Overview & Reviews

Volkswagen is an automaker based in Germany. Its products typically command a higher price than those of competing models, but the return is a more upscale driving and ownership experience.

In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to build a small, inexpensive car at the request of Adolph Hitler. His answer -- a beetle-shaped sedan that was called a Volkswagen (German for "people's car") -- debuted two years later. Hitler had a town built near the plant for factory workers; he named it Kraft durch Freude Stadt (derived from the Nazi party's motto, "Joy through Strength"), and soon decided that Porsche's creation should be named the KdF-wagen (short for the "Joy through Strength" car). This upset Porsche, who was not political.

World War II delayed production of the vehicle; the factory suffered extensive damage during combat, and was ultimately taken over by the British Army. The company was renamed Volkswagen, and the town at the factory was renamed Wolfsburg (after Werner von Schulenberg of Wolfsburg, who had been forced to surrender his land for the construction of the town and factory). By the end of the 1940s, mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle had begun. The model made its first appearance on U.S. shores in 1949.

The 1950s saw Volkswagen broadening its product range, adding the Bus (Type 2) to its lineup. The Bus, especially, proved quite popular due to its versatility. And the Beetle, which went on to become the best-selling car of all time, quickly showed signs of being an enduring favorite, with more than 1 million models produced at the Wolfsburg factory by 1955. This decade also saw the debut of the Karmann Ghia sports car, which featured a sleek, Italian-designed two-seater body atop a Beetle platform.

Volkswagen's star rose during the 1960s, its success fueled largely by the breakout success of the Beetle. The car benefited from an effective advertising campaign and from an appearance in a popular Disney movie. By the close of the decade, Volkswagen's yearly output of Beetles topped the 1 million mark.

In 1972, with more than 15 million units assembled, the Beetle topped the world production record set by Ford's Model T. Mid-decade saw the launch of a new era of Volkswagens that had front-mounted, water-cooled engines driving the front wheels. The Passat (Dasher in the U.S.) was the first of the new breed and was built using standardized components that could be used interchangeably among other models in the manufacturer's lineup. The Passat was soon joined by the Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.), which met with immediate success. By the end of the decade, the manufacturer's lineup had grown to include the Scirocco sport coupe and the performance-oriented Golf/Rabbit GTI. The Beetle, however, was discontinued for the U.S. market.

The Golf grew in popularity during the '80s, becoming Volkswagen's most popular model. When a second generation of the car was built in 1983, it was crafted in a mostly automated process using robots -- marking the first time robots had been used in vehicle manufacture. By the mid-'80s, the U.S. version traded the Rabbit name for "Golf." The higher-performance Golf GTI helped the manufacturer make waves on the rally circuit. In 1986, Volkswagen Motorsport nabbed the title of Group A World Rally Champions.

Volkswagen saw its sales in the North American market tumble during the early '90s, but by the end of the decade, refocused marketing efforts and an increased emphasis on new products had brought about a turnaround in the company's fortunes. The popular New Beetle helped put the company back on the radar in the United States (though it fared less successfully in European markets). The body style was based on the classic Beetle, and it struck a chord with consumers who still had a place in their hearts for the iconic, cheerful-looking "love bug."

The new millennium saw Volkswagen moving into the luxury segment with the launch of the pricey Phaeton sedan and Touareg SUV. Though well-designed and executed, the Phaeton was a disappointment sales-wise, perhaps signaling unwillingness on the part of consumers to shell out premium dollars for a brand that lacks the cachet of established upscale names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Luckily, Volkswagen has seen success with other vehicles in its lineup, which currently includes everything from family-oriented sedans to roomy SUVs. Today, the automaker enjoys a reputation for crafting vehicles that offer refined handling and upscale accommodations.

User Reviews:

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  good and bad - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By RMM - December 9 - 1:50 am

  I love the car but the check engine light has been on 4 times they had the car for 3 weeks on one of the trips back to the dealer and put over 1000 miles on test drives????? So far it has been ok we will see.

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  Dream come true - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By PassatFan - December 8 - 7:00 pm

  I have been waiting for this car for 2 years since my 2002 Passat 1.8T, with sports package, its hard to find another better buy if you really care about performance and engineering.

