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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  A very nice SUV - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Jamblastx - January 30 - 10:00 am

  An excellent vehicle for what it is, an SUV (not a big fan of the genre). This is my wifes car and we have been longtime VW owners (we traded in her 2002 Passat 1.8T 5spd). We almost did not get it and went with the BMW X3 because VW does not offer the Touareg in the US with a manual transmission (for shame!). This was a disappointment for my wife but not a deal breaker (it would have been for me) and she does enjoy the Tiptronic automatic but would still prefer the manual.

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  Fun to drive - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Terry Comstock - January 30 - 10:00 am

  Weve had no problems!

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  Beatle Review - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Robin Tauchert - January 30 - 10:00 am

  Good looking, fund to drive, rides almost as good as my Passat. Feels like a much bigger car. Love the ease of putting the top up and down. Like the higher bucket seats instead of your legs straight out in front on you with the low bucket seats in most sport cars.

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  Fun for me! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By suzzyq - January 30 - 10:00 am

  This is the most fun car I own. Also have a convertible Mercedes SLK and a Mercedes M Class. Would not have as my only car. But as a fun second car you cant beat it. I get more compliments, waves, grins and conversations than any car I have ever had and I have had a lot.

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  Fun! Excellet value! - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By akb518 - January 29 - 7:20 pm

  This car is a REALLY good deal. Got it for about 21k and some change. To me, this is the best car for the money. It has upscale looks and excellent build quality. It doesnt look cheap like other cars in its class. The 200 hp turbocharged engine is a gem, very smooth and extremely powerful. You cant even feel it idling, very unusual for a 4 cylinder. The 6speed DSG automatic has seamless shifts and perfect downshifts. Perfect steering and smooth handling as well.

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  Improvement since 2009! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By applevw - January 29 - 2:13 pm

  The interior of the 2010 Jetta has improved significantly over the 09 and previous models. The SE now have a standard touch-screen radio with satellite radio. The instrument panel is now white-backlit instead of the blue lit seen in previous versions that was hard to see. You will also notice the fuel economy has improved with 24 / 30 rating. So far, I am very pleased with my purchase!

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  All good but the electronics are ???????? - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By triton11 - January 28 - 8:29 pm

  All in all I really like the car. I bought it new and have about 16,000 miles on it in around 9 months. My only complaint however, is the electronics. I have had the "Electronics replaced about 2 months ago and the new package is not much better. The "back-up camera" is so slow sometimes that I can back out of my 60 driveway and start down the street before it comes on !!!!! I have a driveway with a 90 degree turn just outside my garage. One day I waited about 10 seconds for the camera to come on, nothing happened, so I looked in my rear view mirrors and began backing out while glancing down at the screen and just as I backed into a truck in my driveway, the camera came on ... $1,000 !!!!!

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  Brochure Fraus on Package #2 ! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mislead and unhappy - January 28 - 11:50 am

  I bought a 2006 TDI Jetta package 2. Quoted in the 2006 brochure Under pkg#2 is listed "12 way power-adjustable front SEATS with 3-position memory." I did NOT get a power passenger seat. I have called VW of America to try to get some answers on why I dont have a powered passenger seat but have gotten nowhere. VW of America thinks I should have a "12 way power-adjustable drivers seat with 3-position memory". This isnt what the published brochure states. Also I dont have a self dimming day/night mirror either. I was told by VW customer care, this was part of package #1. According to the brochure, Package #1 includes package #2. I will never buy another VW!

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  What a Car - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ken - January 27 - 9:53 am

  With just 8000 miles on the car and two recent long trips. The mileage continues to improve. 42 to 44 combined with the AC running. 6 speed manual transmission and engine are smooth, plenty of power. A round trip of 800 miles each way average speed 70 mph. Cost less than $87 in fuel costs. Nearly 640 miles per tank full (14 gal). Car is comfortable, and responsive. Loaded with extras, like the 120 volt AC outlet. This is standard on this car. Very quiet, smooth ride. A car you feel safe in. Plenty of space in the trunk. Needs to be driven before you spend your money on a trendy Hybrid. How long will there batteries last? And how much will they cost to replace?

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  Long Road Trip - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Loyal A Miller - January 27 - 4:46 am

  In July we took a trip out to Ft. Collins, CO, then onto the Black Hills, SD, then on to The Devils Tower, over to Yellowstone, the grand Tetons, to Salt Lake City, down to the Grand Canyon and to El Paso, back to New Orleans, and then home to Daytona FL. What a car! We had always had a large car Lincoln Town Car or Cadillac . This little 100 horse power car never fails to impress. It had all the speed and comfort that you would need. In 21 days of driving we covered 7,100 miles and averaged over 38 miles to the gallon with speeds of over 90 miles per hour on the open highway. When I drive around 75 mph my mileage was over 40 mpg. I would recommend this car.