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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  turbo seals cause oil consumption - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By hipster1 - January 3 - 3:24 pm

  All these reviews are right about the roof leaking. And the oil consumption is because the turbo seals are defective. They know about about it, but I guess not bad enough for a recall. And the oil light doesnt even come on when your engine is 31/2 qts low! If you wait 5000K miles u r screwed because there is no oil left. And they can never fix the leaks. Had the car in so many times I gave up.

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  Love driving the car but would not buy another - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By sordway - January 3 - 2:09 am

  I bought this car brand new & have had to many problems to list.I used to own VWs and always loved them along with the service. Their service and reliability is nothing like it used to be.I have taken my car to 2 different dealers and both gave horrible service. My car has been in the shop so many times I should be able to call it a lemon, but because they would take to long to find the issues that never happened. This month alone it has been in the shop 3 times and they cannot figure out the electrical issues or a clunking noise. I have had to take it in for leaks 5 times so far. Wish I had more room to tell all problems roof,electrical,stereo, trunk,tranmission, etc

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  2002 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6 4dr Wagon - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ihatecarpayments - December 25 - 7:26 pm

  Typical Jetta problems: car was routinely in shop. Either for annoying exterior hardware/mechanical issues (driver window continually fell off track) or for major electrical issues. Radio stopped working which we then noticed the horn didnt work. We were told that to fix the radio we needed to replace the steering wheel. And this would not ensure the radio would work after this. Engine sputtered and shuddered one day on a road trip which required an emergency stop at a garage to get O2 sensor replaced. Bottom line: VW does not stand by their own cars. They would just simply respond as if this is to be expected from a VW. They suggested we buy a new one.

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  Dont get sucked in! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mikehs2 - December 25 - 3:18 am

  Do not, I repeat DO NOT! Buy this vehicle used. If you own one now, dump it before you hit 90,000 miles. It will have all the serious problems that everyone else mentions. Especially the screwed up rear mounted timing chain that requires the transmission to be removed for this otherwise simple repair on a "Normal" car. This car is junk!

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  Bad choice - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Missyv - December 22 - 5:23 pm

  I am not pleased with this car AT ALL! I bought it brand new in 2001 and for the first 3 or 4 yrs it was good besides the cheap plastic on the interior, broken knobs, broken armrest, door handle material peeling off. After this (warranty no more) all hell broke loose. My ac broke twice, my clutch messed up and now my strutters need to be replace. I have only 65,000 miles on this car and it is only 6 /2 yrs old. I am definitely not buying another VW ever again! Engine light coming on, I wish I had done a little more research on this make and model before I purchased.

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  Before you buy one... - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By passatisalemon - December 20 - 3:36 am

  Dont buy this car! Not unless you enjoy throwing money out the window. My 2002 Volkswagen Passat was good for the first few months. Then it broke down on me in Indiana (coils). The A/C system stinks. It has broken three times. The check engine light comes on all the time. No joke, it comes on every few hundred miles. I take it in, pay a butt load of money for something stupid, then a few miles later it comes on again. This is the most unreliable car I have ever owned. When working it rides nice and looks nice, but I would give anything to have my 1997 Honda Civic back. Buy a Toyota or a Honda, buy ANYTHING, just not a Passat. Most positive reviews you will see only have a few miles on the car. I have 65,000. its junk.

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  Watch out for Passat TDI - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By joe473 - December 13 - 9:51 pm

  Volkswagon knows they have an issue with the Passat and they should do a recall. The issue is with the fuel pump and the high compression. They blame you the consumer and blame you for putting gasoline in a diesel engine. Pump goes then the injectors, watch out stay away.

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  Constant Problems........ - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ccinsf - December 6 - 11:10 am

  Wow, where to begin? POTENTIAL BUYERS BEWARE!! My Beetles factory installed radio had a short in it. The dealer couldnt diagnose it properly, so Ive purchased three batteries for the car and a new old stock radio on eBay. The alternator went at 26,000 miles (out of warranty). The exhaust manifold deteriorated, catalytic converter died, spark plugs keep dying causing 3 out of 4 cylinders to work (happened twice- replaced plugs twice), and the gas cap release has been replaced twice and still does not work. Also, the interior of drivers side door is peeling behind the interior handle. The gearshift cover has fallen off (it has been re-glued twice). The speakers in my car have shorts. Last but not least, the wheels metallic paint has peeled off

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  I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE COMPLAINTS - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By SYR - November 28 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF S... THANK GOD HAS A WARRATY COVERAGE. AS SOON AS MY WARRANTY IS UP, IM SELLING IT.

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  headache - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Brians - November 22 - 10:00 am

  Once things start to break, it is all over. Windows falling down are a constant problem. Door handles are peeling apart. Computer chip in front driver side door shorted, which causes the car not to realize the door is closed, and dings for the first 2 minutes of the ride. Mass airflow sensor, fuel pump relay have had several problems and replaced multiple times. Fan for A/C and heat broke. Windsheild washer fluid doesnt make it to the windsheild.