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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  One Sweet Bug - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Megabug - December 27 - 10:00 am

  I was originally looking at a Jetta GLI, but when I saw that my dealership had the Turbo S, I had to test drive it. All I can say is, SOLD! The quality of this car is top notch. VW went out of their way to make this NB solid. The interior styling is superb and the exterior is agressive. The rear could have used an RSI style wing, though. Still, this car screams "class". Driving its a blast. The acceleration is astounding. Turn off the ESP, though, and take offs are a scream. No lack of power here. This car makes passing easy. The Turbo S is the best car Ive ever owned.

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  Nice car, want another one - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By trbochrg - December 25 - 3:43 pm

  Love the car, i bought it new and i now have over 32,000 miles on it. I love the overall looks of it. Wish i had gotten the 5 Speed, The Tiptronics can be entertaining, but it definately isnt as fun as a manual. A couple of recalls, ignition coils, Transmission computer upgrade, and gas tank protector...service has been very good at my dealership South Shore VW in Hanover Mass. I would give their service dept an 8 out of 10 for my experineces, although i have noticed while waiting for my service to be completed that others arent having as great a service... Biggest complaint, i am trying to buy another VW, but no one seems to want to call me back, hello!!!

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  06 Passat is a Great Value - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Nathan - December 24 - 10:26 pm

  My first VW was a 99 Jetta which I absolutely loved. I traded it in for an Acura CL in 2002 and have now gone back to VW with my new Passat. No one builds a car in this price range ($28,000) that feels as solid and high-end. The materials are better than my friends BMW. It rides extremely well (quite and smooth) and I love the innovative features (umbrella holder in the drivers door). What I like the best is that you can feel the road without feeling the bumps and the car is very responsive (like when you need to change lanes quickly because someone just cut you off on the highway). The only drawback is that the turbo lags when starting from zero. It kicks out 200hp but it takes it a minute.

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  Have your cake and eat it too - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By bobbyjim - December 24 - 10:00 am

  This car offers a great blend of safety, economy and performance. The interior is well designed and very ergonomic. The car is deceptively fast, and passes in 6th gear are effortless at highway speeds. Economy is good, with 30MPG using regular grade gas. Safety features, handling and brakes are up to the engine in the car, which is not the case in competing Honda or Nissan products. It is hard for me to think of a more balanced vehicle.

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  LOVE IT!! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Evekitty - December 24 - 10:00 am

  I have never had this much fun driving a vehicle. I constantly find myself thinking, if not saying "WHEEE!" when taking corners in it. I also enjoy not being one of the many with Mercedes, Lexus, or other over- manufactured vehicles that are a dime a dozen. Drives like a dream. As I enter the garage each time, or approach in the parking lot, I am still awed by its beauty, and cant believe its actually mine.

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  My Volkswagen Passat - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Helen Adornato - December 24 - 10:00 am

  We purchased our vehicle in Sept. 2002 and are so very happy with our decision. In all the years we have both driven, we feel we have finally made the right choice. We find the vehicle to be safe and reliable. We are proud to be owners. \

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  Great Volkswagen Golf - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By golfcrzn - December 24 - 2:40 am

  I bought this car used with 80,000 miles. I still havent had any problems and nor did the person I bought it from. Its a fun, reliable, zippy car. Ive had a lot of cars and this is perhaps my favorite so far. I love all the options for being a economy based car.

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  Best Kept Secret - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By E Gatten - December 24 - 2:40 am

  I think the Jetta Value Edition is VWs best kept secret; and it shouldnt be. Whether you are young, or not-so-young, I recommend that you check out this car. Im glad I bought mine. I look forward to driving it every day. The cloth seat fits me like a glove. The 5-cyl. engine has good juice and pretty good low end torque. The transmission is tight and the gearing seems to match the engine well. This car handles better than anything I have driven in its class. Its packed with safety features. It is surprisingly roomy (my three teenagers can all sit in the back seat) and the trunk is huge. It has a 48,000 mile / 4 year factory warranty.

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  THE BEST VALUE IS SMALL SUV - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By VEGAS TIGUAN - December 23 - 2:40 pm

  I have driven 30,000 miles in the deserts of Las Vegas and get 22 -23 MPG aroung town and 26 - 28 on the highway. I have had the services done and am sitting at the dealer having the 30 mile service performed as I write this. Th rear brakes need to be changed at $270 and the front are still 80%. All the tires are still good. 30,000 miles and the front brakes are at 80%, this is awesome. Look up brakes on the Toureg and you will see every 15k to 20k miles at 4 times the cost of the Tiguan. This SUV has been flawless, you cannot go wrong. I test drove the CRV and love the looks, however, the interior seemed cheap and the ride was not as quite. I cannot praise the vehicle enough.

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  Sweet Ride, Sweeter Deal - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By TheDream14 - December 23 - 4:40 am

  I think the positives of this vehicle have been covered pretty thoroughly to this point. For me, it was this or a CRV, and the deal I received from VW just crushed what Honda was willing to do. Sticker on my SE was 29,115. Final purchase price was 25,604. Both of the preceding figures are pretax. I put $2000 down and financed the remainder @ 0% for 60 months. Honda thought I was making stuff up, $3600 off MSRP plus 0% for 5 years. VW is definitely trying to move inventory, I guess Honda isnt desperate enough yet. I absolutely love the vehicle though, but Ive only had it for a week so reliability is tough to judge at this point. Absolutely zero buyers remorse to this point.