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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  Overall great - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Satisfied - February 28 - 10:00 am

  Overall, a great car, bought in 10/1999. Had the mass airflow sensor problem, window guides problem, and too low to the ground(front end) problem. Other than that, excellent car. Cant beat the mileage and build quality. Had one accident on right firewall, and still no squeeks and rattles!!!! Maybe the newer models have inproved some things, but hard to do.

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  awsome vehicle - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By g martinez - February 28 - 10:00 am

  fun to drive , handles the road very well. feels like a solid vehicle. awsome sound system and hardly any out side moise.

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  donotbuyajetta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By nothappywithvw - February 28 - 10:00 am

  i thought i was buying a reliable car. i had heard great things about vws and jettas. test drove my car and thought everything was fine with it. boy was i wrong. my car has been in and out of the car dealership getting things fixed. my stero has stopped working twice, my console broke, my rearview mirrors do not work, my brakes jerk when i stop (even when it is not wet) and my car shifts really hard and jerks. also, the service where i purchases my car is not good. i keep telling them the problems and they keep telling me nothing is wrong.

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  VW NEW Beetle 2002 - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Tina Bonham - February 28 - 10:00 am

  Fun car to drive. So far its been very dependable, no problems with mechanics or other. Easy to drive. The drive of this car is very comfortable and solid. It is not noisy in the interior when driving on the highway. I have enjoyed this vehicle. I will have it forever, probably~ its a classic!

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  Triumphant Pocket Rocket - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By M - February 28 - 9:36 am

  Ive had my GTI for right at 6 years now. Thus far I have only had one problem with it, and it was my fault. (I damage the clutch switch whilst I was installing an aftermarket sound system.) The car is quick - not fast, a title I reserve for vehicles that are actually fast, comfortable, and fun to drive. The leather seems to be of relatively high quality, and is quite supple. For an economical two door compact this one is great.

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  Repeat Buyer - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rich R - February 28 - 7:56 am

  Traded in my 2003 Passat for a 2006 model two days ago. The new one has more power and storage areas plus several little niceties. I love the styling and fit and finish. Mine has got the Dynaudio sound system, wow. Based on the 2003 model, I expect this car to be as reliable. I got the deep black paint with black interior. It looks very elegant and classy. I will post another review in about 6 months once I get some miles on the car.

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  Awsome Fun! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By T - February 28 - 7:56 am

  The Jetta GLI is a fantastic daily driver with excellent pick up, handling, and fuel economy. I have been getting 29 mpg in spirited city and highway driving. I can get upwards of 33 mpg strictly highway at speeds of 75-85 mph.

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  2010 Routan SE w/RSE and NAVI - 2010 Volkswagen Routan
  By rxjava - February 28 - 6:50 am

  After test driving the Toyota, Chrysler, Dodge, Kia and Honda minivans we settled on the Routan. Of the minivans tested the dashboard/instrument panel and gauges of the Routan give the appearance of an upscale car and does not scream minivan. The faux metal strip is convincing and is more refined compared to cheesy faux wood. Seats are comfortable and operation of controls are intuitive. The ride is quiet and taut with good steering input. The 3.8L V-6 is more than adequate around town. We live close to the Sierras and the van performs adequately going up steep grades although the engine will rev at higher RPMs. Shifts to the lower gear are nearly imperceptible

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  Best Car Ive Ever Owned! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Joser - February 28 - 3:06 am

  I bought my 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T in May 2005 in California and I drove it to Las Vegas NV and I have not done any services such as oil change, tune up etc, etc and ever since I bought it Ive had no problems with it. Its fast and has a great fuel economy. When it comes to racing no American car with same engine size ever beats it in take offs or passing. It has excellent response. I have beat the Pontiac Grand Am V6 the Honda Civic and Accord. They were not able to beat me or pass me! The most awesome time was when I beat a Ford Expedition which was V8. I could not believe that a 4-cylinder car had more take off performance than the Expedition. This car is the best. The performance and design make one of a kind.

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  Love to drive - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ladyatfals - February 27 - 12:56 am

  From the moment I got the car it was a lifestyle change. People were just friendlier-smiling, waving, driving up and commenting "I love your car." It is as fun to drive in the winter as it is in the summer.