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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  Best Deal Out There - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Fun to drive - March 16 - 2:00 am

  I want to let eveyone know what a fantastic car this is. The quality and performance of this car is unbeatable in this price range. First of all buy this car online. Cars Direct. com was able to negotiate a price 800-900 dollars below invoice price. That of course includes dealer incentives. Paid just over 23,403 for the car. The price is including leather, cold weather package and ESP on the GLS trim. For all of those who are unhappy with the power and performance try getting the manual transmission, which will improve your gas mileage to boot. Highly recommend this car to all who are looking for a luxury car at an affordable price. Just Love It!

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  great on gas - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kirkyowe - March 16 - 2:00 am

  what a fun car to drive. it certainly helps that it gets on a bad week 50 mpg.. cant beat that ..

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  Sporty, Stylish and Affordable - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By chlin - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Before buying this 2004 Jetta, I had test-driven many (several hrs to days w/ each): Corolla, Optima, Altima, RAV4, Protege 5. Jetta beats them all for its superb handling & stability. The turbo is much more responsive than the 2.0L. Speed goes up steadily yet surprising fast even at low RPMs. Agile - how Id describe the feel when making a harsh turn or stop. The auto. shift might feel slow to some. Built-in spoiler wins accolades from friends. Speaking of looks, you dont get any from Japanese cars unless you pay extra $ for a Lexus. But Jetta is a nice little car (in fact, roomier than many would think) with everything I could ask for.

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  Very nice job! - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By pfja0101 - March 15 - 2:36 pm

  Completely happy with this car. Performance is top notch. Finding features every week that I didnt know I had. Styling is one of the best I have seen from VW in a while. The 18" BBS rims and Audi TT brake kit painted red is incredible for the view. The body kit is also wicked. And those seats...WOW! The car loves and hugs you as much as you love it!

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  Great - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Trevor Kno - March 15 - 10:00 am

  This car is great, and i really enjoy, great buy for the money

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  VW GTI 1.8T - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Alan Rhode - March 15 - 10:00 am

  It is a great car. It is very fun to drive and right now is the most fun car to drive under 20,000. The cup holders are in a wierd place (in the way of the radio), but that is about the only negative thing I can mention about this car. The turbo kicks in at 30 RPM and realy kicks you back in your seat. A must buy in 5 speed.

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  337 is worth the wait - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By DiverDoc - March 15 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my 337 and immediately had to drive it from Florida to California. The car to say the least was a blast to drive. The gas mileage was awesome and the performance was well suited to 130mph+ excursions in the desert. The funny thing about this car was the amount of people that ask me about it. I would often come out of the gas station to see people looking at my car....Its kind of flattering.

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  Id buy another one - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Used Passat buyer - March 15 - 10:00 am

  Very fun car to drive. Comfortable seats for short or long trips. Only poor items are cup holders, trim around steering column, and poor design of cruise control switch.

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  A Solid Vehicle - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By dsiddle - March 15 - 10:00 am

  I have found my New Beetle to be a solid performer. Pickup is adequate and the ride is very comfortable for a small car. Interior room is surprisingly spacious and the instruments/controls are well laid out. Power windows and mirrors have worked without difficulty. My only problem has been AM reception on the radio which the dealer says is in the radio itself.

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  dont buy!!!!!! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By nothinggood - March 15 - 10:00 am

  I will never buy another VW again, something is always going wrong with my car!!! Dont buy one!