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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  Likes/Dislikes - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By MrHenson - February 14 - 10:00 am

  My local dealer wanted an extra $500 to ship the exact car I wanted to my area so I drove 200mi to get it myself. I saw no reason to spend the extra $ for a heavier, less economical 6 cyl (getting a chip) However I think it blows that I cant get power seats with the 4cyl And the radio reception SUCKS!! Ive been to my local dealer 2x and they claim its fine. Other than that, the car ROCKS! Performance is great, its the best-looking wagon on the market (except perhaps the unattainable Audi RS6 Avant), I can fit all three dogs plus three friends in it, and its comfortable as hell. Just need to get that chip, Koni shocks, sport exhaust....

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  Im a believer.... - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By mtoddc - February 14 - 10:00 am

  Only considered the GTI 1.8T and RSX Type-S for my work car, LOVE both, but it came down to the VW having more equipment for $2K+ less. More airbags, bigger tires/rims, longer warranty, better sounding stereo (so sorry Bose), arm rest, cheaper to insure, more hatch/trunk space, etc. Wanted silver 5-speed with leather, but all have been sold in this region, had to settle for cloth and AT, but not disappointed, Tiptronic is a great compromise. I think the RSX is quicker off the line, but the 1.8T really pins you to your seat once it fires up. I think the GTI feels quicker than any of the Type-Ss I drove. Both sweet cars, but VW is better for the $$$.

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  One of the best cars for under $25k - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By 55bc - February 14 - 10:00 am

  Let me start by saying, everyone should stop comparing this to the BMW 3 series. Its more appropriate to compare the sister car, the A4 to the BMW. Compare the Jetta to the Acura Integra, but not cars priced about $10k more! Although, the fact that people compare the two says a great deal about the car. The car handles great, its got plenty of power, it was reasonably priced especially considering all the features the car has. Ive put a lot of mileage on the car in the first year and had no problems.

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  Nostalgia--gotta love it - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By SpottedOne - February 14 - 10:00 am

  Due to a long drive to work and the fact that mom had a Beetle when I was a kid, I now own one too. I have had nothing but complete satisfaction with my Beetle so far. Im averaging about 39 mpg. Some people are put off by diesel due to the smell and I gotta say, its a different smell, but it is not as bad as what you might think. It is a bit louder, but again, not that of a semi. For anyone thinking about it, I would highly recommend taking one out for a drive and talking to your local dealer (or unlocal, I drove over 75 miles for mine) and doing some research. What it will save me in fuel cost a year, will make a couple of car payments.

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  Incredibly surprising and much more than expected. - 2013 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By shaun_go_5 - February 13 - 11:31 pm

  I took possession of a 2013 VW Jetta Sportswagen S on 10/13/12 and to say that this is my favorite drive out of all the vehicles that Ive had would be an understatement. Being a brand loyalist I have had a VW through the ongoing phases of life starting with a Golf, passing through the Tiguan, and now my first wagon. The 2013 S Automatic Wagon feels like a well crafted luxury ride without the luxury price tag. The interior is comfortable, functional, and spacious. The exterior is sleek, with clean lines and a European look. The car is 170HP and 177 pounds of torque with a tiptronic (sport mode included) transmission that is simply fun to drive. Weekend trip 238 Miles on 1/5 tank of gas.

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  1 yr with a CC - 2014 Volkswagen CC
  By vincevw329 - February 13 - 10:55 am

  This is my 3rd VW lease and 2nd with the 2.0turbo and DSG transmission, my 1st CC. I commute 7 miles 1way to work 3days a week and take a 200mi road trip 1-2 times a year. The strong point for the CC is the styling, progressive, swept back, very nice looking car inside and out. Driving is also a strong point, precise steering and a responsive turbo 4 and gearing coupled with a just soft enough euro ride lives up to "drivers wanted" campaign slogan that VW no longer uses. Overall its a comfortable, easy to drive car up for both highway cruising and commuting. Transmission can take some getting used to and VW should emphasize this more, occasional slow shifts in traffic can be dangerous.

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  Unbelievable Value - 2016 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jay D - February 13 - 10:50 am

  This will be a short testimonial. My brother has a 2014 Passat and I liked it. So I was out one day with no intention on buying a car. But I passed a VW dealer and thought I would stop in just to browse. I insisted several times to the salesman that I was just killing time. He told me it didnt matter that he was willing have me do a test ride on a new 2016 Passat SEL Premium that just came in. When I found out that it had a 1.8 T engine I wasnt interested. He insisted that I would be surprised. After much prompting from him, having nothing else to do that day I took it for a spin. I was driving a 2.0 T Saab at the time and the Passat engine had more torque. The fit and finish and quality materials were as good as most entry level premium brands if not better. And this vehicle has every creature comfort and safety feature as standard. Its trunk is very big, has a spare tire (donut), leather seats and the back seat legroom is unbelievable. It wasnt that difficult to get the price down to $30,000. This truly was an offer I could not refuse. I had a 2014 loaded up Volvo s60 for 2 years that had a negotiated price of $44,000. The Volvo had no spare, small trunk and little backseat legroom. If anyone is considering an entry level premium brand they should take a serious look at the "pedestrian" VW Passat. They will be shocked at what they will discover.

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  Best Decision EVER! - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By jroc13 - February 13 - 7:53 am

  Ive owned two Audis in the past five years...then I saw the 10 GTI and couldnt resist. Wow, what a great decision. I smile each time I drive the car. Its so fun, so fast and so sexy! People honk as I pass, ask about it when Im filling up at the gas station and beg to drive it. The exhaust note turns heads and the 18" wheels are dynamite. I jam the DynaAudio system to the max and wow can it deliver! I push this car to the limit daily and it consistently delivers. I plead with anyone reading this to go test drive one immediately.

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  2005.5 Jetta - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By saeverist - February 12 - 7:53 am

  This is a great car. Never thought a VW would be so fun to drive. Its faster than the earlier version and it has a ton more room in the back seat. The leather is much nicer as is the location of all of the controls. Cant think of a thing about this car that I can complain about and I have 3,000 miles on it.

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  40 mpg city and 59 highway! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steve - February 11 - 4:33 pm

  This 2004 GLS TDI VW Wagon is my fourth VW diesel. VW/Audi has really improved the diesel engine in this car and the fuel mileage is 8 mpg more than my 2002 GLS TDI VW wagon.