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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  My 1st VW is simply fantastic.... - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steve - October 30 - 10:20 pm

  This being my first VW, I was unsure what to expect. I know that it was the ONLY vehicle I test drove that just "felt" right; great feel & handling. The quality appeared greater in this vehicle as well. The outward appearance is sleek & the features are more intuitive than with other cars I drove. I LOVE to drive it! Im a satisfied customer of the new Jetta.

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  Premium sedan - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ursula Fries-Herfort - October 30 - 3:40 pm

  This car can not be compared to the civic or corolla. It is a class of its own, closer maybe to the passat or accord but cheaper. The interior is that of a premium car. Great comfort with great fuel efficiency. Enough space for a family of 4, huge trunk makes it a great car for travel. When you drive it you forget that it is a diesel engine.

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  Fun - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By EJScott - October 30 - 11:20 am

  This has been a great car. Love the size of the trunk and the power tail gate great. The leatherette is actually really nice feeling. The engine can really pull this car if you step on the gas.

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  American Thunder to Pocket Rocket - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Greg - October 30 - 8:23 am

  When I released my beloved Cadillac CTS-V(400HP, 6 spd) to my son, I with serious trepidation, approached my next daily driver purchase. After not being impressed with the frivolous gimmickry and weight of most Asian cars nor upscale pricing of the elite Europeans, I found the GTI to offer the highest fun per dollar while being environmentally friendly (relative) and with no unnecessary accessories. It is, I found, more than than it; is a fully serviceable quality machine, that makes you feel good to drive. Its build quality is on a par with the best, and I am well pleased with my decision.

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  Wow! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By bjahil47 - October 30 - 4:20 am

  I have had my Eos for 3 months now and I love it. It is so much fun to drive and I have people staring at me all the time. Only problem I have had is the strap which holds the seat belt is already worn out. I have not told the dealer yet.

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  Even better at 2,000 miles - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Newbie - October 28 - 7:50 pm

  This updates my 2/26/2006 post entitled "Good so far." I now have about 2,000 miles on it. Ive been totally happy with the car. The car came in with no defects whatsoever and none have materialized yet. The gas mileage Im getting is about 21 city and 31 hwy.

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  Awesome Little Car - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By soccerref9 - October 28 - 5:30 pm

  This car is not only a true drivers car but is also refined and comfortable for a long distance drive. Its moderate pricing sets it apart from more expensive cars such as a BMW or Audi. Long term quality has in the past been an issue, but in my initial 5,000 miles and 7 weeks of ownership, I have not seen any problems.

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  Positive Surprise - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By new vw - October 28 - 3:20 pm

  I purchased a new VW Passat 3.6 4Motion Wagon about a month ago. It is a really good looking vehicle and a blast to drive. It has lots of power, a smooth delivery, is very comfortable, and its gas mileage is very reasonable for such a powerful vehicle. The brakes are excellent and I really like the turning Xenon lights, which point in the direction the car is turning at intermediate speeds. The interior is of the highest quality, luxurious, well fitting, and ergonomic. The Dynaudio stereo system provides excellent sound. The space in the rear seat is good, even for adults. I am delighted to have chosen this vehicle and enjoy driving it every day.

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  The best car ever - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Moncho - October 28 - 1:10 pm

  Ive been a Volkwagen guy since 1988 when i took a ride in a VW Fox. I Also have a 2003 Jetta 1.8T and a 2001 Bettle. I ahve had no problems at all with any of them. So far this is the best Volkwagen ever, it run fast and it looks great.

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  Great auto, 3rd world bluetooth - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rmcmilla - October 27 - 6:40 pm

  I have been following the TDI for a year and finally purchased one recently. Impressed with the zip-ability of the TDI and the DSG is the transmission from heaven (really, it is that good). The big surprise was to find my common Verizon cell phone will not connect to the VW bluetooth system. It works great in my Fords Sync system but it is not on the short list of acceptable Verizon phones that work within VW. No where in the VW literature (that I can find) nor on the autos window sticker state the Bluetooths connectivity is so limited. Big disappointment, now I need to purchase dumber phones to work in both autos.