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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  Great car! - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By jay - March 24 - 12:46 am

  After three months I am more and more in love with my GTI. I have added a few mods and I am already putting out 255 Hp and 300 lb/tq (with a $450 chip!).

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  Still great - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Noel - March 23 - 3:16 pm

  We have exceeded 16K Miles in less than a year so the engine is till in break in mode, as you may know diesel engines are made of much harder metal in relation to a gasoline engines. Returned from a trip to the Bay Area over the weekend. By the way this is the wifes car i only get to enjoy it on weekends or long trips as i get the behind the wheel assignment. The car feels strong and solid as the day we brought it home, driving a manual on hilly San Francisco can be a bit intimidating but not in this car as engine and tranny are well calibrated, in fact our kid did comment that it was better than the amusement park rides.

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  2006 VW Jetta TDI hits the Sweet Spot - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bcpjetta06tdi - March 23 - 10:10 am

  I have had my 2006 VW Jetta TDI for about three weeks now and absolutely love it. My dealer was very knowledgeable, but the VW standard for service is clearly not as high as that of other dealers. For example, my car arrived with only one working key, and it was a valet key. I had to wait a week for new keys, and the dealer kept my car for three days to program the keys when they arrived. But I had a loaner just like my car so I did not care. If you want a VW, you have to be willing to accept a lower standard of service. It comes with the territory. However, the car itself is outstanding. Its too soon to know about its reliability, but in all other regards, it is an absolute beauty.

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  2005 GTI 1.8 Turbo - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By Brandon - March 23 - 2:53 am

  I purchased this vehicle after owning a 1999 Honda Civic. What a difference! I love my new car. The turbo sounds awesome. I was going to get another civic hatchback but might as well get a hatch that comes stock at 180 hp. I recommend putting an exhaust on it, it handles much better and sounds 100 times cooler. The sound of a stock GTI wasnt appealing so I got a Megan Racing cat back exhaust. I have a check engine light on all the time though and nothing is actually wrong with my car. The cruise control also doesnt work. hopefully everyone else was lucky and managed to keep theirs going.

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  Volkswagens Luxury Sedan - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By PhaetonJer - March 23 - 2:00 am

  this car is absolutely incredible. I drove a Mercedes and BMW before and the Phaeton has beat them all by far! Thank you Volkswagen!!

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  This car is amazing! - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Bull1212 - March 23 - 2:00 am

  I am so happy with my choice of cars. German engineering has really shown through with the GTI. Its fun to drive, and the 180HP is a blast.

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  See ya GM! - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By cjfab4 - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Big 3 failures forced me into options. Ill never even consider anything but a TDI after buying this one. Its great! Someone called it a "updated Gremlin" the other day. Thats okay, cause every time I see the recall notices for the Big 3 makers, I thank my lucky stars for selecting VW.

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  Nice, but doesnt pull 7,700 pds.!!!!!!! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By August Richter - March 23 - 2:00 am

  It is truley a german made and crafted, you feel so safe. The ride is priceless and handles like a sports car. The price you cant beat with all you get. The porshe is based on the toureg and it is 14 grand more! It was awarded 2004 suv off the year my Motor Trend! I have wattage trouble with powering my trailor!

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  Best small car ever! - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By vntgdave - March 22 - 2:53 pm

  This is by far the best small car Ive ever driven. Im 61" and 200 lbs. and I fit in it perfectly. It drives like a full size sedan and gets great gas mileage for the horsepower that it has. Ive put 60K on her in 2 years and Ive had no problems. I have long commutes for work (3-6 hours) and I rarely ever feel the fatigue from sitting in my car that long. When I have to drive compact to midsize rentals for my job (I hate most of them) I cant wait to get home to my rabbit. It feels safe too...especially with all of the airbags.

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  Safest reasonably priced convertible - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By SFBeagler - March 21 - 10:00 am

  After evaluating several convertibles, we chose the VW Cabrio because of its standard safety features (ABS, Front/Side Airbags, Roll Bar, & Seatbelt pretensioners) and real rear seat. The 2 year free maintenance in the 2001 model has been a plus - warranty repairs (replacement of a window seal, peeling door handle, and dash button) have all been easily covered. Ever passenger loves the dash at night, and the quality of the car is apparent every time you drive. On a sunny day with the top down it is a real antidepressant!