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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  Best decision I ever made - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By audkab - October 23 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2001 VW Jetta 1.8T Wolfsberg edition used in 2003. Ive had it for a year now and I love it. Ive had a couple recall parts that Ive had to bring the car in for, but they were minor and I was not having any problems. My car is roomy, cute, and fun to drive! I love all of the little extras the manufactures put into making this vehicle. It has been a reliable, fantastic purchase. I would definitely buy this car again.

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  No Issues - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Jr - October 23 - 9:33 am

  The GTI treated me very fair. Only one time did the check engine light come on. Some temp sensor was out, no biggie. I do recommend you get a CPO car for a longer warranty as they are a great deal from VW. Reason being that my car had a funny noise coming from the front suspension. Turned out it was the sway bar bushings (took a couple trips to figure this out). I was just glad I had the warranty in case that ever came up, I wouldnt have to get my hands dirty.

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  Nice V-Dub - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Chris - October 22 - 5:30 pm

  I bought this sedan after having a tree fell on top my week-old Passat Wagon. This car is super plush, super quick, and has every amenity I could possibly want. I actually chose this over a more expensive Mercedes C-class sport, which I found extremely sluggish and a lot smaller. For me, the Passat is like getting the Audi A4 engine with the A6 room...and saving about $20,000. One problem, though: the brakes are god-awful. They are spongy and way too small for the engine, which is extremely peppy--especially when accelerating between in the mid range. Going up hills, and accelerating at highway speed, the 2.0 turbo really hums. Love the stereo too.

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  Just love it. - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Cathy - October 21 - 2:20 am

  I just bought my 2006 VW convertible and I absolutely love it. Its so comfortable, the leather seats are soft and feel great. The stereo sounds wonderful and I love all the new safety features in this little package. I have wanted this car for years but never sat in one. I drove a minivan for the past seven years and just love the hight of the seating so I was concerned that this would cramp me in. Being a very short woman this was the most perfect car for me. I LOVE IT, more then I thought I would. Even the back seats are comfy to ride in. I know, I checked it out myself. I love driving with the top down and I have no problems working it. Sure the trunk is small, but its a small car.

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  The Passat Rules! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By KRA - October 21 - 2:00 am

  Great car overall after one full year and 10k miles. No real problems. The 1.8 has plenty of power, unles you have a real need for speed. Smooth ride and lots of fun to drive. Very stylish and well made. We would buy this car again today.

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  Great ride, more power than expected - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Wendy - October 21 - 2:00 am

  We love our GLS Jetta Wagon. I was a bit worried about the 2.0, 115 hp engine, but it has great pick-up and more than enough power for this suburban driver. Its incredibly stylish, comfortable and offers plenty of cargo space. I compared the size measurements between this wagon and the Passat, and the Passat is only 5-6 inches larger...not worth the extra $ in our opinion. We have the Monsoon stereo system, and my husband adores it. We also got leather interior and the cold weather package.

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  Few comments - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By celeste - October 21 - 2:00 am

  This car has lots of pep and is easy to drive. Its interior design makes the most of a small car.

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  Probably the best in its class - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By newbie - October 19 - 7:40 am

  Needed more build quality. Overdrive with automatic transmition is annoying

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  You wont regret your purchase - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By eapj - October 18 - 3:26 am

  Great car! Not the fastest hot hatch but definitely the most livable. Not as boy racer as the Focus SVT I once had but with 4 doors and better manners, this one will be a keeper. I was waiting for a 4 door GTI but didnt like the looks of the last model; this one looks and drives like a much more expensive car. I have owned a number of VWs and havent had any quality or reliability problems so I expect the same with the GTI. Friends are amazed that this car cost what it did and a few have remarked that it just looks fun

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  Best Car - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Shorty - October 16 - 9:26 pm

  I bought my car about 5 months ago and nothing has gone wrong with it. My 97 Trek has Air Conditioning, Cruise Control, CD player (aftermarket), Power Sunroof, and Anti-Lock Brakes. The car is really fun to drive and I really like the manual transmision and clutch. The only thing I dont like is that there is a short little high pitched squeak when I first begin to open the sunroof and it lasts about one second.