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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  Loving my passat - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By fastex1531 - December 12 - 4:56 pm

  Just purchased the Wolfsburg edition and I am absolutely loving it. Great handling and good power. I am also averaging about 28 mpg in mix driving. Im sure it will improve as it breaks in. I love the interior. It simple but elegant. Fantastic value as I purchased it during the $1000 turbo rebate promo.

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  Great car, but NOT reliable - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Red dot - December 12 - 10:00 am

  I love driving and looking at my Passat. However, I encountered many quality problems. Within one year, I made about 5 trips to dealership to fix engine coils (x2), headlamps (x2), brakes. Oh, and the recall trip. The door trimming is falling off now, because of the glue they used (another trip coming up). Im going back to Japanese car very soon even though I really like Passat.

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  i love my nellie - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dieselgirl - December 12 - 10:00 am

  love the rumble - has started all 4 Minnesota winters - carbon buildup in the intake is a problem at approx. 90k

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  A total BLAST - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Kevin Smith - December 12 - 10:00 am

  A great car. Its my wifes main source of transportation and we have two kids. Its working out great. We just arent SUV people. Build quaility was great. Performance is impressive.

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  fun car - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By meg moscati - December 12 - 6:46 am

  Even though the fuel economy stinks, this is an awesome car to drive. Very comfortable inside and handles well. The exterior colors and design make it a really handsome car as well.

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  Piece of Crap - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CB - December 12 - 3:56 am

  My wife & i bought this car with 45k, from day one, the car has been a piece of crap. the car died 7 days after we bought it. after that the mechanical problems, engine light on. for some reason the passenger door wont open unless its from the outside, the trunk release dont work. the engine lights stays on. catalytic converter replaced light still on, new engine mount. engine light still on. engine rumbles the car shakes more than a rattle snake. car in the shop now, needs new wheel bearing, complete tune up $1200. 4 time this year car been fixed. car needs oil change every 1500 miles. right side speakers blew up. Never again will buy a VW. They are worthless.

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  One Day and Its Already in the Shop - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Turbo TDI - December 11 - 9:53 pm

  I really love my new TDI. It is lovely to drive, has a beautiful leather interior, and plenty of power - its just a shame that I cant put fuel in it. Youd think someone at the factory would have noticed how the filler pipe belched back all the diesel you try to put in it. So...one hundred miles later its in the shop waiting for parts to replace the fuel tank. The dealer has been great - I got a free loaner car, but VW its all about quality these days and you dropped the ball!

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  Fun & Fast - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Inspector Jay - December 11 - 4:10 pm

  This is my 6th VW, my first was a 69 Bug. It is my third Jetta in a row and all the Jettas have been red. My brother is still driving my 96 Jetta! The power and shift points on the 05 GLI have been matched perfectly! This is a turbo hot rod. Its street appeal and overall handling combined with the turbo power make it a great car to drive! I too miss the heated seats, but have grown very comfortable in the Ricarros - its a true sports car - some luxury has to be lost when driving a car like this. I bought it late in the production because I love the styling and my 02 only had 23,000 miles on it. I use the cruise control and get no less than 25 mpg and even 30 on the hyway!

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  Great Car! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GJP - December 11 - 3:13 pm

  This is my third VW and all I have been very happy with it. This GLI is a great car and has no flaws. Its build quality is top notch. This car is fast and fun to drive and looks beautiful, it gets great gas milage too.

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  Excellent Car - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Marius - December 9 - 6:33 pm

  Great car. It does not car compare with any American car in its class. The standard model comes with many standard features (ABS, side curtain airbags, etc.) - good value. There were no problems in 18 months - thanks God, because of the customer service.