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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  My Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Mountaineer2 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car on vacation, not knowing much about it, I drove over 1000 mile home and was wounderfully surprised at the ride and handling on the mountain roads of West Virginia. The gas milage is about what I expected for a 4 wheel drive. I used to driving a Ford Expedition and am very satisified with the overall performance and it was $20,OOO less than the Cheyann which I was looking at.

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  best sedan around - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By jolene riley - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I think this is the best car there is to drive. It has all the comfort you need in a car. Excellent safety features.

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  GREAT CAR - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By JOY PERINO - October 16 - 10:00 am

  MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE SO FAR HAS BEEN GREAT. I OWN THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND SO FAR I HAVE 18,000 MILES ON IT. OVER THE SUMMER I TOOK MY FIRST ROAD TRIP WITH IT AND I MUST SAY THE RIDE WAS AMAZING. VERY SMOOTH, QUITE, RELAXING RIDE.

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  Who is your Daddy? - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By mjc1106 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  The passat GLX is sweet! I have only had the car for a month but every time I get in the drivers seat I get excited to be driving my new car again! The ride is tight! Get the V6, makes it more fun, everything is better with more POWER!

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  VW Passat review - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mike Bickers - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I am very pleased with my 2003 Passat. I considered the usual competition including the Camry and the Accord, but both were typical Japanese plastic and lacked any distinctive features. The Passat is really a European car (the only one of the VWs actually made in Germany, not Brazil, Mexico, or Hungrary. The Passat has exceed my expectations in all areas from performance to gas mileage. It was an excellent choice.

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  Worth a little extra $$. - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By FieldingMelish - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I only considered 2 models, the Passat and the Nissan Altima. The quality of the Passats interior and the handling was so much better than the Altima. A great car.

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  Great Car!! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GoaliesGal - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Great handling, fun car to drive...Ive had a Jeep Cherokee, Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Mirage, Mitsubishi Galant and they all pale in comparison to my Jetta. The only thing I would change (if I could) would be the mileage. I got better gas mileage with the Toyota Corolla. But the difference in the ride is so great that the extra gas doesnt bother me.

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  A great ride - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By petdr2000 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  My Jetta has been an excellent purchase. The only problem is the interior, the plastic is pealing. But it is what is under the hood that I really like. It zooms through the traffic, has great gasoline mileage and still is comfortable enough to pick up mom and dad at the airport. I have been very happy with my cool looking jetta.

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  excellent - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ERIC - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Great performance car! great handling and fun to drive. Also VW customer service is excellent

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  Turbo Jett - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BlackForestTurbo - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Great car...cant beat it for the money.