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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  LOVE MY BUG!!! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By VW LOVER - March 10 - 10:00 am

  I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY VW BEETLE....SURE, IVE HAD A FEW PROBLEMS WITH IT, BUT WHO DOSENT HAVE ANY CAR PROBLEMS?? MY WINDOW BROKE BUT THEY REPLACED IT & ALSO WENT AHEAD & REPLACED MY OTHER ONE, BECAUSE THEY HAD A NEW, IMPROVED MOTOR FOR THE WINDOWS. I LOVE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD & SEEING PEOPLE LOOK & SMILE AT ME!!! I WOULDNT TRADE MINE FOR THE WORLD.

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  Love/Hate Relationship - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By DG - March 9 - 11:06 am

  I ordered a 2003 VW Passat GLX 4Motion Wagon in 2002, direct from VW. Consumer Reports had written a review that said this was the BEST wagon you could buy, so I believed them and switched from my 20-year relationship with Mazda. At first I LOVED this car, and I especially loved the dealership. Over the years, I have never had a car have so many recalls - and in my case, everything that could break did break prior to the recall - so Ive had to have these things replaced twice!

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  Knock Sensor issue - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By scoutandhuck - March 8 - 3:30 am

  I just got my 2009 Rabbit 3 weeks ago and I mostly love it. It has a cozy feel, the dash is easy to use, the lights are distinct and easy to read, and it handles nicely, even in snow (which weve had about every day since I got it). It has a jaunty overall feel and I am quite pleased overall. The sales staff was also really informed and helpful.

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  Great Little Car - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mark - March 7 - 11:06 am

  This car has served my faithfully and reliably in the entire time only once I was stranded due to a dead battery. Have not even changed a light bulb yet. Got about 45 mpg highway and about 40 city.

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  Watch the oil level - 2010 Volkswagen Routan
  By fshifteh - March 7 - 1:35 am

  This is an update on my previous posts. Recently at 28000 miles I noticed the oil pressure light was flashing in my Routan. After inspecting the dipstick I was surprised to see that the car had very little oil, so I ended up adding 2.5 quarts of 5W-20 oil. I was surprised because I have never missed any of my scheduled maintenance. When I took the car to the dealer they said that they have seen this issue with these vans. And the recommendation was to check the oil level every 3000 miles. They said these vans burn oil in average 1 quart every 3000 miles. For your info, I have changed my engine oil in average every 5500 miles when the light had indicated that it is time to do so.

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  Review - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By blc - March 3 - 10:00 am

  IÂ’ve owned this car for a year and am extremely pleased with this, my 2nd Jetta. The TDI, with its excellent fuel economy is practically the best thing going. Couple this with the longevity and reliability of diesel, itÂ’s the hands-down best. Although CR rates this model low in reliability, IÂ’ve had no problems in the past year.

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  Buyer Beware - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jennifer Heit - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I am so disappointed with my gas mileage. I am only getting 15 mpg. Service department says there is nothing they can do. They blame my in town driving, our hot climate, and my heavy use of the ac. Its a nice car and I have no other complaints but with premium gas at over $2.00 a gallon this is not an economical car. The advertised mpg is suppose to be 19 mpg.

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  Made me a VW fan for life. - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Gunar - March 1 - 10:00 am

  I got this car 6 years ago for my 16th birthday. I was the first of my friends to be able to drive. The car had just hit 100,000 when I got it... Being the only one who could drive I was always loading my Jetta (we named it Ronald) with friends and going all over the place. Its never let me down. Its still running, and I bet its going to run for quite a long time more. Ive put 65,000 miles on it in 6 years, with only routine maintenance, and its still chugging along as great at it was when I got it... The VR6 has TONS of get up and go, and people are amazed how fast this thing will get going when I put my foot down. This is my first Volkswagen, and its NOT going to be my last one.

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  A Great Car for the Money - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By beetleboya - March 1 - 4:07 am

  Bought in August and I have had zero problems! I paid 18500.00 with an extended warranty. This is a great daily commuter with plenty of pick up around town. This car is also very roomy and handles well.

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  70,000+ miles and still in love! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By zmoney - February 26 - 12:56 pm

  This is my daily driver and I couldnt have picked a better car. I was looking at an STI or Evo about 3yrs ago, but then I found the R32 at a great price. Youll love it. I get 22/29 city/highway and youll have more than enough get up and go to zip in and out of traffic. The seats are great, but they might be a tight fit for a larger person. Everyone loves the sound of the exhaust of course. The look of this car is great, but at the same time its not a cop magnet which is always a plus. Test drive the 2004 model and youll be hooked! It wont be mine however as shell die with me. :) If you do buy one please take it to the track at least once. Youll thank me later.