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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  Good Build, Roomy, Top MPG vs Power - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By F.G. - September 29 - 4:16 pm

  My 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI has impressive build quality (paint, interior trim, parts, welds). Its sharp looking with plenty of interior / trunk space for family of four. I am getting ~41 MPG with combined city / highway driving. It has good power and is very smooth / quiet at 80+ mph. Package 2 is pricey, but nice w/cimatronic settings and heated leather seats. The first dealer that I sppoke with wanted MSRP and the second wanted $1,000 over MSRP -- do research, get them competing, and you should get it close to invoice. I am not sure why diesel fuel costs 10 cents more that gas -- its easier to make! Also, only 1 in 4 stations have diesel, but I get many more miles per tank, so its not a problem.

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  Jetta Diesel is all for Fun - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tdi_all_fun - September 29 - 2:25 am

  After driving Toyota Camry for 8 years i decided to move on and try something that is fun to drive and at the same time has great mpg. I decided to buy Jetta TDI, i start loving it the moment i test drove it and bought it right away. I bought this in June 2011 and wanted to wait for a while before writing this review so far i have put over 15000 miles and getting 37-38 in 50% city and 50% highway. I drove it on long drive couple of time and noted 46 mpg which is awesome for car with a soul. So far i am happier with my decision to move to diesel. I dont think i am ever moving back to gas ever again.

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  A Great Little 4-Door Hatchback - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Car Enthusiast - September 28 - 2:56 pm

  Bought it as a surprise BD present for wife to replace her 03 CR-V. Dealer gave me $3k off the msrp! I did some research before I bought. But took the car on the 1st test drive because the deal they offered me was too good to resist. The quality is the best in its class. Fronts seats are very huggy and supportive. We get about 23 city and 32 hwy. I am somewhat disappointed at the power from 170 hp motor. Test drove the new Camry with 2.5L motor seemed a lot more peppier. To take off from stop in D, there is a hesitation. I thought it starts in 2nd but when I put it to M it does show 1st. However, if you take off in S mode, the car seems to be much more peppier with better throttle response.

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  Do not buy VW unless made in Germany - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By unhappy - September 28 - 2:13 pm

  VW are not made like they used to be, and until they do, do not keep one for more than warranty period. I grew up with my parents owning a beetle, Vanagon, rabbit, jetta, and all lasting 10 years plus with no issues. I bought a 00 jetta, kept until 45k miles and sold it to my sister, and thats when everything started failing. I bought a 03 jetta in 02; has 65k miles (fine until 50k miles when the warranty expired). Have spent $4k in past year in repairs. The electrical system is horrible! Factory radio died, temperature control module died, radiator fan and auxiliary fan failed, catalytic converter died, coolant leak, ignition coil problem, now my car wont start. Cant wait to see why.

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  Marvelous Passat - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Griz#1 - September 28 - 2:00 am

  Great car, fun to drive, very functional style, safety first, and very reliable.

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  My first VW - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lsumd - September 28 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Jetta 1.8T after driving a Civic for several years. I looked at all of the cars in this class, including the Civic, and decided that the Jetta has them all beat: more power, better styling, excellent fit and finish, and a great interior. Its not a perfect car (I hate the cupholders as much as anyone) but it sure comes close! IÂ’d have to say that the best part of the car is the way it drives. YouÂ’ll just have to get behind the wheel and see for yourself. I highly recommend the 5- speed manual.

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  Happy Dieseler - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sprouty - September 28 - 12:26 am

  Weve had our 2004 GL TDI auto (Tiptronic) wagon for 4 months and 7K miles. Love it! This car replaces a 2001 GLX VR6, and I dont miss the added power of the V6 that much. The TDI is wonderful--punchy at all speeds, with a great surge of turbo power always available. Gave up some creature comforts in going to the GL, but the seats are still great and the car still has good featutes. Tons of cargo room, and a great ride for long trips. We regularly average 40-42 MPG in mixed driving. A wonderful car! Our 2nd Jetta and weve been happy with both.

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  Great Car - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By drew - September 27 - 6:03 pm

  Well, Ill admit I never even test drove a civic si, or any other "competing" car in the same segment. I already know the GTI handles great, has very easy power (especially with mods), and that the looks were leagues ahead of other hatchbacks (interior and out.) I love the plaid seats, the subtle yet aggressive lines, and most of all the motor. With a 2 liter Im making 260 wtq and 230 whp with just chip, exhaust, and intake. I find that more then enough for a daily driver and equal or better then any other stock hatchback out there. Ive had only one problem with the car, an airbag light I got fixed under warranty. Ive watched other hatchbacks come out, and am very glad I chose the GTI.

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  What a car! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By jay plant - September 27 - 4:23 am

  The 2006 Volkswagen Passat is a great improvment from the previous model. It has more power, more features, more everything. Suprisingly the vehicle did not increase in weight or suffer with regards to fuel economy, in fact, quite the opposite. I would say that the 4-cylinder model closely matches some of the 6-cylinders that are available at this moment. I cannot even imagine what the 6-cylinder will do.

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  A ripe lemon - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By xando05 - September 26 - 6:54 pm

  What a piece of junk. I was so excited to special order this car back in 2006. I really thought I was going to get a stellar vehicle built in Germany. Well, I got the German part of the equation-thats it. This car was one of, if not the biggest mistake Ive ever made in my life. On my way home, the night of deliveryI quickly noticed that something was odd with the acceleration. There was a clear delay in forward motion once the driver depressed the accelerator. I had the car back to the dealer multiple times to address this situation. No luck. Finally the dealer contacted the regional VW rep about the issue. A software update was applied to the ECM. It improved the issue about 35%