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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  We Need More Diesels! - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Drew - May 24 - 10:30 pm

  I was on the fence over which car to buy, the Camry, Accord, or the Passat. Diesel engine is what sold me, and the wagon option. This car will eventually go to one of my kids when they go to college; I expect it to run that long! Great highway car, will “get-up-‘n-go” and not hurt you at the pump over driving it hard. Dealers are offering KILLER deals right now.

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  Its a shame - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By rwm - May 24 - 12:53 pm

  Its a shame the electronics are so bad. Its a shame the head lamps dont last very long. Its a shame you need a mortgage to pay for and oil change -- not to mention service in general. Its a shame the brakes dont last and require new rotors when changed. Its a shame nothing seems to get a complete fix. Its a shame VW didnt do a much better job on reliability.

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  A bit disappointed - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Lisa - May 22 - 10:40 pm

  I bought my Touareg 11/2003, test drive many mid-sized suv and narrowed it down between Touareg and Acura MDX. Picked the Touareg because of style and V-8. I love the way it drives, easy to maneuver around town and great ride on the highway. BUT, the recalls and bells and whistle problems stink, its been to dealership many times. The tire pressure monitor goes off all the time, keyless entry system works on and off with no permanant fix, homelink replaced twice for an electrical short, have to keep programing the MFI door feature. Worried about after my warranty runs out and these problems continue. I have a low vin number. Thinking I should have bought the MDX. Love the V- 8 though.

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  my 98 jetta GT - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ppgtek - May 22 - 2:00 am

  the jetta GT is basically a trim package, the funny thing is that people on the street swear thast means its like a GTI. in my opinion the mid ninteys jetta looks a lot better than the newer ones. it looks espically good with the clearcoat paint and the spoiler. the 2.0 engine just sucks, good thing im not into racing. but watch out if your buying this car to hook it up. aftermarket parts are few in number and high in price. and you have to watch out for that too little things can shut down the electrical system of this car, like a new cd player or an new alarm.

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  Jetta V6 - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kristina - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle because I was under teh impression that the VW engine would last forever. i have had numberous admissions problems with this car. It has been in for service 8 times total for such problems as oxygen sensors, throttle body, coyle pack, amongst a few more. This was a horrible purchase and I am extremely dissatisfied

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  Overall a good minivan - 2010 Volkswagen Routan
  By Frank - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I am a Chrysler employee and I was in the market to lease a Town & Country to replace my existing T&C, but I found that even with employee pricing the Town & Country lease was so expensive in Southern California, so instead I opted for a Routan which is slightly cheaper than the T&C but has a much better lease pricing. The reason is because of its better residual value. Routan has the Chrysler DNA but I personally like it better than the similar T&C. My only issue is the gas mileage which I usually get around 14 in the city and 18 on freeways. One fact that most people dont know is that the 4.0L engine has slightly better gas mileage than the 3.8L, but unfortunately I could find any.

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  BEETLE A GOOD CAR - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By KELLY - May 22 - 2:00 am

  BOUGHT AN 03 BEETLE AND PUT SOME MONEY INTO IT AFTER A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND IT HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT CAR. i HAVE PUT SO MANY MILES ON THE CAR, THAT I WAS AMAZED THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO PUT AS MUCH MONEY AS AN AMERICAN CAR. IT IS DOWN TO THE WIRE AND I AM GETTING READY TO GET A NEW CAR AND THE BEETLE WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST CARS EVER MADE. tHE vw HAS SOME QUIRKS BUT I NEVER DROVE A CAR THAT DID NOT. tHE GERMAN TECH IS amazing!!! THE CAR LOOKS BRAND new ON THE OUTSIDE AND I HAVE BEEN GIVEN OFFERS TO SELL THE CAR BECUASE OF THE UP KEEP. VOLKSWAGON IS NO LONGER MAKING THEM AND I DOUBT THE BEETLE WILL RETURN SO I THINK A BEETLE IS BEST AS A SECOND CAR . I AM SAD BUT READY FOR NEW!

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  Great Road Car - 2012 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By teaton1 - May 19 - 1:22 am

  Bought this new 9 months ago with plans on moving it to Central Europe. This is our highway car. Very comfortable and economical. Love the steering and 6 speed manual transmission. I am not a great diesel driver... I occasionally stall out in first gear. Not quite enough very low end torque. I stalled more so with an older Audi A6 than this VW. I love the brake assist on hills... comes standard even with the stick shift. The radio speakers are really bad. I would never have kept the Sirius radio anyway, but if I were a radio-phile this is not the radio to have. Our Honda Fit (for the city) has a great sound system for a little car. Overall this is an excellent buy.

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  Fun & economical - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dennis Lancaster - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Bought it for business mostly freeway driving to max MPG. Getting 46 to 53 MPG with plenty of power. Except for a little puff of blue smoke on cold start up cannot tell it is a diesel. Running great so far. Really neat little car for one person. Not really enough room for passengers. Terrible back seats for passengers but easy to lay down for storage of lugguge. Blue instrument panel lighting takes a little getting use to but looks cool. Been in snow and ice for two weeks now. Manual trans really helps. Have 4000 miles on it now and would buy it again.

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  Great Car! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Mike M - May 16 - 3:33 pm

  This car is a very good buy. I bought this car in July 06 , had to wait some time because I purchased a 2007, not 06. I upgraded from 15 stock wheels to 16 inch alloy mag wheels, much better ride. Make sure you get ASR and stability control. 6 speed automatic tiptronic transmission is really cool! Seats are a little budget, but the car stops on a dime! Handles great!! Gas mileage is not too bad. Safety cage of vehicle is like one you would get on 35k or more vehicle. Transmission is a little tight between 20 mph and 40 mph, after that it takes off! Road noise not bad. Oil is synthetic from factory, car is made in Wolfsburg.