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, Poor Volkswagen Quality - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Kaye - November 1 - 2:00 am

  When I first got in my Beetle I smiled but after 1200 miles I had a frown. The front seats bolsters had premature wear on them!! I took it to the dealer they replaced them under warranty, but they are still showing some wear. The ride is smooth, it handles great(it is a little heavy) I love it. I am noticing that when you open the door and the window lowers a 1/4 inch it somtimes hangs on the roof when I close the door.

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  JettaTDI Bluetooth Issues - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By 136tap - November 1 - 12:36 am

  Any ideas what it may take for the dealer to eliminate the wind tunnel noise that folks hear when I call from my car? Im guessing (ran my own tests!) -- the mike is too close to the air vents in the car. Im concerned that they will want to take out the dashboard -- dont really want them to do this to a one month old car! Also the bluetooth wont pair with a 6-month old Verizon phone -- its supposed to pair with up to 3 different phones!

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  great car, could be better - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By hubie - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my vw turbodiesel 2000 golf for year and a half... 26,000 miles. I bought this car for the mileage, and it has been great... I get about 550 miles to the tankful with highway driving. Keep an eye out for diesel stations when youre running low! Good brakes, solid shifter.

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  Bring back the Rabbit! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tmonaco - October 31 - 10:00 am

  What a huge disappointment this car has been. Ive had it in the shop for the radio/stereo/CD player alone a minimum of a half dozen times (and theyve never given me a loner). Now, just outside of the warranty (on a 3 year leased car mind you), my mass air flow system (or something like that) goes. MD emissions thing? Anyway, $500 out of my pocket. VW of Americas Customer Service sucks. Dont even try talking to them - theyre useless. The whole reason I bought a new car is so I didnt have to spend my days in service department... What a disappointment!

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  fast, fun, and reliable - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mike - October 30 - 10:16 pm

  I bought my 1.8t and havent had any problems since, before this car i had a 2.0, once again, no major problems, just the glove box and cupholders breaking like usual lol, but who can complain, the 2002 jetta is powerful stock but in order to feel its real power you need to get an intake and have it chipped to run on 93, brought my power up quite a bit.

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  Still like to drive it after 11 years - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By fixit58 - October 30 - 5:59 pm

  Bought new in 2001, now @ 160k mi. Averaging 31 mpg. Love the versatility of the wagon and the roof rack. Engine is anemic, despite very short final drive ratio of transmission, but car cruises comfortably at 80 mph. Engine has always used 1 qt of oil per 1500 mi, more in commuting, less with long distance travel. Everything is original except most sensors, timing belt, water pump, coil pack, plug wires (2x), horns, consumables like lamps, plugs, filters, brake pads (rear only). Had a few recalls, water intrusion into interior, the lower engine cover has taken many beatings from scraping on curbs, and thats about it. Enjoying a reliable car with no further depreciation.

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  GLI = FUN - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GuyIncognito - October 29 - 10:03 am

  I picked up my GLI last week after seriously considering the Accord Coupe V6 6MT and the Altima SER 6-speed. The GLI blows both cars away when it comes to the "fun to drive" factor. Yes, it has its typical VW "quirks", a minor rattle in the dash that will get fixed at its 5,000 mile service, and the stereo system is not terrific, but you dont buy a GLI to listen to music. Punch the acclerator in 3rd gear, listen to the amazing 2.0T spool up and say goodbye to almost anyone in your way. Watch out for the flashing lights though...

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  younger opinion... - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By jotad - October 28 - 12:50 pm

  its comfortable,quiet,well built and really fun to drive. this car is always in the mood for a sporty time ! even though is a heavy car it handles very good , is extremely comfortable to drive at high speeds, in long trips and daily basis.DSG gearbox is wonderful. i live in a very hot-hummid city(panama) and the air conditioner stops working some times(it seems to be a common problem in this year gti).its a expensive car to own. i havent had any serious problems, but small things are very expensive to replace. In the end, if you are willing to sacrifice some reliability for comfort, safety and sportiness this car is a very rewarding car to own ,it will make u smile every time you press gas

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  Fun, Functional, but Not Perfect - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By manray - October 27 - 7:50 pm

  I was thrilled when the New Beetle came out. I finally purchased a loaded used, 2001. I love driving it! The fuel economy is good, comfort is great, styling is nearly perfect, and the stereo is fabulous. Some small complaints that I have are the poor design of the cup holders and the peeling door handles. I have not had any mechanical issues, except the ongoing mystery of the temperature and oil gauges coming on randomly. They chalk it up to a "VW quirk" (this is my 4th VW and all have had some kind of quirk).

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  repair bills 3 inches thick shameful - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ryan - October 25 - 7:06 pm

  This car is a joy to drive when the check engine light is not on. It has Great hwy mileage. As for the down side I paid 6700 for the car a year ago in very good shape still looks great but have replace over 3000 dollars worth of crap on the car in 5 different visits to the dealership. I got a stack of papers from the previous owners of every service visit and oil change so i thought i would be ok. I was wrong regardless of how well you take care of this car is just a nightmare in random repair bills.