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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  A lotta car for the money. - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By golfhound1 - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I have now had this car for 3,000 miles and it has been a lot of fun to drive. Interior fit and finish are first rate and the exterior styling turns heads. Huge amounts of cargo room in the wagon. The 1.8L turbo engine is quick and the handling is solid. It has been reccomended to me by several other 1.8 owners that if I upgrade the engine management chip for $500, the car becomes a rocket. Benefits of a turbo charged engine. I test drove a Subaru with the 4cyl. engine and found the acceleration sluggish compared to the VW. This car acts far above its retail price. Great value.

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  greatest car ever - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CocoMonkey - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I have had two Fords and a Nissan before I bought my Jetta Wolfsburg. They dont even come close. This is one of the best cars ever built. Build quality, performance, you name it, its got it all.

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  2004 PD TDI WAGON - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Richard Rothschild - August 10 - 2:00 am

  This is my second VW TDI. Other cars include a Mercedes and Corvette. The new 2004 PD TDI has noticably more torque and more power, however, fuel mileage is not quite as good as the 2000-2003 TDIs. I got 45 -50 mpg on last TDI; 2004 PD TDI gets about 40-45 mpg... still very good. I would avoid the light beige cloth interior... too hard to keep clean. (I known this from my 2000 TDI). Overall, very happy with car and would highly recommend.

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  Nice bug baby! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By donnawnc - August 10 - 2:00 am

  Great fun to drive. Sunflower yellow is the best color. I am wondering why there are no ashtrays as a standard feature.

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  Classic VW - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By grantp - August 10 - 2:00 am

  VW has done it again,,, the return of the retro VW convertable is better then the old and still finds its style rooted in the past classic..... all the mordern convience that technology has brought to autos in a retro package,,,,, great job VW

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  Absolute top fuel economy - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Ernie Rogers - August 10 - 2:00 am

  Dont believe "experts," EPA on fuel economy. The TDI outperforms any other on the highway. My mileage: 52.5 winter, 57.1 summer, at 65 mph. Nobody can touch that, even a 5-pas. hybrid. (Except VW Beetle, Jetta, Golf manual TDIs) I drive 800 miles on one tank, any day of the year, any place. I drove Provo, UT to Fresno, CA and refilled in CA for $25. Eat your heart out, Prius. These TDIs have power. Handling is very smooth. You want something that needs improvement? Okay, the body style is just not as good as the old bug, but not bad for German engineers. (The original peoples car was designed by Penin Farina, Italian, the best that ever lived.)

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  Golf GLS: Par for the challenge..... - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Wylde1 - August 8 - 10:00 am

  You cant buy a better car for the money! My GLS 2.0L / 4A with the luxury, cold weather package and Monsoon is a safe, fun to drive and inexpensive no-brainer. The fit and finish of the interior is that of the Audi A4. The car looks and feels solid with its tight and consistent gaps in the exterior seams. ( doors, hood, etc. ) Volkwagen has cornered the market in the under $20,000.00 class!

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  I wouldnt trade my Jetta for the World - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By chknpotpie82 - August 6 - 11:13 am

  My Jetta is the most reliable car I have owned.

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  Never owned german car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Walter Mitty - August 6 - 7:50 am

  I bought my first German car and did not know what to expect. I am very surprised. The handling is outstanding, the color which is new is beautiful. The car is solid and handles like a dream. It has the no maintenance for 3 years which will save me money. If you cant afford a BMW this is a good choice.

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  4th Passat and the Best Yet - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By passatcrazy - August 6 - 2:13 am

  VW has always excelled at getting the details right. Nothing feels cheap, unlike my prior Infiniti, and everything is thought out nicely. You dont realize this at the dealership, or on the ride home, it comes to you with one thoughtful touch after another over time, ie. the chime to remind you to remove your key stops chiming after a minute since it realizes you must be doing something deliberate; you can turn on the radio without the key in. Fuel economy out of the gate 28.5 mixed, although driving easy to break in. Stop and go Boston traffic on a 25 mile commute and average 25.5. Average 26 mixed in heavy throttle (having fun) and 32 on highway at 75.