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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  Second Passat...Even Better! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By nedsogto - December 31 - 7:40 am

  We had an 04 Passat GLX 4-Motion that I loved except for poor gas mileage. We just got the Passat 2.0T w/ lux pkg 2, 17" wheels, Dynaudio and navigation. We just love the "riding on rails" stiffness of the new Passat! The added size pleased my family and me greatly. The navigation system plus compass makes my on the road job more enjoyable. Even with only 300 mi. on the odometer Im getting high 20s mpg vs. 20.4 for the 04 4-Motion. I really didnt need the AWD so Im happy to get the better gas mileage. This cars build quality (like on the 04) is superb! My friends who are "car guys" love it...and so do I!

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  Got a FAST! - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By JR - December 30 - 7:26 pm

  I have only owned my GTI for three days now but I am really enjoying it. I was not a huge fan of VWs before my wife wanted to go look at them when we seen this car and drove it I had to have it. I first thought what am I doing dropping this much money on a 2-door hatchback but after driving it more and feeling the performance this little thing has it is worth it. If you are thinking of looking at one drive it before you look at the sticker price.

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  das tier - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By qtqsqt - December 28 - 10:00 am

  the styling is great. Comfortable. The instrumentation is great, especially at night-the interior lights exceptional.

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  LOVE this Car!!! - 2015 Volkswagen Golf
  By jiteng - December 27 - 2:22 am

  I was looking for an economy hatch (around $25K) that was extremely comfortable for long trips, quiet at hwy speeds, gave great hwy mpgs and had decent tech. The choice came down to 3 cars- Mazda3 2.5GT, Kia Forte5 and the 2015 Golf TSI SE. The Kia has the best technology and creature comforts including heated and cooled driver seat, heated steering wheel etc... But I did not enjoy how it drove and the interior felt sort of lower tier. The Mazda3 was extremely impressive in just about every area but a lack of storage around the driver and no option for a lighter blue had me look toward the Golf. When I finally test drove it I felt like I was home. Just perfect in every area. Quieter (cont..)

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  What a fun car! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Alice - December 26 - 8:00 am

  I love my Beetle. It is fun to drive...like driving a big go cart. I have had to have the transmission replaced and a new starter. That is all that has been replaced and it has almost 91,000 miles on it. If it had better gas mileage that would be good. It is a great little car. I will definitely buy another...only it will be a manual with a sunroof or convertible.

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  Fun the sun - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Peach - December 25 - 6:26 pm

  I just bought my first convertible...I have always bought vws so i thought i would try out this NEW convertible vw...What a wonderful surprise...Its so much fun to drive and handles like a dream...The new colors are classy and i dont go anywhere without some telling me what a beautiful car it is ...Something tells me THIS ONE is a keeper... Thanks Volkswagen ...It going to be a FUN summer... Lee Anne

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  I was doubtful - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By crysqo - December 25 - 10:13 am

  So I really wanted a new car and after looking forever, and at numerous cars, I bought the Eos. My car is beautiful! It constantly grabs attention. I got black on black. Its the luxury I want, the utility needed, and fits the budget. And it seals it in a "young" looking package. Im only 23 and when looking at the Volvos, or the Lexus and BMWs and Cadillacs, they all had about everything but are just old feeling to me. Its very true that the car will grow on you. I was unsure of my purchase at first, but after looking through more cars, I fell in love. This truly is an amazing car. And VW is right - it does get into you. The car seems to have its own personality. Very youthful and fun.

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  8 Month, 25,000 Mile Review - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bailey08 - December 24 - 7:59 pm

  I traded my 2004 Infiniti for a new Jetta TDI 8 months ago and currently have 25k miles on it. I bought it because of the gas mileage since I commute/travel 3k miles a month. With that said, I average between 38-40 mpg on my commute to and from work. Volkswagen advertises that you can get 609 miles to one tank and that is an understatement. I made it home from NC to the NJ on one tank of gas: 625 miles. (avg speed 70 mph). The DSG transmission is a lot of fun to drive. It offers every-day "Drive" mode or the more exciting "S" mode or for maximum power, you can switch to manual mode. If you are looking for a daily driver/commuter car that offers much more, you should definitely consider.

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  Excellent!! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By martin parr - December 24 - 2:00 am

  First time owner of VW product. Will continue to purchase more. I am very impressed with quality and performance. Wish they had glx vr6 for 03, but discontinued.

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  Very Fun Car!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By abnerutk - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I travel quite a bit, which requires me to rent cars. I have to say that everytime that I come home, the Jetta is like a new toy that I opened at Xmas. It is SOOO fun, fast, and SWEET looking. The only problem that I see is slight interior design problems and potential quality problems. At 2,000 miles I had an air conditioner compressor replaced, and now the clutch feels a little spongy and the gear shifter is rough going into first. Reading other customers complaints Im a little skeptical of the build quality, so well see!