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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  Diesel advantages - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By althaFL - June 25 - 3:00 am

  Bought the car for the wife but I cant stay out of it. Once you get used to the throttle it is quite peppy and responsive. I can fit in comfortably with some seat adjustments (61") 208. Performance is great along with mileage. I have installed AFE cold air intake and Banks performance exhaust which have improved response and mileage, no I am not a kid but the AARP age, just like to improve on a good base. Driving somewhat progressively using sport mode I manage 38 to 40 mpg and blow by hybrids. Best deal I got was $24,200 not inclusive of taxes and title. TDI Sportwagon 6AM, Southern kit, 17s, protection kit, Ipod adapt, body moldings, color White Gold metallic. Less than 2000 miles but happy.

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  Great Car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rob - June 24 - 7:43 am

  To sum it up briefly, the VW Passat is a great car. It has all the great handling of a higher priced German luxury sedan, and it is incredibly fun to drive. It is kind of heavy for the amount of power the turbo four puts out, but the Tiptronic 5 speed automatic / manual transmission puts the power down very well, passing is never a problem (sometimes almost too easy). The car feels quite quick and nimble for its size. The Monsoon sound system is amazing. There is plenty of room for passengers in the back seat, and it has a surprisingly large trunk. The little engine makes nearly 100 horsepower per liter! I love this car, and if you ever buy one, you will love it too.

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  Thumbs Up my Friends! - 2010 Volkswagen EOS
  By hbrake - June 24 - 5:53 am

  Reliable! Comfortable! Fun! Sexy! Well, its so far far the perfect car !!! Please continue VW! My first VW!

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  Great alternatives to boring hybrids - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By quailallstar - June 24 - 12:10 am

  All I can say is go drive a Volkswagen / Audi TDI engine equipped vehicle and you wont be disappointed.

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  1st time van owner - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By matt - June 21 - 3:23 am

  I have never owned a minivan and was suspect to performance. We have owned this for about a month and love it. Took it on a road trip over a weekend, put about 1000 miles on it and it felt great. Extremely comfortable, and instruments easy to use. Nav system is a must with interactive traffic redirection. Am getting about 15 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway.We have had to bring in for service once as condensation was building inside the headlight assembly. The transmission is smooth, but with 6 speeds the gear ratio makes for a lot of shifting.

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  2015 Passat 1.8TSI 60k no problems! - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By Joe - June 21 - 2:48 am

  I bought this car in Feb. 2015. Today I rolled 60k (yes thats about 40k/year). This was my first non-American as well as my first new car. Im quite impressed, I have done nothing to this car but change the oil and flushed the trans. at 50k (per service schedule) and drive the heck out of it. It has only been to the dealer for its regular service. Lets see you do that with a Chevy, Ford or Ugh...Dodge. I drove Ford Explorers for 10 years (loved them and worked on them regularly) until my job and the miles I drive pushed me to get a gas sipper. And gas sipper it is! Forget the diesel, I have the 1.8 TSI SE and have gotten as much as 45mpg on a single 60 mile trip, mostly flat farm roads averaging 50-60 mph. Overall average is 33.5mpg with about 70% highway driving. It would take a couple hundred thousand miles to make up the added cost of that diesel, not to mention the scandal that Im not part of. I would still prefer a larger SUV, but as far as a 4 door car goes, Id be lying if I complained one bit. Backseat is huge, car feels more upscale than Toyota, Hyundai and all of the American garbage theyre churning out. Gauges are crisp and easy to read, all controls simply laid out and very functional. Super smooth ride, acceleration is not blinding but plenty powerful enough for daily driving, has all the top end and passing power you would need, keep in mind this is coming from a car guy. This thing will probably go 200k without a hiccup, still have original Continental tires, original brakes etc. (trying to get to 100k with them). Not to mention it is a sharp, classy looking car. Black on black with tinted windows=sweet ride! UPDATE: I traded the Passat in August 2017 with 90k on the odometer. Original tires, brakes etc. only service was I replaced 2 light bulbs that burnt out. I also replaced spark plugs myself at 80k, they could have gone to 100k. Car was so reliable I bought another. This time 2017 Passat R-line, Black on black with tinted windows of course.

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  178K and still going strong! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By bali1 - June 20 - 10:25 pm

  I love my beetle! I bought it in 2008 with 104K miles on it, and it has been a road warrior! Up to 178K miles and still no problems! Replaced water pump and belts at 120K and just regular oil changes. Awesome, reliable car. The front grille keeps coming off because I keep scraping it on the ground (admittedly I have very poor parking skills) so low clearance is my only problem, but that is also what makes it so zippy! If you are looking for reliable transportation this is the car for you!

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  Awesome Car! - 2012 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By rod_r - June 20 - 2:54 pm

  I have only had this car a week but so far it really has exceeded my expectations. It took a few weeks before one of my local dealers had a manual model but the wait was worth it. I drove one with a DSG transmission and it was fine but with the manual it is just a more engaging car to drive. The torque from this little turbo diesel is amazing. It pulled up a big hill in 4th gear at 1500rpm at 40mph with no problem. Great interior with lots of room. I am getting right at 40mpg with mixed driving. The car is not fast but it feels quick with great handling. It really is a "SPORT"wagen. This car feels like it could cost a lot more than $25,000.

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  Smooth and comfortable - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By fcarre2 - June 20 - 10:36 am

  I came across a used W8 with low miles and decided to make the purchase. I have been very impressed with the smoothness of the engine, the rock solid feel (far better than my wifes Lexus or my old g35) and the overall comfort of the vehicle. I have the sport package which tightens up the suspension a bit. After 10,000 miles I dont think I could go back to Lexus or Infiniti - they just dont have the so-solid feel. I have had no problems to date and on the highway I run 24 mpg. Mixed city driving gives me 19.5 mpg. Lastly, the sport suspension with the BBS wheels certainly draws plenty of nice comments from others.

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  German Quality - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By rzrbck1 - June 20 - 10:00 am

  I owned a 97 Jetta GLX-VR6 and was very skeptical about the 1.8t GTI. While it does not have the torque and power of the 97 Jetta GLX-VR6, I am please with the overall quality of this vehicle. VW has made great improvements in the fit and finish, primarily in the interior. I test drove, and was considering the Nissan Sentra Spec-V, but the fit and finish of the GTI brought me back to Volkswagen.