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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  Cant go wrong with this car!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By csheehan - May 11 - 10:00 am

  This car walks talks and acts like one that is much more expensive. From the cool night-time lighting to all the thoughful touches, to the cool trip computer, to the steering wheel controls. Did I mention the leather - not like the cheap hides on a nissan/infiniti. This car is an Audi without the dual zone climate control and four rings. 1.8 w/ five speed is great, still breaking in but it can move the car with some authority, always asked if its a 6 cyl.

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  GTI Turbo - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Mandi Terry - May 10 - 4:20 pm

  This car has been great for the short time I have owned it. I plan on owning it, until it falls apart. The first day I drove the car home, I hit a huge rabbit and it broke my fog light bulb. It scared the heck out of me, my first new car and I already killed an animal. I hope I never hit another animal for as long as I own the car.

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  Great car for the money - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Andy - May 10 - 1:43 pm

  I got a smokin deal on my Wolfsburg. It is the only normal jetta (not GLI) that comes this model year 2009 with the 2.0T. What a fun engine. Not opened it up yet but wow half throttle and it really goes. Seats are mostly comfortable, I havent been able to get mine exactly where I want it. The only things I would change would be fuel economy readout in dash and steering wheel controls for the radio. I love it and look forward to driving it every morning. PS Dont get the Wolfsburg Jetta if you dont like to clean wheels (Look great but dirty quickly). Overall great car for the money.

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  Lotta luxury for little money - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jolene - May 10 - 10:00 am

  Purchased used as my primary vehicle. I haul a lot of furniture in my business and wanted the roomy rear section without going for an SUV. It filled the bill more than perfectly. I love the handling, German-engineering, and roomy, comfortable leather seats. We always take this car on road trips and enjoy the luxury and comfort. I have had absolutely no problems with this gem!

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  This is a VW? - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By charlie - May 10 - 4:16 am

  Ive had this pocket rocket 2 weeks. My 3 previous vehicles were luxury SUVs. Got the CC because my wife is still thrilled with her 2008 Eos. This is one fine machine. Great design, inside and out. People think its a Mercedes CLS. Tremendous acceleration from 4-cylinder 2.0-liter turbo. Great cornering. Excellent mileage. My choice came down to CC, Honda Crosstour and Lexus 350ES. No question, I made the right choice. Free scheduled maintenance for 3 years sealed the deal. With a different badge (Audi, BMW or Mercedes), this car would cost $10,000 to $30,000 more.

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  Amazing! What a dream! - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By M. Wright - May 9 - 8:03 pm

  Although I was concerned with jumping into an unproven model, I have no regrets about the Volkswagen Phaeton V8. It is a pleasure to drive, has no road noise and I love the 4 suspension choices. As a designer, I was smitten with the luxurious interior appointments. this car reminds me of the Bentley that I used to own. It is a head-turner, every day I respond to questions from appreciative onlookers. Onstar is also part of the whole package. I hate to admit that Ive said goodbye to BMW, but this car is much more interesting.

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  Not so happy with my Passat - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By VWtony - May 9 - 4:26 pm

  I purchased my 07 Passat in early November. I just got it out of the shop after they had it for 9 days. A check engine light came on during a road trip in the middle of nowhere. Not fun. Turns out the oil cooler bolt and bracket broke, so it and the timing assembly had to be changed. The car had less than 9k miles on it. Now, one week after having the car returned to me, its in the shop again because the steering lock is malfunctioning. This is my 3rd VW and all of them have had major issues.

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  Fun & Fast - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By brian - May 9 - 2:53 pm

  The turbocharged 200 hp 2.0 liter four is fast and delivers plenty of torque for a small sedan. The performance oriented GLIs sport tuned suspension separates it from the Jetta 2.0T, providing handling that feels like youre driving a sports car rather than a small sedan. The interior is upscale for its class and the controls could not be more simple to operate. The GLIs exterior has a sporty grille and alloy wheels which make it stand out from other Jetta versions. Be careful with the tires. My GLI came with the 18" summer tire option and these Bridgestone Potenzas are completely useless in even a half inch of snow so be ready to buy snow tires. My only repair was a replaced ignition coil

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  Worst Car I have ever owned - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Frank - May 9 - 9:11 am

  I bought new in 2010. The combined cost of warranty and non-warranty (my cost) has surely exceeded the purchase price of the vehicle in 150K miles. It has spent much of the last 4 months in the dealer shop and they finally admit they cant fix it. Problems started around 10K miles when VW replaced a $7000 part in the exhaust system - this is crazy. Then the problems just went on - 3 times the cruise control failed; several sensors and relays have failed; wiring too close to exhaust part have burned; the particulate filter clogged; the started failed; the waste gate has been freed up at least 3 times; the radio failed; the ECM failed; and now the turbo actuator and a sensor have failed. This is my 11th and last VW.

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  LOOK GOOD - drives great! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By barry3k - May 8 - 11:53 pm

  I researched a number of crossovers. Ford Edge, Mazda cx-7, audi q5, nissan rouge, toyota venza, ford escape, saturn vue, honda crv. The Tiguan was the one that gave me the best value, the best handling, free scheduled maintenance, and VW reputation. The back seat is comfortable for adults to ride. The cargo space is awesome.