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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  Problems with 2006 Jetta - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MikeL - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car brand new from the dealership and had no problems until the warranty period was expiring. Had several major parts replaced under warranty. Main seal leak in engine. Main wiring harness in drivers door caused major electrical problems. Headliner is falling down and interior buttons on radio are peeling.

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  Nice car, great value retention - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bob - December 21 - 6:53 am

  Leased this GLI 1.8T 6 manual in November 2004. Had only one problem through 10/07 and 37000 miles: sunroof leaked because drain hoses clogged with debris, cant fault VW for that. Reasonably peppy car, fun handling (could use stiffer sway bars to reduce body lean), fantastic brakes. Interior is well appointed though back seat legroom is tight (I mainly used it as a 1-person commuter car anyway). Fuel economy was good, would average about 30-31 in mixed highway and city driving. Dip in to the boost too much and drive only in the city and youll pay though. Overall, I have been very satisfied with this car. Value retention has been excellent.

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  I love my Volkswagen. - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By crystal - December 21 - 3:56 am

  Ive had this car for almost a year now (purchased Dec. 07) and have put almost 17,000 miles on it and I still love it as much as the day I purchased it, maybe even more. When I went in to test drive, I really had no intention of buying it, but after the test drive I was sold. I got an awesome deal on it, bought it for $19,300, which is an amazing deal for all the features that come on this car. My favorite thing about the car is definitely the interior. The car is easy to clean, its really comfortable. Prior to owning this I had a Honda S2000 and I never would have thought Id love having a VW as much as I do.

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  2005 TDI Passat Wagon - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Steve - December 20 - 6:56 pm

  I love this car except for an experience last winter. I live in a cold enviroment. I was told the car would always start before I bought it. At minus 10, sitting outside, the car would not start. I had to have it towed to the nearest dealership. Once it warmed up it started without a problem. Everything checked out to be working correctly. I would not take the car back without an external heating device installed. The dealer put on a oil pan heater. VW Corp was contacted and asked to cover the installation. They declined to do so! I was told they would rather pay for a tow each time. What an inconvience for me. I was displeased with the customer service deptartment.

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  Absolutely Amazing! - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By RWH - December 20 - 3:50 pm

  This car is incredible! It looks great and drives even better. I must have driven about 15 different cars before I decided on the GTI, and I am 100% satified with it. The acceleration, handling, and braking are all top notch. It feels like driving a car that costs 2x what the GTI costs. The seats are incredibly comfortable and offer excellent support for cornering and for long drives. The stereo rocks, and the displays and controls are well designed and easy to use. I find myself trying to invent things to do just so I can drive it again.

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  Love the car but lots of issues - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Greg - December 20 - 9:00 am

  I bought my 2008 Eos and it has really been an enjoyable car to drive, when it is not at the dealership. So far I have taken it in at least 4 times, 3 of which for the same issues. Small leakage in the drivers window during a heavy rain, auto roll up windows do not always go back up, and breaks squeal despite the dealership telling me they are fine, it is just the way VW made them. The other issue I had recently was the battery needing to be replaced at about 30K miles (this was causing the trunk latch in the car to not pop the trunk completely open).

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  Love My Jetta TDI D - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By debrasue - December 20 - 6:19 am

  My husband and I bought this car for the gas mileage and the Jetta has delivered. I drive 100 miles a day (highway) for work plus running errands and only fill up once a week ($50 a tank). I get about 47 mpg or 550-560 miles per tank. The car is comfortable and responsive when driving. Being on the road so much I like the Blue tooth hands free system that syncs with my phone.

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  Love my diesel wagen - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ames - December 20 - 5:43 am

  This car is terrific. The range is525 miles per tank, and Im getting over 40 miles per gallon highway and 34 city. Comfortable seating, plenty of cargo space, and I couldnt be happier

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  Asian Alternative - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By robdog - December 20 - 12:06 am

  The 2006 Jeetta has much improved looks and feel. It is an excellent quality car for an awesome price. You wont go wrong with this car. It has the perfect engine balance between power and economy.

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  First week ownership impressions - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By vegasjon - December 19 - 7:19 pm

  I traded my 2009 GTI for the 2012 CC Lux Plus PZEV last week. Initial impressions are pretty good. This is the same engine at the GTI- 2.0T. Interior is very nicely apointed with wood trim and leatherette (I assume this is faux leather?) but quality is fairly high. NAV and electronics are easy to use with the steering wheel controls or console. iPod hookup in the glovebox is nice, and the Bluetooth functionality allows for streaming music from a device - nice if you use Pandora or anything else on your handheld device. Suspension is tight, and with the long wheelbase makes for a decent ride. The exterior design is outstanding- I got the Black paint and it looks classy with the chrome trim.