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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  My dream car is a lemon :( - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Andrea - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I always wanted a bug, and made it a goal to purchase one. I bought this car brand new off the lot with 4 miles on it. After 4 months of bliss, this car became a nightmare. I have had prolems with the oil light, check engine light, airbag light, coolant light, and the malfunction indicator light. It has had the following items replaced: a seatbelt, the faulty window brackets that all the beetles had, the instrument cluster (2 times), all 4 cylinder coils, a piece to the trunk latch system, and last but not least, that car is getting a whole new engine put in it now!!! I am very very very disappointed and have lost faith in Volkswagon. :(

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  My dream car is a lemon :( - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By andrea - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I always wanted a bug, and made it a goal to purchase one. I bought this car brand new off the lot with 4 miles on it. After 4 months of bliss, this car became a nightmare. I have had prolems with the oil light, check engine light, airbag light, coolant light, and the malfunction indicator light. It has had the following items replaced: a seatbelt, the faulty window brackets that all the beetles had, the instrument cluster (2 times), all 4 cylinder coils, a piece to the trunk latch system, and last but not least, that car is getting a whole new engine put in it now!!! I am very very very disappointed and have lost faith in Volkswagon. :(

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  Its not that great - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Javier - August 6 - 8:23 pm

  I purchased this car to be my everyday car. It is very fast and fun to drive. The auto trans shifts to quick, it is twitchy. The build quality is not what you would expect a nearly 30,000 car. The factory ipod connect is bad! Fuel economy is not that great if you get on the gas. Over all it is a good car but I just feel that for the price you should get more and better quality. My rear cup holder broke like in 2 days. There is some cabin noise and the seats are not that comfortable. It does have considerable blind spots even when turning your head to switch lanes. I say you owe it to your self to drive the competition before you buy, I did not.

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  Fixing to go back to service for check engine ligh - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Chad P - August 6 - 1:10 am

  We have a 2018 Atlas like the size for the money and has lots of interior and a like the vehicle overall but we drove it home Monday labor day and had to take it back the next day because the check engine light came on and was at dealership for 5 days , now today 10/21/2017 the check engine light is back on . We like the Atlas overall but dont like paying for a vehicle thats this new that were having to take back to the shop . Hindsight we should have brought a Honda pilot .

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  Great car crummy radio - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By BuffaloGolfer - August 3 - 10:00 am

  Great car, great milage, Ists a 5 speed. Love the ride and performance. Im 62" vertical adjustments on seat and steering column are wonderful. Easy in and out Gotta fix the radio. Im on my second one and now the AM is dead and the left-front speakers cut in and out. Dealer is trying but I need to stay on top of them. Id buy one again but with the cheap radio and then go aftermarket.

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  I love this car! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kevin_Staci - August 3 - 10:00 am

  Buy 1! We have had ours for 3 years and it still runs smooth and no problems except 3 small minor things:1) Plastic Window clip broke stopping window from working - covered under warranty. 2) Rear cup holder stuck and will not come out - covered under warranty. 3) Release clip to open up arm rest broke, need to replace it. For a sticker of approx. $24,000 there was no other car at this price range or even higher that has the quality workmanship or standard equipment. A 3 series is the only car that has comparable features and it will cost $15,000 more.

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  2009 Jetta TDI improved and unimproved - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By samd - July 27 - 1:26 pm

  My 09 Jetta TDI has comfort and speed. There are key flaws: engine stalls frequently at low rpm, unlike the more robust 98 TDI; brakes ice over in snow make for a choppy first stop; electric motor fan noise is so loud cant ride with windows down in summer; cab fogs up bad circulation; engine annoying whistle when it is turned off; fuel gage lies half full means 2/3 empty; radio is only tuned for hip-hop missing freqs for classical and rock; radio has no amp for ipod sucks ipod battery dry; ipod connection has no shielding thus feedback noise is bad.

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  Beware of this beauty... - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By VW-BAD - July 25 - 7:13 pm

  I have owned my 09 Routan SEL for around 4 mo and about 4000 miles and disappointed does not begin to describe my state of mind!!! My brakes have been squealing since about the 1000 mile mark and it is "normal" according to a qualified technician. Both of my sliding doors have given me numerous problems, including not closing properly and I have come back to a vehicle with an open door. Gas mileage is atrocious. This vehicle has been a nightmare to deal with (especially with two young kids). Yes it is beautiful, but at what price?

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  Great performance, zero reliability - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By yoli - July 24 - 9:33 pm

  Love it and hate it. Just name a few problems fixed on my Jetta 2002: - First week of ownership, rear passenger door couldn’t open because cable fell down inside the door panel. - One piece radio got replaced three times. - Ignition coils replaced at four times. - Windshield wrapper loosened, ridiculous. - Now the front brake squeaks, I was told that there is no way to fix unless change the whole brake pads, disks, etc, I can’t believe that. …

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  Nice Car, but Costly Repairs - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Aphid - July 23 - 4:53 am

  I shopped for two years before buying an 00 Passat GLX 5M. I seriously considered the Audi A4, Ford Bronco, Saab 9-3, Olds Alero, and BMW 3-Series among others. This car has some very nice features. I liked the way it drove, I feel safe in it, and I get many nice comments from passengers. However, non-warranty repairs have included MAF (2.5 yrs) for ~$500, control arm (3 yrs) ~$300, 3 rear brakes, rear window motor (5 yrs) ~$250, serpentine belt & powwr steering motor (5 yrs) ~$800, drill out license plate mount from trunk lid (6 yrs) ~$100, rear view mirror (6 yrs) ~$0 (but frustrating get done), belly pan (7 yrs) ~$250, & others that I cant think of right now. If the dealer/repair experience had been better, and if repair costs werent so high, Id probably stay with VW/Audi.