither glances. So thither I went. Ah, but did I tarry long enough to take possession of Ingolstadt’s two-door Q-ship?

Audi S5 Review continued »

Audi S5 rating summary and performance review

Posted in Audi | Car Reviews | 66 comments

2007 Audi TT Review

By Jay Shoemaker
April 13, 2007 -

The last generation Audi TT had more show than go. The German roadster’s dynamics were tarnished by massive turbo lag, an over-eager paddle shift gearbox and an entirely flappable suspension. In fact, the TT’s iconic exterior design and interior quality were its only saving graces. Now that TT 2.0 has arrived, and a decent enough amount of time has passed since Hugh Grant’s loathsome character drove a TT in “About a Boy," is Audi finally ready for a little Boxster bashing? Yes and no.

2007 Audi TT Review continued »

Posted in Audi | Car Reviews | 49 comments

Audi R8 Review

By Jay Shoemaker
February 27, 2007 -

There I was, having fun, fun auf die autobahn, when nature called. Somewhere southeast of Stuttgart, I took the wrong exit and found myself outside the gates of Audi’s Neckarsulm factory. A large sign proclaimed the brutally Bauhaus industrial complex ground zero for the German automaker’s R8 supercar. I was immediately convinced I was destined to park one in my garage. Of course, by then I’d been chasing R8 ownership for over three years. So, do good things come to those who wait?

Audi R8 Review continued »

Posted in Audi | Car Reviews | 68 comments