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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  Just do it - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Driversfound - December 26 - 10:00 am

  43,000 miles in 18 months and not a single problem. Very comfortable on long trips, and never had it to the dealer for anything other than an oil change.

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  You have to test drive this car!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By c74 - December 26 - 10:00 am

  This car wasnt even on my list of possibilities, but someone convinced me to test drive one and I fell in love. The beige leather interior with the wood trim is gorgeous; it truly feels like a luxury automobile. And it has a sporty feel to it (for a 4-dr sedan), I love just driving around in it. I noticed that its also a real head turner (unlike the Camry or Accord) And, if you get a darker color for the exterior, the chrome accents stand out a lot more, its just a really sharp looking car.

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  German Engineering - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Vazzellaki - December 26 - 10:00 am

  This is the second VW jetta I have had within 4 and a half years. At first i leased a 1999 new body style jetta gl...roll up windows, hub caps, tape players, the basics. I loved it!!!!!!! That is why i went and leased another one after my lease was up...a 2003 gls with the works. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA...everything about it is great! Fun to drive, easy to handle, and has some power to it as well for a 2.0.....

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  18 Wheeler VS. Beetle - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By BugDieselVW - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I was hit by any 18 wheeler and the cars protective features really did a super job. I survived the crash with only a few bumps and bruises. Even the windows stayed in tact. I loved my Bug before but now I am in love.

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  Love my Jetta (First car) - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lovemyjetta09 - December 25 - 10:53 pm

  This is my first car, I love it! Its a great way to enter. The brakes, the engine, the steering, everything! Its perfect. The fuel efficiency is amazing, I can go 500 miles on one single tank. Ive read lots of problems with this cars. Mine happens to be the Wolfsburg edition and its great! You will not be disappointed, especially with the rising fuel prices, you cant beat it. My car out performs most hybrids, with fuel and power :). The 100 horse power feels like 1000! Its the best, I plan to drive the wheels off

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  Good Value - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By brian_b18 - December 24 - 9:53 pm

  Have had this car for about a year now and really like it. Jettas had a bad rep a few years ago for electrical problems but that appears to have been worked out. However I do have an annoying rattle on the dash and its a bit noisy on the freeway. It is a very fun car to drive and handles well in snow/ice even though I have low profile performance tires. TIP: if you are trying to get out of the snow then turn off ASR! Its a great safety feature when youre driving but if you need to get un-stuck then you dont want it on! I love the blue lit dash at night and the red lights that beam down from the roof. Very cool. My teenage son loves it and is now a VW fan. Car is very sharp looking.

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  Jetta 2.0T DSG Update...6,000 Miles - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Pat G. - December 23 - 9:33 pm

  My 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T has been a great car thus far. I have had no problems with it. It has great handling and great overall performance.

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  A very good car and it requires maintenance - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By redlude - December 23 - 8:50 pm

  I have 100K miles on the car & have been very happy. I had an electrical issue. It was resolved. Maintenance costs can be cut in half by purchasing the parts yourself & then have a reputable non dealer garage install them. My chosen garage specializes in German vehicles and were rated very highly. I use Lucas and Stanadyne Diesel fuel treatements for injector cleaning & additional injector/fuel pump lubrication. I am gearing up to change my timing belt. I am going to pay $700 instead of the $1200 mentioned on another review here. I researched and purchased the parts online and provided them to my mechanic. I expect to see many miles more.... God willing and the creek dont rise

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  A solid, blast-to-drive, quick, legend! - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By George Pitt - December 23 - 8:10 pm

  The VW GTI is an automotive LEGEND worldwide! Its been around, in one form or another, for over 25 years, and has been the sports-hatch bargain of choice for countless drivers seeking affordable performance and style the world over. The 24 valve VR6 is no exception. What an awesome engine! It can be argued that this is one of the BEST GTIs EVER, given the superb quality and engineering evident inside and out. The interior is absolutely impeccable, with fit and finish worthy of an Audi or BMW. The exterior design and overall looks convey German class and performance, especially with the gorgeous 17 inch Monte Carlo rims, which enable the car to perform admirably. A very TIGHT car!

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  Love this car - 2005 Volkswagen Golf
  By golfowner - December 23 - 10:40 am

  Ive had this car for 6 months and love it. It rides like a German sedan. The base engine has plenty of power at sea level and pulls smoothly if you learn the power curve. People at higher altitudues that climb hills and need more passing power should opt for the 1.8T engine. I am getting about 330-400 miles per tank. The best Ive averaged on a tank is about 27.5 MPG (30 MPG on the highway is possible if you didnt go over 65/70 MPH). Also, the interior is very nice for such an inexpensive car. The A/C is cold/strong. The stereo is better than expected. It fits four. This car isnt for the pocket rocket crowd. It is a better fit for the urban dweller or person who wants an inexpensive car that doesnt feel cheap.