Volkswagen vs. Audi Comparison Page

While you might not have considered the similarities previously, Volkswagen and Audi both have plenty in common. It might come as a bit of a surprise to learn that they’re actually corporate siblings with a long history that dates back over half a century. Volkswagen is the parent company of Audi, a luxury-oriented brand that’s been part of the Volkswagen Group since the 1960s. Today, these two brands have plenty of unique strengths and attributes that have made them popular with buyers all across the globe. Our team at Volkswagen of Ann Arbor has created this handy guide that compares Volkswagen against Audi to uncover all of the key similarities and differences between the two brands. Let’s get started!

Volkswagen vs Audi - Brand History

Volkswagen - Back in 1934, the earliest roots of the Volkswagen brand can be traced back to pre-WW2 Germany. While the mass production of the original Volkswagen (also known as “people’s car”) was delayed due to the war effort, the post-WW2 years resulted in many groundbreaking debuts including the Type 1 (Käfer) model and the Type 2 (Transporter) model added in 1950. The subsequent decades saw the debut of many other household names like the Polo, Golf, Scirocco, and Passat. Now a global leader and one of the highest-volume car manufacturers in the world, the future has never been brighter for Volkswagen.

Audi - The Audi brand has a complex history that dates all the way back to 1899 when founder August Horch established the company A. Horch & Cie. in Cologne. In 1909, the company name was later changed to Audi because the founder was not allowed to use his own name again. As such, the brand name Audi is a literal Latin translation of the name “Horch” which translates to “listen” in English. Later on, Audi was consolidated along with three other brands (representing the four Audi rings that we know today). It wasn’t until 1965 that Audi was officially acquired by Volkswagenwerk AG. Success in motorsport led to the development of the iconic quattro all-wheel drive system which has made the brand world-famous. It continues to serve as the premium luxury offering under the Volkswagen portfolio.

Model Lineups Compared

Volkswagen Model Lineup

Today’s Volkswagen model lineup has never been more diverse or attractive thanks to options to suit virtually every budget and driving style. A core strength of today’s Volkswagen lineup is its comprehensive lineup of SUVs including the subcompact Taos, compact Tiguan, three-row Atlas, and stylish Atlas Cross Sport. Performance enthusiasts still enjoy exciting choices including the legendary Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, and race-tuned Golf R. Volkswagen is also a proud innovator of sophisticated all-electric models including the versatile ID.4 and the retro-inspired ID.Buzz. Robust warranty coverage along with complimentary scheduled maintenance services are just two of the most popular reasons why buyers continue to choose Volkswagen over the competition.

Audi Model Lineup

As we’ve mentioned previously, Audi is the premium wing of the Volkswagen brand with plenty of luxury options available across all types of vehicle classes. Audi has benefitted from Volkswagen EV innovation and engineering and also fields an industry-leading portfolio of luxury EV models including the e-tron GT. Audi SUV options include household names like the Q3, Q5, and Q7 as well. Luxury sedan shoppers also continue to choose models like the A3, A4, A6, and A7 over their counterparts from other brands as well. A signature hallmark of the Audi brand is its legendary quattro all-wheel drive system. Developed across decades of rally racing success, today’s quattro system is now more capable and efficient than ever before.

Volkswagen or Audi? The Choice is Yours!