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:
Showing 10071 through 10080 of 13,910.00-
STOP AND READ BEFORE YOU BUY! - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
By Karen from CT - September 27 - 11:46 amThere are several issues with this car. 1. When the key is removed from the ignition, the front windows drop slightly, thus when it is raining you get poured on. You get soaked inside the car whenever it is raining. 2. The radio antenna is in the trunk. The reception for FM and Satellite radio does not hold. While you drive the radio stations fade in and out. 3. The EOS is horrible in snow. We had to add sand bags to the trunk to allow traction when driving. In addition, when it is below 32 degrees the trunk freezes up. I now have to prepare myself when bad weather is approaching and put my snow scrapper in the back seat. Please read this before you buy your EOS, I wish I knew this stuff.
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Really do like this car!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
By WDW - September 27 - 8:00 amHad an Avalon (a fine reliable vehicle). Anticipated buying an A6. Researched, test drove, opted instead for a loaded Passat. Only 3000 on the odometer, but so far "lovin dat car!"
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No more vws !!!! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
By Jean - September 26 - 12:13 amIve owned volkswagens before. They have been reliable and nearly indestructable. Had a Dasher that ran until 300,000 miles without any major repairs. I guess reliability is no longer a VW goal. The litany of things that have gone wrong with this car is amazing. MAF Sensor (2), Oxygen sensor (3), brakes (every year), broken windows (3), psycho electronics - not to mention the bloody check engine light. $80 just to see what the light means! Outrageous. I say disconnect the damned thing. We purchased the car because we knew we needed a reliable car with a bit of luxury. The wife drives the car for the mostpart and it is babied. Next times its a Toyota!
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Highly Recommended for travel in snow/icy roads! - 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
By kc45 - September 24 - 10:07 pmI have had this car for about a month now and could not be happier. I had been searching for reviews on the Tiguan in the snow and failed to find any and I can now say from an owner of one that I highly recommend this vehicle for those specific conditions. I live on top of a mountain located at a ski resort so traveling on the access road had always been difficult with my FWD Jetta. The switch to the Tiguan has been exceptional, even with keeping the all seasons that it came with. It has had NO hesitation in these conditions at all, especially the icy driveway. Safety definitely gets an A+. I was rear ended the first day I had the vehicle with my dog in the back. I was left with very minimal damage from the crash, which was extremely impressive. There is plenty of space in the trunk for a medium sized dog(mine is about 65lbs). Not sure large dogs will be a great fit. I am also very pleased with the interior being leather for all base models.
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Saved from a snowstorm - 2010 Volkswagen CC
By klpeel - September 24 - 7:40 pmThe CC VR6 4Motion is a fantastic car indide and out that combines the favorite features of my past two (2005 Infiniti G35x and 2000 Passat GLX) and goes beyond them. It has the stability/solidity of the Passat and the driving fun of the G35x. ...and the best gizmos of each. I drove a ways from the MD burbs to the best dealer in the region (Lindsay), in VA. I arrived just as a snowstorm started. My drive back in now-blizzard conditions took 3 hours as cars were spinning out of control left and right. The CC was sure-footed the whole way. The VR6 isnt cheap, but its not much more than my old V6 Passat and the same as the G35x, and better than both. Id narrowed my search down to CC vs. A4.
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The Eos Stands Alone - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
By Phil - September 24 - 3:06 pmI just picked up my new black on black Eos two days ago, so these are just my initial impressions. I consider the exterior to be stately and not flashy. The versatility of the roof is unique and fun! The interior is impeccable and well thought out, although it could use a few more cubbyholes for sunglasses, phones, etc. The interior storage becomes limited, when you opt for the navigation system, which moves the 6 CD player from the dash to the center console between the front seats. The Eos is very quick and responsive once the turbo kicks in. There is a slight hesitation from a dead stop, but once the turbo kicks in, youre in for a great driving experience.
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2000 Miles...visited dealership EIGHT TIMES! - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
By pnav - September 24 - 7:56 amOnly 2k miles. Engine light is on repeatedly with poor performance. Visited the dealership EIGHT TIMES for the same issue. They replaced the engine harness...ON A NEW CAR???? Now the cruise control stopped working and more "warning lights". Great concept...POOR POOR POOR execution by VW.
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Wow -- I want to drive all the time now! - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
By Pasvancouver - September 24 - 2:00 amThis car is a WOW!!! Talk about power, its got it, and then some! and the Leather and heated seats, add in the Computer Assisted Handling thats normaly on the $$$$ cars.. This GTI rocks!!!!!!!!!!!! -- One thing I couldnt beleive was the insurance was more then my SUV.. but all worth it! :)
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ryan 99 passat - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
By rmj - September 24 - 2:00 amI have had my VW for six months and have put over 16000 miles on it. Its very reliable and for a 1.8 litre 4 cyl. sedan it is a very fun car to drive. Even with the turbo it is far from a racecar but does feel like a 6 cyl. I would definitely recommend the car to several different types of people.
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NICE!!! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
By GIOVANNI - September 24 - 2:00 amI KNOW CARS AND THIS CAR IS GREAT ITS FAST AND ITS JUST FUN TO DRIVE. ITS JUST A DIFFERENT FEELING WHEN U DRIVE IT.. I LOVE IT. VR6 IS GREAT
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Volkswagen Atlas 41 Reviews
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Volkswagen Beetle 29 Reviews
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Volkswagen Cabrio 124 Reviews
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Volkswagen CC 350 Reviews
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Volkswagen e-Golf 17 Reviews
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Volkswagen EOS 252 Reviews
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Volkswagen Eurovan 94 Reviews
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Volkswagen Golf 608 Reviews
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Volkswagen GTI 1,003 Reviews
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Volkswagen Jetta 4,495 Reviews
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Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid 9 Reviews
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Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN 89 Reviews
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Volkswagen New Beetle 1,368 Reviews
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Volkswagen Passat 3,322 Reviews
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Volkswagen Phaeton 137 Reviews
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Volkswagen R32 199 Reviews
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Volkswagen Rabbit 331 Reviews
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Volkswagen Routan 150 Reviews
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Volkswagen Tiguan 313 Reviews
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Volkswagen Touareg 979 Reviews