Newbies' Guide to Audi Models

By Enid Glasgow

The beautiful thing about Audi - well, besides their beautiful vehicles - is that they appeal to everyone. If you want luxury, Audi has it. Whether "luxury" means a sleek little roadster or a spacious family SUV to you, you will find it behind the wheel of an Audi. From the zippy TTS Coupe to the sporty A5 Cabriolet to the roomy A4 Avant, you will get all of the performance, handling, style, and features you want in a package that is just right for you.

Compact. The little A3 is Audi's only compact model. Starting at about $27,000, it is also the most affordable and fuel-efficient car in their lineup. It features all-season tires, Halogen headlights, leather seating, Audi premium sound system with SiriusXM, dual-zone climate control, 24 mpg combined, 200hp, and 207 lb-ft of torque. The A4 is a great little car for people on the go, commuters, and businesspeople and people interested in just getting their feet wet with Audi vehicles.

SUVs and Wagons. Families gravitate towards the larger wagons and SUVs. The A4 Avant, Q5, and Q7 offer more spacious accommodations for big and little passengers and roomy cargo areas for weekend trips to the local hardware store. Each model boosts the power a bit over the A3, so you will get plenty of Audi-quality performance in each family vehicle. The A4 and Q5 won the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Pick for Safety and are among the brand's bestsellers.

Sedans. A sedan will also provide room for the family but has a sporty enough body style for those without kids. Audi's sedans range in price from $32,500 (A4) to $71,000 (A8). The top-of-the-line A8 has features like a solar sunroof, adaptive air suspension, Servotronic steering, quattro all-wheel drive, and electronic stability control.

Coupes, Convertibles, and Cabriolets. Slimming down, Audi's coupes, convertibles, and cabriolets offer a sportier ride still. These offer 2- to 4-passenger seating and are packed with Audi's premiere luxury features, like leather seating, climate control, and more. Forget the kids - these are all for you. We suggest the R8 Spyder. With 525hp and a 5.2 liter DOHC V10 engine, you'll have all the car you'll ever want.

From the family man, to the busy business woman, Audi has more than one model suited to fit the bill. Test drive them all to get the best idea as to which works best for you.