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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  Sell before warranty ends - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By joeykert - January 15 - 8:13 pm

  In the past month, at my expense, the front axle, water pump and timing belt all needed replacing. The car shakes in idle when stopped, a common problem with this engine from my research, but VW is in denial. The dealership cleaned the throttle body, fuel injectors and replaced engine and transmission mounts at my expense, car still shakes. This is my second and last VW, a car with only 41000 miles shouldnt have so many issues.

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  Luv my Convertible - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By cathiem - January 14 - 12:13 pm

  I have had the Beetle convertible for about 1 year (not driving it in the winter months). I totally love it. It is fun, reliable and has enough pep for me. I was surprised by the amount of room in the trunk, as I expected virtually nothing. Just really really pleased. I do miss a change holder, as there is no easy place to put a few dollars.

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  Great car! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tom Harrell - January 14 - 7:46 am

  Ive had my 2006 Volkswagen Passat for a week and really enjoy driving it. I purchased the 3.6L with Sport Package 1. The cars rides and handles great, and the seats are very comfortable. I drove the 2.0L turbo and it was a nice car, but I was swayed by the bigger engine and the additional features of the 3.6L. There are too many standard and optional features to list, but if youre reading this, you probably already know what they are. This is a great car!

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  Very Happy - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Mike Moore - January 14 - 12:13 am

  I have had my Eos since the end of December and have enjoyed every minute with the car. It is an attractive vehicle that garners many looks and questions from people. It is enjoyable and comfortable during my 35 mile daily round trip on a misture of highway and surface streets. Its jack of all trades character in regard to coupe, convertible or open sunroof auto, its performance and its comfort reassure me each and every day that I made a good decision in investing into the VW Eos. Im a happy, sun tanned disciple of the Goddess Eos! :-)

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  Car That You Must Drive... - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Andrew - January 13 - 4:40 pm

  The redesigned Passat is a must drive vehicle. What other car provides you European engineering and luxury for that price? Come-on, even VWs Audi product line does not offer the innovative look of the Passat. Why are you going to spend that type of money on either the smaller A3 or dated A4? I have had minor issues, some my own fault. I have read some of the other reviews and hope that they have fixed the "Check Engine" error; mine was for faulty air-intake motor. Some times, the Navigation system glitches requiring a car restart. But overall, for a first model year, its a great car that is fun to drive, luxuriously, and no where near as expensive to own and maintain as a BMW/Mercedes.

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  The Amazing V10 Diesel - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By SLA - January 13 - 3:26 am

  I had a 2004 Touareg V8 before this one and it had a lot of electrical problems. Replaced it with the V10 and couldnt be happier, one of the best vehicles I have owned. It has amazing performance, gets very good fuel economy considering its weight and size and will tow over 7700 lbs. Havent had any problems with it, just normal maintenance, which isnt cheap but I have a prepaid maint. plan. It does eat up tires but havent had to replace the brakes (30k miles).

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  I Can Afford A Passat?!! - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By westys_4_ever - January 12 - 8:53 pm

  Yes. Yes I can! This car is so packed full of value, bought on a lease, anyone could afford it. And they would be right to do so. The details inside the cabin are so thought out, they really didnt cut any corners. All of the cubbies found in the car are lined with grippy rubber to prevent sliding of phones or other hard items. The top of the dash, near the bottom of the windshield has a strip of brushed stainless matching the stuff on the dash and center console. The seats are supportive and comfortable. The drivers seat has power lumbar which feels amazing. I really like the stark white dash numbers at night. They are easier to read at a glance than the blue ones.

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  Tired of getting it to the shop - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mtj - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Like so many other owners, Ive loved my Jetta-it is stylish and fun to drive, but I am tired of taking it to the shop every 8-10 weeks for something or other to be fixed! The things that brake are like others: glove box twice, motor to gas cap misfuntioned, tail lights always going out, etc. Not critical, but they are annoying. Seems like as soon as I have left the dealership, the next thing goes. VW has been good about incurring the expense for many repairs, but I am tired of arranging rides to the dealership to pick it up. Itll break my heart, but it is time to end this relationship. I wont make the same mistake again

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  New Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By 2004 Touareg buyer - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Great Interior, lots of toys with the Premium package. Radio is excellent. lacks back seat room. good cargo space, for future models I would expect a movable rear seat (available on the M class mercedes benz). the aftermarket rubber floor matts are a $99 must for bad weather cities or muddy children.

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  Quite Happy with my TDI - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By atltdi - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my TDI Wagon since May. I previously had a 2001.5 1.8T 5 speed. Although I loved the efficiency of the engine of my old car,the low end torque of the 1.8T was simply not strong enough to handle extreme driveways and hills in and around Atlanta. The diesel is a completely different story altogether. It comes off of the line quickly...so much so that the tires will squeal if punched too quickly.... The hills and steep driveways are no longer a problem from standing stops. Atl to DC on one tank of fuel. I love it.