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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  Life in a Bug - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By kgirl - August 28 - 10:00 am

  My bug is a problem free vehicle as long as I perform all of the maintenance exactly on time. It knows when something is late and will then cause problems. Local repair places wont deal with it however. www.newbeetle.org has a very active community that has taught me much about the car. I also have a Vag-com from Ross-Tech Industries to read my cars computer and save trips to the dealer.

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  fun car all aroun - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By bobby jo - August 28 - 10:00 am

  unique car; interior is fun at night; fun to drive

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  Cute Car, Fun-to-Drive - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By JessAshley - August 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my New Beetle for 4 months. No complaints, thus far. Lots of power for such a little car. It is very fun to drive; its like my car knows me and how I drive. Its a very attractive car too!! Good deal.

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  Would buy another - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Kshobe - August 27 - 6:16 am

  I drove the car from Arizona to Mississippi and back. I got 24 to 30 MPG on the trip driving at an average speed of 75MPH on the interstate. I get 23 - 24 MPG driving around Phoenix on a daily basis. I love the torque. It is hard not to spin the tires from a full stop. I get some strange looks from the Mustang owners when that happens. I am 63" and have lots of head room but I had to remove the center arm rest to make room for my elbows. Now there is a big hole in the console but Im comfortable. The road noise is the one thing I wish was better. Thankfully Phoenix put rubberized asphalt on all the freeways. It is very fun to drive.

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  Love My Jetta - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Erik - August 27 - 12:53 am

  I bought my A5, so I am told it is called, Jetta in March. I traded my Jetta VR6 for it and am surprised at the changes. I love them dual climate control and the satelite radio. The size increase is very nice as well. Overall my satisfation with this car is good, but I have had one quirk that the dealer or Volkswagen of America have not been able to fix. While on the satelite side of the radio I get feedback like acceleration thru my speakers. This car provides a lot of features for the money.

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  cc love - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By jesse - August 26 - 8:08 pm

  great for 2 not a family car

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  V Dub 4 Life - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By V Dub 4 Life - August 25 - 10:36 pm

  WOW!! This is my 5th jetta and I love it. I have owned a 97 trek, 98 wolfsburg, 03 gls sedan, 03 gls wagon. When I leased this car i went out and looked at other brands and ended up with another VW. That commercial said it all, "VW, it gets into you," totally true. Everyone that I know likes this car and compliments me all the time. True the brand does have a few minor quality issues, but have you seen some of the other car brands out there? I would much rather be riding in a VW, a car that is FULL of safety and security features. Why do you think it VW is Europes #1 selling brand? It is the peoples car. Before you buy a new car, test drive a VW and you will know what I am saying. VW

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  Stunning Car to Look At and Drive - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Craig - August 25 - 7:26 pm

  I bought mine used but it was a official VW fleet vehicle with only 3,000 miles on it. Trust me, this car is a very decievingly fast car and a joy to drive. I have owned previous Volkswagens and looked for something new and after talking to the mechanics at my local shop they said there is no other way to go besides the VR6 engine. Stock it puts out 204 hp (no one shows the extra 4 when putting up specs but its there) and after a few slight modifications I dynod at 230 whp and nothing around with a V6 can touch it -- have to move up to the V8s before theyre close in speed. Overall I love this car and wouldnt pick anything over it.

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  Fast, Fun and Fuel Economy - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By VWFan - August 24 - 3:50 pm

  I looked at many vehicles from sedans to SUVs before deciding on the Tiguan to replace by Pilot (including the new Pilot). I decided sitting a little higher in traffic and all-wheel drive were important - hence my choice of another SUV. The Tiguan is fantastic -- quick acceleration, fun to drive and fuel economy of 28.5 mpg average on my first 2 tanks of regular gas. I choose the SEL for the added features and am not disappointed that I did. There is lots of room, and as a big guy I appreciate that. The back is tight for 3 adults, but would be fine for shorter distances - a luxury ride for 2 in the back. I am looking forward to better mpg, and am very satisfied with my Tiguan!

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  Best looking interior among all minivans - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By Krishna - August 24 - 9:13 am

  The drive on this minivan is absolutely fantastic. The drive feels manly and more like a car. I drove Honda Odyssey for 10 years and I loved it as well. But, it has that minivan feel which most of my friends used to joke about. Routan doesnt make you feel like you are driving a minivan. Also, the seating really helps towards that feel. I was not looking to won Routan as I wanted to stay with Japanese maker as I never had any issues with my 2000 Odyssey on which I drove over 200K. For a change I wanted to buy Sienna and almost got it but the promotions on 2009 Routan made me go to the dealer to check it out and once I test drove and saw the interior design there is no going back to Sienna.