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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  Roomy plus good mileage too - 2014 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By lagniapperob - May 20 - 3:56 pm

  We looked for the a SportWagen TDI for a while. We usually buy a 1 or 2 year old car to avoid the initial hit from driving it off the lot. There just arent many of those out there, and those that were out there were almost as much as new. These cars tend to last, and their owners hold on to them. So we bought new.

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  VWs sleeper - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By The VW that could - May 19 - 6:56 pm

  If youre looking for performance, and BMW-like build quality that the Asian cars cant touch, look no further! This car gets up, in any weather, and youd be amazed at the things that will fit in the back of this thing! Performance, versatility, and a great look, the car cant be beat! The seats are amazing when cornering at the cars limit, but truth be told, theyre a bit restrictive for everyday use, in my opinion. You get it all: the good, the bad and the ugly!!

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  Brief Review - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Chance - May 19 - 11:00 am

  Execellent car. Ive modded my car to my liking and it has not cost too much. Also, there are group of people who own VWs that you can meet with in your local area and learn more about your car and how to modify it.

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  Brief Review - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Chance - May 19 - 9:53 am

  Execellent car. Ive modded my car to my liking and it has not cost too much. Also, there are group of people who own VWs that you can meet with in your local area and learn more about your car and how to modify it.

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  Unacceptable repair costs!!! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By angie - May 19 - 9:06 am

  There are many problems involved with this car, including faulty cylinders, throttle body mailfunctions, and wiring!

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  Unacceptable repair costs!!! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By angie - May 19 - 9:06 am

  There are many problems involved with this car, including faulty cylinders, throttle body mailfunctions, and wiring!

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  Unacceptable repair costs!!! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By angie - May 19 - 9:06 am

  There are many problems involved with this car, including faulty cylinders, throttle body mailfunctions, and wiring!

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  DONT BUY A VW! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ihatevws - May 19 - 12:49 am

  I bought a 2006 VW Jetta TDi brand new. I am giving this review now that it has 130,000 miles on it. Heres the scoop. At 85K miles the dual mass fly wheel broke. Cost me $1500 to fix. At 90K miles the A/C compressor went out, cost me $750 to fix. At 110K miles the copressor has gone out again. Guess why? Cause the cooling fans under the hood went out! Guess what else? The relays are built into the fan so you have to buy the entire fan assembly. This car is nothing but junk. Its been a total nighmare and I hope VW goes out of business very soon! Next time I will buy something from Japan!

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  Not too shabby car - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Retoo - May 18 - 7:26 pm

  I am a travel therapist and use my car to commute. It is pretty good on gas and I love the moon roof. It also came with a sporty racing stripe design on the doors... cute! Even though she is 7 years old, I still receive compliments on her. My husband likes the gas mileage but says that he feels like the guy on the Simpsons when he drives it (hes 62). Its also a great car for wives who have problems keeping their husbands from driving their cars. :0)

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  Luxury, Small, Sporty, Comfortable - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Happy Tiguan Owner - May 18 - 1:56 am

  I drove almost every SUV in this price range. VW did not have a competitive lease program until January 2010. Its not as quiet as an Equinox, but quieter than anything else I drove. The ride is sporty, with a tight suspension, very composed. The seats and arm rests are very comfortable. There is plenty of power. The Wolfsburg trim had everything I wanted. Very classy interior. It revs at a higher rpm on the highway than the Passat which has the same engine and trans. I guess thats why it gets worse mileage. Expect around 22 overall and 28 on a trip between fill ups. The 2.0 turbo diesel would be great in this suv. Make sure it has enough room for your cargo.