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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  2000 VW Jetta GL TDI - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GLM - June 5 - 10:00 am

  I love the low RPM torque the little diesel puts out. It requires only minimal changes in throttle settings to climb hills. My automatic transmission has been perfect. Timing belt changes are the norm for all current vehicles and this is an somewhat expensive procedure. Not the best build quality and lots of rattles and other noises have developed. Occassional "Check Engine" lights but VWs seem to have these and they usually go away on their own. This car should not be a daily driver for a non-mechanic. Too much trouble on the little things. Expensive to repair. Really bad CD changer in trunk. 600+ miles to the tank.

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  Hated to see it go - 2009 Volkswagen GTI
  By cibaknife - June 3 - 8:07 am

  First let me say this car is a blast to drive. Economical on gas, although it requires premium. Almost Audi-like quality for a much lower price. The most entertaining car I have ever had. I looked forward to driving it. The hatchback versatility was great. Now the bad: the first battery lasted about a year and gave out in the middle of a road trip. CEL came on another trip for an intake sensor. At 50k miles the intake manifold had to be placed. At 55K the mass airflow sensor went. Dealership had poor service. I got the car back from them and sold it. I dont have time to sit in a VW dealership or be without a car for weeks at a time. Hated to see it go, though.

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  It all depends - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By madbiker09 - June 3 - 1:00 am

  I bought this car brand new in 2001 and was very frustrated by the dealer until the warranty went out at 50k. I decided to do all the maintenance myself and have loved it ever since. At 173K the car still drives smooth and fast and gets outstanding gas mileage considering its size and performance. Like many other people I have had to replace CV, coils (recalled), brakes, timing belt, and a thermostat. Other than those items the car is as I bought it. Im sure I will see 200k as long as the clutch holds up. At 173k it still spins the tires when I take off fast. :) I think two things helped my car last. For one, I have always used synthetic oil and secondly I always use premium gas.

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  Passat is not overly reliable. - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Former Honda Owner - June 2 - 4:33 am

  I decided to purchase the Passat after owning Toyotas and Hondas because it was a sexier car then the 2000 Camry. However, the reliability has been worse then I expected. The cup holders quickly broke, the driver side door latch mechanism totally fell apart, requiring $300 plus in repairs. The VW dealer mechanics continually screw up working on the car. The seat fabric is the most amazing lint brush you ever saw, tightly holding on to every bit of lint and dirt, and some of the interior door handle and dash pieces are covered with thin rubber that has been peeling off and looks terrible. I wont buy another VW.

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  Worst car I have ever owned - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Scott - May 31 - 7:43 am

  Bought the car new. With only 22,000 miles we have already spent nearly $2,000 on repairs. As the other reviews stated; stuff just FALLS APART. Several sensors have gone bad - that was expensive enough, now the top is busted. More $$ down the drain. I will never buy another VW product.

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  For the Value Edition you get a lot - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By davbev - May 31 - 4:30 am

  I have had this car for almost a year and I still love to drive it. It has a lot of get up and go and I love burning through the gears. The stereo is pretty good considering it is the Value Edition and I love the front end styling. For around $18,000 you arent going to find a much better car. I leased mine for $158 a month. I have had no problems at all. I just got back from North Carolina, a 10 and a half hour drive for me and it was comfortable enough for just two short gas stops. I would like to get a GLI next with even more power with exterior styling.

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  I love this car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By tazztazz - May 30 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever had. It is fun to drive, rides like a dream, handles like a vette. Acceleration in tiptronic w/ v-6 is great, & the 4- motion makes cornering great. A/c & heat work perfect & the heated seats in winter are comfy. Every time I get into this car all I can say is I LOVE this car. I have had 10 cars in the past 20 years all new & nice but this car is great!!!!!!

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  dysteria - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dysteria - May 30 - 10:00 am

  This car with the 6 cylinder and the 5 speed is a blast to drive. It really goes from a stop and all the way through the rpm curve. I was also very impressed with the handling, it handled like an expensive german car (ie BMW). The quality was also outstanding.

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  Nimble City Car for a single person - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By nicedoggie - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Bought the 00 model (Germany not Mexico). The power steering belt had to be replaced after 1k miles. Stohlman vw in Virgina gave me a great price, but service dept is incompetent (been going to their competitor in DC, which is great!). The engine had to be retuned (factory recall) recently. Great low-end torque and body size for living in the city. Noisy engine on the highway (would prefer the 1.8t). Rear seats are cramped and often have to fold down for golf clubs. The shifter isnt the smoothest, but better than the auto. If you want a nimble sports hatch, this is it.

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  Great Engineering, But Reliability? - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By RIMikey - May 30 - 2:00 am

  With 34,000 behind me, Im suffering through a love/hate relationship with my first VW. The car has had numerous repairs - emmisions gear; airbag sensor; overhead lighting console. The ceiling was dismantled to fix a rattling sunroof assembly. Numerous rattles. The latest killer was replacing the coolant pipe and pump - a 2 DAY SERVICE JOB! Unaccepatble on a $27k car. But when its running smooth its a gem. Notice I said WHEN.