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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  Great Car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By JAU - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I have close to 80K on this car and have had no big problems. It drives great and is so much fun. I am definately going to look into another VW as my next car or SUV!

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  I love my new beetle! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By nicknmanda - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy driving my New Bettle it is so much fun!

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  Happy So Far - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By New GTI Owner - June 2 - 2:00 am

  A blast to drive. Im getting pretty bad gas mileage (20-21 mpg) since the car feels comfortable in the 4000+ RPM range. The 200 hp VR6 is definitely smoother, quieter, and not as jerky as the 1.8T. However, I probably would have gotten the 1.8T if I could have gotten the 6-speed and climate control. I was disappointed to see that the final assembly was in Brazil as eveything I had read before that (including Edmunds) indicated that the final assembly would be in Germany. That being said, the build quality feels very good. I do think the car is a great value and would do it again.

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  POWERFUL - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By PETER M - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE PUT 1500 MILES SO FAR THE JETTA IS A EXCELLENT CAR 1.8 TURBO VERY POWERFUL.VERY SMOOTH DRIVE VERY HAPPY WITH JETTA.

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  Handles like a dream - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DC-VW - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had this car for a couple of months but I love it. It is a very solid car and you have to be careful not to speed because it doesnt feel like you are going as fast as you are. Diesel engine is great, cant wait till the US finally realizes what Europe has figured out about diesel engines. Great roadtrip car- Cleveland to DC and still have almost half a tank. The diesel also has much better pickup at highway speed that gas engines so it shifts less with the cruise control on. Actually, I dont think it ever had to shift with the cruise control on.

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  Counterbalance to bad reviews - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By zenpuppy - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I had my bug for over 2 yrs and I still love it! It is almost the most comfortable car that Ive been in. It picks up on the freeway 60 mi in 10 sec. Its like driving a sportscar without being crammed in. Its extremely user friendly and has a personality of its own. You wont believe how much will fit in this seemingly small car. Ive had the power window stuck while it was still on warranty. You should check users website and read how much most people love their beetles. Just drive one and you wont be able to walk away from it.

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  Love This Car - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Smilie_One - June 1 - 9:43 am

  I bought a GTI with a sunroof, 18" hufeisen alloy wheels, ground effects, DSG automatic, cloth seats. I have received numerous compliments on it. Even a month later, I turn and look at it as I walk away. I love the flexibility of a hatchback. It has more back seat comfort room than my Mustang GT. It has a smoother ride than my Mustang. It has plenty of ability to maneuver in Atlanta traffic. The gas mileage is very acceptable. I am very pleased with my purchase.

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  Driving the new TDI - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Oliver - June 1 - 9:30 am

  we bought the new Jetta TDI just last week. It was the second the dealer has received and they sell on the spot. We had to put down a deposit in order to have a chance to buy it. This is not a small car anymore, we bought it as our family car (family of four). We already own the TDI wagon which has been great for the last 3 years but it got a little tight in the rear for the kids. Once we took it on the road we decided to buy it that day. It is the TDI with package 1 which includes the moonroof and the premium sound system. No need to have the package 2 or 3 unless you want wood trimming and leather seating. The leatherette feels like real leather but it is more durable.

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  V6 4MOTION - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Furley - May 31 - 10:53 pm

  I absolutely love this car! Currently, the car has 57,203 miles on it and I have had ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS with this car. It handles like a sports car. Its VERY fast and has more than enough power. The black interior looks like new. The silver exterior is still shinny (even though I dont really clean or wax it). It doesnt get stuck when those wonderful noreasters hit us here in PA. This car will cruise easily faster than any other car I have ever owned.

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  Check this van out! - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By Jay - May 31 - 9:16 am

  Love this van. My wife was very hesitant to purchase another minivan after owning a Sienna, but feels fortunate we did.