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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  Problem free for 50K miles! - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By rcboater - October 15 - 8:46 pm

  Bought my car new in May 2009. Car is now five years old, and weve put 50,000 fun-filled miles on it. MPG is pretty good, too. On the highway, I get 32 MPG. In my mixed suburban driving, I will get about 28 if I drive normally, but have gotten as high as 35 on the same route by driving conservatively. My car has never leaked- but I paid heed to the advice on the owner forums to lubricate the roof seals annually, to keep them soft and pliable. (Thats a 20 minute job.) Ive had NO issues with the mechanical aspects of the car-- to date, the only thing outside of regular scheduled fluid changes was new rear brake pads at 31K miles.

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  Still a new classic - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By schumar - October 15 - 10:00 am

  Some people think that the popularity of the new beetle is waning and with the rise of the mini cooper, it will cease to exist. I hope theyre wrong.. the styling is wonderful inside and out, the safety features and ease of use are terrific, and it is stable and fun to drive.

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  Our 2nd Tiguan - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Matt - October 15 - 12:20 am

  This is our 2nd Tiguan, which we picked up just in time to use the 4-Motion against New England snow. Incredible! Very sure-footed in this slop, & a real hoot to drive. The kids love the panoramic moon-roof... it is about as much exposure one can have to the sky without getting a convertible. The Tiguans Xenon headlamps have peripheral sidelights which activate and illuminate the sides of the road whenever you make a turn. Very nice to have on twisting roads, sharp corners, dark parking lots, city streets, etc. The Tiguan is also a very quiet car for the small SUV/CUV segment. No high pitched whine & road-noise like I experienced with the Toyota RAV4 and CRV.

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  The Best GTI in Years - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By Ian - October 14 - 7:43 pm

  This is my third GTI(still own my MKI, sold my MKIV), this car is exactly what the GTI should be. The MKVI GTI is fun to drive anywhere, easy to use as a daily commuter, a blast to use in the mountains, excellent compromise between performance and gas mileage. Interior amenities are excellent, touchscreen stereo is awesome, stick shift is smooth and feels comfortable in your hand. Lateral support is top notch in a car that urges you to rip it through corners, and once you do, the XDS makes you feel like a pro coming out of them. Not sure why so many people fear VW reliability, I’ve driven them for years and never had any major issues, must be lucky.

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  Confused - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Confused - October 14 - 4:33 pm

  I bought my Passat in Italy through a company that sells US spec models directly to US civilian and military personnel. I drove it through the Alps, through Croatia, from Naples to Belgium and back at sustained speeds of 100 mph for a couple of hours at a time. Nothing broke, nothing fell off, nothing went wrong. It never needed a tow until the fuel pump went out at 55,000 miles, which the dealer in Aosta Italy replaced under warranty. I am not sure what people in the US do to their cars so they dont work right or if their expectations are totally misplaced. Ive had Jettas and Passats almost exclusively since 1984 and have never had major problems, and at 62K mi., no oil use!

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  Worth every Penny - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Bob in R.I. - October 13 - 2:13 pm

  This car is fun to drive! Its handling is outstanding. Parking is as easy as it gets. The steering feel is just right. A comfortable driving position is very easy to obtain. The interior is well designed and the fit and finish is first rate throughout. Gauges and controls are well placed and easy to use. There is ample room to hold your groceries, packages, etc in the rear under the hatchback. By the way, the DSG six-speed automatic is the best I’ve ever driven! Fuel mileage is awesome—better than the government’s estimates. What a great little commuter vehicle this is—solid, comfortable, economical, quiet, safe and fun to drive! Oh, did I mention the $1,700 tax credit?

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  2003 GTI -- mature fun! - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Luis - October 13 - 12:40 am

  If you want Japanese-style sport & affordability with upscale German character, go with VW GTI. Having owned Mazda/Nissan/Honda as well as Audi/BMW, I can say that this little hot hatch combines the best qualities of all. Youthful, nimble performance combined with mature comfort, features, and ride quality. And it is the real deal, standing out from all the kiddie-cars out there. I considered Civic, RSX, Mini, Tiburon, etc., but they seemed too generic or else "flavor of the month" in nature. So why not go with the original pocket rocket that showed the others how its done?

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  I love this car - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By I Love my Beetle - October 12 - 6:53 pm

  Since I got this car, there was only one problem with it and it was EZ Lubes fault. Took it there for an oil change and the next day oil was on my driveway. I recommend getting a Beetle. Its one of best cars I ever had and I think its really reliable. All these other people who had problems with it probably didnt really take good care of their Beetles. My Honda Civic had more problems than this car.

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  Passat = Fun - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Steve - October 11 - 1:50 pm

  Ive had my Passat for 2 months and 2,000 miles. I love the combination of performance, quiet, comfort, distinctive look, gas mileage (26 combined), Monsoon stereo, luxury and great fun factor (5 speed manual). This car is smallish on the outside but roomy inside - a perfect combination of bigness while not being big. This contributes to a true sport sedan look and feel. The 6 year old finish looks like new. The V6 is so quiet I often have to watch the tach to know when to shift. The interior is superb - real wood trim, comfortable seats, plenty of room for four adults plus spacious trunk. It has lots of nice touches, like hold the key in unlock position and the windows open! Its one of a kind.

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  R32 #939 - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By HSE - October 10 - 11:46 pm

  Currently, I have no CDs in the CD changer, no iPod connected and Sirius radio has yet to be activated - the exhaust note and engine resonance are (simply put) addicting! The motor has a lot of grunt. It has a good amount of low end torque and, once the horsepower catches up, it just keeps pulling and pulling! The AWD Haldex system is great. It doesnt struggle one bit - just tight, neutral handling. VR6 + DSG mate extremely well. Fast AND smooth; how do they do it?? The interior design and ergonomics are top notch. Theres a very thin line between VW and Audi nowadays! What can I say about the exterior? Its gorgeous. Very upscale/mature, but you can tell it wants to play.