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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  Happy with my 01 VW Cabrio! - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By mpet - April 10 - 2:00 am

  WAY fun car to drive and it turns many heads. I opted for manual 5-speed transmission, and it performs very well. The only things I have not liked is (a) some peeling on the door handles & dealer didnt fix to my satisfaction; and (b) with a smaller wheel base, the car rides rough on bumpy roads -- but thats life in a smaller vehicle. You can park this puppy anywhere though, and you are guzzling precious fuel like those SUV owners! I love my Cabrio. Its been a great new car experience. Looking forward to spring so I can DROP THAT TOP! :)

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  A Problem - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By abettinger2 - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Bought it for my wife. Ignition coil problems, instruments turn out hard to read in bright sunshine with sunglasses on, seat velour wearing, drivers door handle wearing and seats to short for my legs.

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  Not bad, not bad at all - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Chris - April 8 - 7:14 am

  Decent starter car for 21 yr old.

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  Puts a smile on your face - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cdub504 - April 7 - 1:40 pm

  There arent many cars that one can own that gives you a communal feeling like you get from owning a vw. This is my second vw purchase, despite a 6 year Mazda relationship that ended, it was time. After test driving a new focus I found this white gold metallic beauty with 17in vw rims and well that test drive put a smile back on my face. At 22k it drives perfectly with enough pick up for my daily commutes and looks really great. I didnt read too much into the cheap interior reviews, I love it, love the stereo system and satellite radio. The onl thing I can caution a new buyer on is the love bite that seems to happen when you first open the center counsel...consider yourself warned!

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  Great Car for Great Price - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VWJeffery - April 6 - 3:13 pm

  I purchased the 2008 Jetta S a month ago. So far it has been a great car. I like the fact that the basic model looks practically the same inside and out. I opted for the "Titanium" package, which included the 17" wheels and rear spoiler, and it was definitely worth the price because the wheels really make the car. You would never know that it is a base model when seeing it drive by.

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  Good performance, poor quality control - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By ralphie - April 6 - 2:23 pm

  Every a/c vent makes a various speaking sound and the guage cluster is constantly making rattling sounds despite attempts by service dept to fix. Interior door pull handles rubber rubbs and peels off. Already had door pull handles replaced twice on drivers side.

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  noticeable turbo lag - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Biochemist - April 5 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the car for a month now and have to agree with some of the previous comments about the turbo lag. Also the car does not corner as well as my previous vehicles- maybe due to the rear torsion beam suspension setup. VW service is a hit or miss- so search carefully for a good VW service dept. My selling dealer could not align my car and after 2 tries, went to another VW dealer to have it corrected. Otherwise, interior and exterior is beautiful to look at.

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  Disappointed in German Lemon - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Pisco - April 5 - 3:06 am

  Looks and drives great but reliability is not good. In last 4 months have spent $4000 on repairs. Axle shaft assemblies, water pump, timing belt, serpentine belt, brackets (one was $250), headlights, lower control arms, etc. Our local VW dealer is very hard to work with and not many shops can fix the VW. We are looking to unload this car as quick as possible.

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  Totally Unreliable Car - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Olney - April 4 - 6:06 am

  I love the super positive reviews from people who have owned a VW for all of 1 day! Wow, no problems after 1 whole day! Imagine that! Must be a great car! We have had a 2000 Passat 1.8T B5 for 2 1/2 years. Its a great car if you dont mind spending thousands of dollars a year in repairs. It is the most unreliable car we have ever owned (30 years of driving). VW does not stand behind its products. We have been to three dealers and they are incompetent and occasionally criminal. We have no confidence in either our car, VW dealers or VW of America. As a result, we are trading in on an Infiniti this week. I will never buy a Volkswagen again nor can I recommend one.

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  Fantasy - Reality - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By utilityowner - April 4 - 3:10 am

  10/2001 - needed a descent family car/something to take clients out in. Water temp sensor and trunk latch repl under warranty. CV boots tore (those that broke axles didnt inspect their car often) 115k before timing belt service, and a speed sensor. 31mpg @ 62m/h ave. Only complaint was that service departments are bad... independent mechanics offer superior parts and service. Brakes - 1 change on front 2 on rear - i buy cheap tires and destroy them. I drive this car hard and in 8 years in failed me one time( speed sensor wore out at 150k) VW is known for either awesome or horrible cars - but some issues are caused by flawed maintenance- the issue is with your dealer - not the car.