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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  vw fuel system nightmare - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By jeff - November 3 - 2:23 pm

  it took me 5 minutes talking to VW Cert Tech to realize he was going to throw parts at the problem. Most expensive first. The fuel system is different but not rocket science. i can not have my car going down, and my CC broke that faith twice.

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  2009 wagon - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By guido - November 3 - 9:06 am

  Bought this car on the basis of owning a 2006 jetta, was not disappointed.The fuel mileage meets or exceeds the epa sticker,2l. 4 cyl drives like a larger engine.

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  NEVER AGAIN - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By NEVER AGAIN - November 2 - 11:26 pm

  I bought this car about 2 and a half years ago. Nothing but problems, after 3 months my water pump blew. I should have got rid of it then. My radio nobs have fallen off, my arm rest broke, the seat adjuster broke in half, the value drops about 75% after you drive it off the lot and its so uncomfortable . Last week I lost the only key the dealership gave me when I purchased the car. Most dealerships can cut you a new key off of the vin right then and there. Not Volkswagen in order to get a new key you have to drive to Layton (30 miles from my home) show them proof you own it then they will order you key and then you have to tow your car to the dealership. price of key 200.00! Ridiculous.

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  va-vA-VA-VOOOM!!! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rockit - November 2 - 5:56 pm

  I love my 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T even more than I loved my BMW 5. Maybe its because I like surprises. What hooked me was the engineering of the little 4-cylinder engine. It is so 21st century. Turbo lag licked at last! That much power in such a little package never ceases to amaze me. This car is rock solid. My only complaints: the cheap feel of the hard plastic interior and a chronic high ptitched whistle from the area of the front passenger door at high speeds.

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  "BIG" Surprise - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Joe - November 2 - 9:06 am

  So I never intended to even look at a VW Jetta but was coaxed into trying it on for size. Im 63 & 300 lbs so you can imagine my skepticism. I sat down totally blown away. Tons of head room, leg room, comfortable seat, & still with all of the above to spare. Next thought? oh it wont be any fun or have any power. 200 HP out of an inline 4 cyl turbo. GREAT pickup & performance, gears changing so smoothly I cant even feel them change. Takes a corner like a pro on rails. Great MPG to boot, well as long as you dont put it in the sport mode & drive normal. All in all I couldnt have picked a better car for what I wanted. Safety, performance, good MPG, 4yr/50k warranty, comfort, & style.

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  What a TDI, think again - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Say no to TDI - November 1 - 3:20 pm

  I purchased a 2009 Jetta TDI in June of 2009. I put a lot of miles on cars & I have put 36875 miles on this one in less than a year. It has been in the shop 2X for engine problems. First time it wouldnt start or even try to start. Had it towed to the dealer, they said there was nothing wrong with it. Its in the shop now with 2 bad fuel injectors, a bad fuel pressure sensor and a clogged DPF. I told the dealer many times that it would run rough, but they said there was nothing wrong with it. Luckily I had bought the 60k mile extended warranty, it covers everything except the DPF, & it was not covered by the extended warranty or the Federal Emissions Warranty. Wish I never bought this car!

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  Reliable, Accurate handling, Economical! - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mobiliare - November 1 - 10:00 am

  This car is a great performer! I will never sell this car especially its my 1st car. I have put a ton of things (even a whole drumset in the trunk) and I have taken care of it really special: K&N filters, new imported brakes (not dealer brake) and its still running perfectly fine at 115000 miles. Its fast - I can beat anyone on highway and its slick looking. As long as you maintain it just right, its a very special car. GT is really rare - get one if you can!!

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  Great Van - 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By BRM - November 1 - 10:00 am

  You are going to love this van, there is nothing like it!

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  woo hoo! - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By gogoguerilla - November 1 - 10:00 am

  I think the bug is the ULTIMATE road trip car in that its just a blast to drive... it has its quirks, but so do all cars.. and I prefer to see these "quirks" as "character"... Its a great car for med-long commutes as well as sporting arond town.. as aforementioned, its also done a few long hauls with me with no major problems. its a car that you instantly make a part of the family... i would recommend it to anyone whos not in dire need of tons of trunk space, but loves an airy, roomy, comfy, super fun car... id definitely also consider doing some upgrades, too (i.e. performance chip, exhaus improvement, etc.)

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  Poor quality - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By tracy - November 1 - 10:00 am

  I love my bug unfortunatly since the warranty has expired: I having a variety of problems. The electric window on the passenger side failled. The onboard computer is now having problems again after having been replaced under warranty. The cost for changing of a headlight was $500.00 ( an internal problem ) One of the headlight burned out again 3 months after replacement the other one after 6 months. The molding on the back window is falling off. Volkswagen has spent massive amounts of money on advertisements to make us forget about their not so good reputation. It appears to me that they are still unable to build a car without problems.