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  Great car so far - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By mgbayer - December 8 - 4:58 pm

  Have only had for a couple of days but wife has 09 version. Biggest differences are exterior styling and much better interior. Havent pushed it yet to know what the XDS is all about but really fun to drive.

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  bought new, owned for 6 years, 100k mile - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By gphin305 - December 8 - 2:26 pm

  Bought car new in 2002 and just turned 100k miles. Problems...coil packs replaced by dealer when new...no charge. Cars manufactured prior to 7/02 had defects which VW took care of under warranty. Had engine sludge problem at 82k miles which vw fixed for free although technically out of warranty...changed to synthetic oil. car has had regular maintenance by VW dealer which provides excellent service. Car has experienced some minor issues (emergency flasher replaced, headlights burned out, etc.) but overall has been very reliable....no major engine or transmission issues. Very fun to drive, excellent ride on highway, solid German engineering. Bought new 08 last year....10k miles no problems.

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  Exceptional Van - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By EurovanFan - December 8 - 1:36 pm

  The VW Eurovan is the best minivan to hit the USA. Unfortunately it was killed by the high cost of manufacturing it in Germany and the low value of the dollar. The 2003 model was the last one imported here, but it is still available in Europe for the equivalent of about $45,000. It will outperform any other "standard model" minivan on the market. And it is known to outlast them as well. Think of this vehicle as an example of good German engineering and teutonic toughness. We refer to it as our "Fahrfegnugen Schleppenvagon" and enjoy it on trips immensely.

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  Is it a Lemon? - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Chel - December 8 - 7:46 am

  I bought this car used with only 20,000 miles on it. My first car was the old VW, and ever since they came out with the new models I always wanted one. In the 13,000 miles I have put on it in one year, I have taken it to the shop 10 times. The manufacturers warranty has now run out (not due to mileage, but to age) and now I have to use the extended warranty I purchased from Carmax. But they dont know how to fix VWs so I must pay extra to take it to a dealer! (I was never informed of this!) I have had electrical problems with the windows, top problems where it wouldnt go up or come down at times, overheating problems (3 times!), now I am finished! I am trading in this car tomorrow!

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  6 failures change tires @ 15k mi - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Jack - December 8 - 12:00 am

  Dash lights failed. Entire assembly needed to be replaced. Tires worn out at 15K. Dealer recommends alignment when tires changed. At slow speed turns it feels like the U joints are catching and releasing. Told it is caused by the tires that need to be replaced. Warning lights appear and need to be "recalibrated." Accelerator pauses occasionally. Told it was the brakes that dont allow the accelerator to function - not true. Very expensive car for this to happen in 6 months.

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  A Couple of Tweaks Needed - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By robbykay - December 7 - 2:28 am

  This car is great. Very enjoyable to drive and loaded with all kinds of goodies. Excellent value. The Fender sound system is beautiful. Handling is nice and tight. Great car, so far. Ive only had it for 1.5 weeks, so hopefully no surprises. Tweaks needed: The touch screen interface is pretty slow. It usually takes a few seconds before theres any reaction. When highway driving, that can be an big issue. Also, the trunk is difficult to close. Im a 511, 200 lb guy, and when I give the open lid a tug, not only does it not close, it re-opens completely. I have to give it some effort for it to close on the first try.

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  Fun, Sexy and Sassy - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Daga,Utah - December 6 - 5:10 pm

  My 2004 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible was my dream car, and it still is. Since the day I bought it I didnt have to do anything but oil changes. Nothing is breaking, everything works just like its designed to. The only one thing I could compalin about its the gas mileage.

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  FUN TO DRIVE WHEN ITS NOT IN THE SHOP - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By H. Kitty - December 6 - 1:00 am

  I bought my 2002 Jetta used with only 32000 miles on it. A week after my purchase the brake lights didnt work...which was a recall so I took it to the dealer. Two months after owning the car my temperature sensor went out. A month after that my triptonic steering needed to be replaced which was about a 900 dollar fix. A few months after that I had to have the carbon cleaned out of my car another 800 dollars. This car is so fun to drive it is a shame it is so unreliable. The turbo was a lot of fun for a young driver like myself. I loved the car but it didnt love me back. I now am happy with my Toyota xB.