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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  TDI Jetta: Awful Brakes! 23MPG Total - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ken Hunt - March 3 - 11:36 am

  Beware, as the TDI Diesel engine is Heavy, causing this car to Brake horribly. I have had 3 slow driving near misses due to braking being massively delayed. Folks these brakes are the worst I have ever driven. 23 MPG combined, you can call this good, but forget about all these 40 and 50MPG FALSE CLAIMS.

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  I wanted to love this car - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Eric - March 3 - 10:43 am

  I thought we had found the perfect car. The clean lines, nearly perfect ergonomics, elegant interior and great road manners made me forget that I was driving a station wagon. Unfortunately, the car was bedeviled by endless quality problems that had us endlessly returning to the shop over and over. On 3 different occasions, it blew major engine or transmission seals with catastropic results. The electrical system shorted repeatedly and countless other little things went wrong. Thank God we had an extended warranty.

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  Good but not Great - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Howard - March 3 - 9:56 am

  I leased this vehicle to take advantage of the mileage in repetitive crosstown commuting. I have not been disappointed in this respect, avg 34mpg. Several areas have been disappointing. The auto transmission mother board quit functioning at about 2000 mi. Took 3 weeks to get one shipped from Germany. The tan leather seat dye rubs off easily. Replaced driver seat 3 times, finally gave up. The AM section of the radio is very weak. Dealer checked and cant find any problems. 50,000 watt stations fade in and out. Access to front seat difficult with driver seat in position to allow my 6 245 lb body to drive. The center post is too far forward. Visibility poor, large blind spots.

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  There Really Is A Difference - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jaimito - March 3 - 1:53 am

  If you are all about fuel economy, performance, and safety I am not sure what other choice in this price class you have. The stereo has surprising capability, remember this is a base model. The air conditioning works great and when you need a little get up and go this car never disappoints. My fuel economy for highway ranges in the mid-twenties. Thats only because I have a tendency to punch it a little. I have the leatherette seating and with kids I think it is a must have. This car offers a better range of view then other Veedub models. I like being a little different not pulling up to the party in a Toyota. Oh, and so far my car has had no problems!

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  As Mr. T says "Passats are fo suckas!" - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By FornerPassatSucker - March 3 - 1:23 am

  This car was the German engineering dream I wanted. It started off great but went downhill quickly. If you own any turbo passat, search "Engine Sludge", then walk, no run away from the car. Worse yet, when I could produce the oil change receipts from the life of the car (i bought it used) they would honor their "internal warranty" to replace the engine unless I got $2500 worth of different repairs. I was strong armed by the dealer. Stay away from this car and VW in general. I just got a Merc. Milan. read its reviews and got get one. They are way, WAY better than this hunk of junk. "I pity da fool in a VW Passat."

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  I love my car! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ks1984 - March 2 - 8:36 am

  I love my VW! I have not had any major problems with it. Runs great and is very comfortable. Handles great in the snow! Gets regular maintenance and oil changes with synthetic oil.

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  Exceeded Expectations - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By johndb59 - March 2 - 5:49 am

  Traded in my 11 Cayenne S. I would say the VW is 90% of the Porsche for about 60% of the price. Actually, I like the slightly simpler interior and the easier ingress/egress from the seats. Feels substantial and drives really well. Quality seems very high. Nice car to fly around without attracting a lot of attention. Excellent fuel economy and you truly cant tell its a diesel.

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  NEVER buy a Volkswagen. - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Cody - March 2 - 4:35 am

  I purchased my 2006 VW Passat 2.0T for about $25K from the dealership. It now has106k miles. The scheduled maintenance was always done on time, including the pricey synthetic oil changes every 3k miles. After taking the necessary actions to have the car regularly serviced(in hopes of having the car last) At 85K miles I needed to replace the front axel. ($1200) At 100K miles my car started shifting funny. I brought it to the dealership to take a look. I was told I needed to replace the transmission. They quoted me $6000. After this shocking quote I brought the car to a reputable transmission shop. I was told the same thing, I needed a new transmission. This quote was less at $4.5K. Thats right, with 106k miles I needed to replace the transmission! In my opinion a transmission should not need to be replaced with 100K miles. The black rubber coating on the buttons is pealing, the sunroof is leaking, and the engine is misfiring. I would highly suggest to anyone looking to purchase a VW not to. They are stylish and affordable but the cars do not last.

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  TDI is missed - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By smithrep - March 2 - 12:36 am

  I bought the TDI last June after having to stop at the pumps 3 times/week with my Infiniti G35 coupe with my sales career. I was reluctant to get the VW but afterwards I was very, very happy with the MPGs. averaged 36-42 but topped out over 50 mpg on a few occasions. (including the one where I took it to trade it in). I did just trade it in on a FJ Cruiser because I am starting a company where I need more room to haul equipment and also something to pull my boat. While the FJ is averaging around 20 mpg (good for suv), it is no TDI. I definitely already miss my VW but I do not miss having to fill up at the diesel tanks then having to go inside of store to pay for diesel.

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  No sacrifices - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By beachdriver - March 1 - 12:53 pm

  No sacrificing quality, comfort or safety in the pursuit of lowering fuel costs. Even the base GL is fairly nicely appointed including above average sound system. Handling is fun, acceleration is astonishing given the 40 mpg highway and 35 mpg combined. This cars body is solid. Judging from forums, I have high expectations for longevity of the engine.