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 GTI - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By Nicole - December 21 - 3:56 pm

  This car is awesome! I had a 1999 Jetta Wolfsburg Edition and that was my baby until this. The 1.8T engine in my 05 GTI is very responsive. I plan on keeping this car until its in the ground. Hopefully thatll be a very long time.

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  Great Utilitarian Vehicle - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By flyingpatricio - December 21 - 12:08 pm

  Ive had my 2003 Golf GLS for 3 years now. I bought it used with 10,200 miles on it. Ive put 65,000 miles on it. I like how competent it feels no matter the conditions. Its heavy enough to feel safe on the freeway and light enough to get great mileage. Im a paint contractor and I haul all my gear in it daily. It holds my Little Giant ladder with just the passenger front seat put down. Ive even put 2x8 wood planks in it and was able to shut the hatch. I call it my "clown car". When we go camping it holds all of our gear with ease...camp kitchen, coolers, coleman stove, sterilite tub, etc. My wifes 2010 Honda Insight can hold about half as much...really! In short...I love this car!

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  Love this car- lots of great things BUT a few not - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ryan K - December 21 - 5:32 am

  Overall I like this car and am happy with the purchase. I think the interior layout is nicer than an accord or camry. I am a big fan of the Mazda6 but it had only one engine option at the time. That being said the Mazda6 may be a better overall choice. The Accord V6 has better shifting/acceleration from a stop and the Camry I am sure will last longer with lower maintenance costs. I am 67 and I can sit in the back without moving my seat from the location I had it in the front. Thus for tall people, or people with rear-facing child seats this car is great! I like the simple but stylish interior - to be expected in a VW. The DSG transmission is great once moving BUT there is a lag when moving from a start that isnt great and takes some getting used to. The trunk is HUGE (I can get a large stroller or a dual stoller in there). The price was very good - I bought a CPO with 11,000 miles. The navigation/entertainment system is slow - especially the back-up camera. It takes so long that you may just reverse without it..... an improvement in processing speed of the unit would be great. Also the HVAC isnt as solid as VWs of the past (Ive had 5). The AC will eventually kick in but in hot temps over say 85/90 it can take upwards of 15-20 minutes. So... overall I recommend this vehicle. The newer 4cyl is a great option as well that addresses some of these issues.

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  Best Car I Have Owned - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rleyva - December 21 - 2:00 am

  This is best car I have ever owned. The suspension and handing are great. It is very quite and does not appear to be a fast car, but it is very fast.

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  Best of the Best - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sniper-x - December 21 - 2:00 am

  Get one! The TDI gets great fuel mileage (50+ highway) and is really fun to drive. Unlike diesel motors in the past this baby starts up everytime in our Wisconsin winter!

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  Best car for the money - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JCTapia - December 20 - 2:57 am

  I am just impressed, the car drive is amazing, the engine has enough power for that sportiness feeling and comfort ride that only luxury brands offer, brakes are strong and with firm feeling. NAV System-Bluetooth Audio-Reverse camera, leatherete seats (heated), apple car play -android auto, 6 speed automatic transmission and an impressive 35mpg combined for 18K certified 2016 model (12k miles), Im extremely happy with my car. 100% recommended.

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  Best car for the money - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JCTapia - December 20 - 2:57 am

  I am just impressed, the car drive is amazing, the engine has enough power for that sportiness feeling and comfort ride that only luxury brands offer, brakes are strong and with firm feeling. NAV System-Bluetooth Audio-Reverse camera, leatherete seats (heated), apple car play -android auto, 6 speed automatic transmission and an impressive 35mpg combined for 18K certified 2016 model (12k miles), Im extremely happy with my car. 100% recommended.

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  German Tank - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By sammy12000 - December 20 - 2:05 am

  I have about 2500 miles on my TDI. The mpg rating is pretty accurate on this suv. I live in L.A. and i was able to drive round trip to Vegas and still had over a 1/4 tank of gas left! And no i was not driving like a granny to save gas, this was under normal-to-semi-aggresive driving. The car has a VERY quiet interior. This car feels very planted and solid thank to the all wheel drive. You cannot tell this car is a diesel as it is very quiet although when you punch the gas the diesel makes an awesome aggresive note. The power steering is a little stiff but has an impressive turning radius. The steering wheel does have the typical vibration known to VWs.

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  Three items that are not state-of the art - 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By vwaudi - December 19 - 5:57 pm

  The VW Tiguan drives and handles very well. The whole family loves it. I would surely buy it again.

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  cool car dude - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By mtbstevo - December 19 - 5:33 pm

  Ive had this car for a year, and I still get compliments. This car feels like luxury (even though it has cloth seats) is a pleasure to drive. I drove it almost 800 miles in one day, and the miles just flew by (averaged over 80mph no problem). Had a head gasket leak, but VW replaced it no questions. Its been running pretty strong otherwise, although the electronic ignition hesitates in cold temps (<40). The car is very responsive on the highway and almost has that "driving on rails" german feel to it, and the cabin is very quiet (not quite Lexus quiet but close). A little bigger than the A4 but a fraction of the price. Was trying to hold out for new Legacy but no regrets with the VW.