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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  Excellent design/mediocre quality - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TeddyT - December 29 - 10:00 am

  I have a love-hate relationship with this car. Great fun to drive, adequate power, fantastic fuel mileage (43-52 mpg). I drive 40K per year & have pretty pleased. Repairs & maintenance too expensive. $650 timing belt expense. $450 air flow sensor @ 85K.

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  Schizophrenic relationship - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cocoa - December 29 - 10:00 am

  In the 3 yrs Ive had this car Ive had the temp sensor and air intake sensor go out, the check engine light come on 3 times only to go out on its own, the air bag light come on which needed to be reset at the dealer, and 2nd gear intermittently grinding from day 1 that they have never been able to fix. Its so fun to drive yet so unreliable that I have a love/hate relationship with the car. This is my first VW/Audi and my last. I was looking at the A4 when I bought the Jetta but cant trust Audis now either after this experience.

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  Amazing! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tomg - December 29 - 10:00 am

  Wonderful car. Volkswagen pays great attention to detail. The interior design and comfort is top notch. The ride is smooth and refined. I wouldnt hesitate to buy anothe Volkswagen.

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  Great little package - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Chickenhawk - December 29 - 10:00 am

  Its easily your all-round performer. Its a compact car. Its a sporty car. Its a luxurious car. Its everything at the same time - thats why I love it. Need to dress up and hit the town in style? The Jettas shape and form is classy enough. Want to enjoy some sporty driving? Put the strong little 1.8T engine to work, and it responds. Need a family hauler? The Jetta does the trick there too. Everything seems almost perfect, from the placement of controls to the feel of the trim. Everything works as you expect it to work, not how some funky engineering team designed it. Smart design, excellent execution. Try it - youll love it too!

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  a baby TT at an affordable price - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By amalone - December 29 - 10:00 am

  I have traded in a Corvette Z06 for a Turbo S and I am not sorry I did. Of course, I cannot compare horse power with a Corvette, but this baby TT does not disappoint anyone. With some modifications (sport springs and rear sway bar, lower profile tires and larger rims) I can compete for curves just like any sports car out there. And the different exterior does stand out in the crowd. Overall, I get a cheap car that is fully loaded and unique. Well worth the trade.

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  Mini Passat - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By HappyJack - December 29 - 9:23 am

  I love this car! I own an 04 Jetta and an 08 Passat, as well. Other than missing the navigation upgrade, we often mistake it for the Passat. In- fact we call it the Mini-Passat The ride, comfort and road noise compared to the the 2004 Jetta is hands- down much better.

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  Initial Impression - First 1,000 Miles - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Splashman24 - December 29 - 3:13 am

  I have had my 2006 Volkswagen Jetta GLI for only 17 days, but I have been impressed every day. The car handles extremely well with a firm yet comfortable ride. I have averaged about 28 miles a gallon in combined driving. The only minor quibble I have when driving would be stability in windy driving. I have to do a little more correction than I am use to. This is nothing major, it just was noticable. I came out of a PT Crusier that seemed to ignore strong winds. There have been no initial delivery problems which bodes well for future reliabilty. I smile with anticipation every time I walk up to the car. Thats the best endorsement I can give as a driver.

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  VW Routan 09 Pulls to the right - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By DP - December 28 - 11:53 pm

  I purchase VW Routan this year and immediately noticed during the first week that the van pulls to the right. Took it to the dealer and they tried few things but no luck. They balanced tires, installed new ones and still the issue still present. I have contact VW customer service and reported to them of the problem. There is also a passenger side sliding door problem. The door will not stay latched open at incline. Overall, not happy with the van. I owned odyssey before and this van doesnt really compare well to Honda for the drive.

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  Best Car Ive ever owned - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vgpr - December 28 - 4:05 pm

  Been a JDM enthusiast all my life Been in the Automotive repair business 20 years. Then VW won me over I bought this car used with 78k miles on it. Today it has 200k. Its been a commuter vehicle for over 6 years the wtr pmp/belt done at 100k was replaced. Their weakness. The gear was plastic. Replaced with metal one. Besides that its been normal maintenance. Best front wheel drive in the snow up in the Cascades. Best A/C down in Tx where it is now. Grips the road better than my Benz C230 at a quarter of the Price and is the quietest car Ive owned even today its quieter than my other newer cars. I just gave the car to my Sis and its still going strong. If find clean then get it...

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  Been a great car for us - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By VW Fan - December 28 - 7:13 am

  The car has the amenities of a luxury car, handles like a sports car, has the power of a muscle car, all with great off road capabilities. 100K+ miles and has never left us stranded. The body style doesnt show its age and still turns heads on the road. We live in the country and it has survived the gravel roads as an everyday driver for my wife. Its great for travel (other than the mileage) and gives a sense of safety and security no matter the driving conditions.