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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  2003 PASSAT - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ELAINE CESARETTI - September 26 - 10:00 am

  LOVE THE DESIGN AND INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE CAR HANDLES GREAT WITH THE TURBO. SUSPENSION A LITTLE TIGHT, COULD BE A SMOOTHER RIDE.

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  I love my passat! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By senators98 - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This is a wonderful car. I was debating between the passat with 4 motion or the Honda Accord. Im so glad that I chose the passat. It has the smoothest ride, even over really bumpy roads. I get so many compliments from people who see my car. Its got a great luxurious interior with a drive similar to a mercedes benz, for less money. I have had wonderful experiences with this car. The only problems so far have been that the plastic covering the rear lights and reflectors are cracked. But, they are replacing them for me for no charge. The car does not have very good fuel efficiency, but the other features make up for it. So, no complaints by me.

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  I LOVE THIS CAR - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By FOURSBMAN - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR FOR 7 MONTHS AND I ALREADY HAVE PUT 22,000 MI. ON IT. I LOVE THE GAS MILEAGE OF THE TDI AND SINCE DIESEL IS A BIT CHEAPER, I LOVE IT EVEN MORE.

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  VW Beatle TDI - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By doctour - September 26 - 10:00 am

  The TDI is a great performer and a wonderful car for everyday and for traveling. My wife and I are very happy with the 40 miles per gallon, and weve really enjoyed the trips weve taken in it. Ive been driving Mercedes for the last 15 years, so this was a real change, but Im glad I made the switch. Weve had very few problems and none mechanically.

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  Fun to drive, slowly falling apart - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tiznow80 - September 25 - 3:40 pm

  Its strange with this car. I really enjoy driving it but Ive had issues with it for a long time. I had to replace all 6 engine coils about 3 years ago that cost me $800. Various other things have broken as well (glove box, arm rest - 2 places, rear ash tray, turn signal - twice and front bumper coming off. Saying all of that, its a fun car to drive with a lot of great options.

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  A Sleeper that Does Everything Well - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Solar1 - September 24 - 10:06 pm

  I have put 15,000 miles on my 2001 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T with no major problems and I REALLY, REALLY enjoy driving it. My car has an Autotech rear sway bar and a GIAC chip (www.giacusa.com) which makes it quite fun to drive. its sure footed, roomy, quiet, has a STRONG midrange and has responsive, well-weighted steering. The interior trim quality needs improving and yes, the headlights burn out quickly but these are not critical flaws. I just drove from Boston to LA and it was AWESOME. This is a great touring car and it really surprised me in the twists! Its no Honda Accord but I think thats a good thing - for a little more attention to maintenance, you can have a car with a lot more character. It is a nice sleeper.

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  Nice Bunny - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By VW family - September 23 - 12:56 pm

  Bought a black 4-door Rabbit for my son the other day. We now have 3 VWs and an old Audi in the family. Theyre great cars. This car rides well. Power is more than adequate from the 170 hp motor. It even sounds good. Handling is good. Tiptronic is the tranmission (not the engine) and the 6 sp. auto is is very nice. It even has a sport mode. This car is not nearly as sporty as my GTI, but is a better freeway car by far and is easy to drive with the auto. trans. Black looks great and there is extra tint on the windows so it looks like a mini-limo to me - very cool.

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  Hip to the Hizot - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By eldaino - September 21 - 9:23 pm

  The Volkswagen Rabbit is wonderful. It has such a solid feel to it, you wont be able to find a more solid feeling car in its price range or even a bit above. The gas mileage may not be amazing in this class, but most other cars on this class dont have five cylinders either. I wish the redline was higher but other than that power is fine. This car is very peppy, if it was any lighter it would be too fast! It has great interior ergonomics and quality materials are used throughout. It is better than my 06 Civic. It is not as futuristic, but the build quality actually feels nicer. It has nice handling, not too harsh and sporty but no wimp either. It is very pleasant, fun, and a great buy plus it comes with a great warranty. I love my Rabbit!

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  Touareg Life - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Joel - September 21 - 3:26 am

  What a brilliant design concept. Positively wonderful engine. Execution, however, and reliability of outsourced components is quite questionable. The transmission (Japan) and its programs are horrid -- herky-jerky. The transfer case is noisy. The rest of the driveline is noisy. The stepper motors have failed, and my dealer refuses to recognize this. Cheap Conti tires are almost worn out. Radio has intermittent connection problems. This past winter, the marginal battery caused computer faults that disabled the differential locking. Outside (heated) mirrors do not demist. Brakes are now marginal, with grinding and scraping sounds at lower speeds. Worst car ever owned (of 18). Never again.

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  Sunroof stains this car - 2012 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By monkfarm - September 20 - 5:51 pm

  I did not purchase the extended warranty on this auto, and I loved it until the sunroof stuck open, tilted on one side. I went to a dealer, and they really could not see what was wrong, but estimated $2048 to fix it, the headliner needs to be dropped, of course they gave us the worst case scenario, broken frame. I barely used the sunroof, but live in the woods, on a gravel rood, and it must have stuck from the dust and the spruce needles. The sensor for the window washing fluid also broke, even though I always put antifreeze window washer fluid in it. Especially if you buy the sunroof, plan on buying the warranty, these autos are expensive to fix! I will buy a different brand next time.