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 First Volkswagen - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Brad Lucas - June 23 - 2:00 am

  Always drove 4x4 trucks until I test drove the Passat. Needless to say, I drove it off the lot that same day. Handles great in ALL weather conditions. Very comfortable after long trips and has the power you need when you need it.

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  Cant go wrong - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By trig - June 23 - 2:00 am

  Considering we got our 2003 Passat for 16500 (with 14000 miles), and new it cost 24500, I cant complain. For the money(16500), I am very pleased with it. Quality fit and finish is excellent, this coming from a former- Lexus owner. Ride is very european- like, which I love. The only knock is price/performance. Dont get me wrong, 170 horses from a 1.8 is very respectsble, but the car is too heavy to make it work. And springing for the v-6 isnt worth it (displacement goes up to 2.8, and only gains 20-30 horses). I hope the price stays the same, and power goes up, or this may be the last passat I own, at least for awhile.

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  GR8 RIDE - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By REISER - June 23 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car for a tight budget. The speed and performace combined with the leather interior make this a great car. For the price the american cars in this range couldnt even touch this car. I researched many cars before purchasing the jetta, and this is by far the most car for the money.

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  Happy Fat Man - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Chanman - June 23 - 2:00 am

  Our Beetle is a 2003 Convertible GLS with leather and a six-speed automatic. This past Fall my wife and I took our 2003 Beetle Convertible on an 18 day, 5000 mile excursion to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and most points in between. We packed a weeks change of clothes for warm and cool weather, plus a cooler packed with drinks, food, and cameras, ect. NO PROBLEM!! I am a big, big man, pushing 400lbs. Yet we were both very comfortable and the car performed without flaw. Let me tell you...there is nothing like the Rockies in a rag-top!!

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  reported to nhtsa - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jmbcorex - June 23 - 12:50 am

  Terrible problems with the transmission...shifted from park to reverse...depress brake pedal light came on, and gear indicator light (prnds) started flashing and car slipped into neutral, but re- engaged...lurched backward and almost hit pasng car...then next night...driving 50 mph in drive...car jumped to neutral, engine raced to redline... gear shift indicator light started flashing and depress brake pedal light before starting light came on...almost got rear-ended by car behind me. Dealer said i have to have transmission torn apart and some type of sensor replaced...done research...found this problem exists, along with flywheel and mechatronic module...sent report to NHTSA...

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  A Slice of Heaven in every Ride - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Ireland3 - June 22 - 9:50 pm

  I purchased the yellow SE in July and have been driving it everyday just smiling. The handling is great,and the seats are comfortable. I just love all the fun it is to simply go anywhere now in my new "Sunflower Yellow" bug. Gets tons of compliments and fits in the smallest spots. I updated mine with "daisy" steering wheel covers, flower vase, license plate, and seat covers for an even cuter look.

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  Best car for the money dollar per dollar - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Virgil - June 22 - 8:43 pm

  The cars is 200HP and you feel it. Paradise for tall people, more leg room than an E class Mercedes. At high speed in the highway you notice why European and Japaneses are different. Well built and fun to drive, very reasonable fuel consumption. No problems whatsoever in 13,500 miles. A lot of car for the money and safety features are important to me. This VW is designed to go over 100 MPH on the Germans "autobahn" and engineering is superb. Im extremely happy with the purchase of my Passat. The human bean is the most perfect machine in the world and sometimes fail. What the people expect of a car? In live luck counts for all. Wishing you good luck on your new Passatt as I had.

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  My Opinion is the EOS is Junk - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Ecartman1964 - June 22 - 6:53 am

  The EOS is a beautiful car and it has great performance and outstanding gas mileage. It ends there. Serious problems with engine, it burns oil, and leaks a little. I would not suggest this vehicle because I had it break down twice (only driven it 8,000 miles in the last year) and towed. Service is horrible because one must wait for a few days before they can even look at it and start the repairs. Ill never buy another VW again and will migrate over to Lexus, Infinity, or Acura.

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  horrible car...dont buy - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By david - June 22 - 12:30 am

  never owned a worse car in my life!! Leaks oil, coolant, and transmission fluid. Buying American made cars from now on!!

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  A pretty good car so far.. - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Roger2Texas - June 21 - 7:26 pm

  Purchased this 07 Jetta 2.5L 5cyl 2 yrs ago brand new, has been a very good car, handles great on highway. Have had to replace the gas tank door on warranty. The bad thing is I have to buy the Catrol full synthetic oil at AutoZone along with filter for local mechanic to change the oil. Love the 10k mile oil change intervals. This car has been A++ excellent compared to our old 2003 Passat which was a nightmare (since assembled in Germany, compared to the Passat in Mexico). Car is very sporty & sometimes catches peoples eye.