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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  good value - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By bquinn2715 - August 11 - 8:15 am

  Purchased on 1/16/2012 and have yet to stop at the gas station to fill up....that includes driving to work on daily basis (10 mi.) and doing light errands most evenings. The 2.0 turbo is plenty of power for this car. I had an 08 Jetta W-burg with same engine so I know its strengths. The car feels solid, comfortable, and I think it rivals the Infiniti G series, Acura TSX and other entry level Lux cars. The CC is essentially a Lux car without the typical Lux Badge like Audi or BMW. I think this car could probably sell for 3-4k more and still be a fair deal.

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  WOW!!! - 2011 Volkswagen Touareg
  By carguy114 - August 11 - 3:56 am

  My familiy and I have owned our 2011 VW Touareg TDI Lux for 5 months now and all I can say is what an incredible car. First off, we were OK with the 19 MPG city rating, and because we live in the hills, we were expecting less. BUT, we are actually averaging 23 miles per gallon without any highway driving. I would not be surprised if somone whos commute consists of 35-65 mph flat roads could average over 50 mpg. This really is an incredible machine. The overall build quality is very solid, you always feel safe! The interior has ablselutely no flaws and the panoramic sunroof is incredible. If you ane in anyway remotely considering the Touareg, you will not be let down. We love our Touareg TDI

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  Passat Review - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By David Jones - August 9 - 7:23 am

  I purchased a Passat after driving American made cars and felt I had to take the chance. The stability and control I have, have not been found in an American made vehicle. It is extremely comfortable and quiet and get better mileage than the Ford Focus I drove before. I have much more room, better mileage and look much more impressive in this vehicle.

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  Happy jetta Owner - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Curl2k1 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This is my first late model VW (all the others were Super Beetles) and I must say I am impressed. This car neve ceases to amaze me. The performance is outstanding and its VERY fun to drive. I bought this car in May and I already have almost 15,000 miles. I did have a small electrical problem today though. One of mt ignition coild went south. Ny dealer was done with it in an HOUR!!

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  Since I cant afford the A4 - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jettablue - August 6 - 11:53 am

  This truly is the next best or closest I can get to an A4 without feeling like I got the cheapest thing available. The value this car represents is incredible especially when looking at standard features. The ride is quite comparable to an Audi A4 although perhaps a bit softer.

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  VW R32: Great bang for the buck - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By o2bavr6 - August 6 - 10:00 am

  The VW R32 cant be beat when it comes to $:options. The cars it competes against may be faster, but do not come close to the fit and finish and standard options of the R32.

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  blast!!! - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By RNISCO - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE OWNED A 750 BMW AND A 500S MERCEDES AND THIS CAR IS BETTER THAN EITHER!THE INTERIOR IS GREAT LOOKING WITH ALL THAT REAL WOOD.RIDE IS TERRIFIC , WONDERFULLY EQUIPED, SPIRITED HANDLING.THE ONLY NEGATIVE IS THE GAS MILEAGE WHEN YOU PUSH IT, WHICH I DO ALL THE TIME- A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR ALL THAT FUN! BUY IT, UNLESS YOU ARE A BRAND NAME PERSON ONLY.

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  Really nice - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By aljommm - August 3 - 2:00 am

  This is a great road car. I look for excuses to drive it on long trips. Seems like the faster you go the better the feel. A strong performer that doesnt need to downshift to climb some fairly steep hills. A car that goes this well really should stop well -- and this one does. The brakes have a really good feel to them. The ride is taunt and doesnt smooth all the bumps, but get real - this is a sports sedan. What you lose in smooth ride is more than compensated for by the handling.

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  Got it right! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mdh - August 3 - 2:00 am

  VW has gotten it right with this one. I pulled into the fuel station yesterday and filled up. 229 miles city dirving took 5.1 gallons of fuel. Oh, by the way that was my first tank. Cant wait to see what it does when it gets broken in. This car drives like it was made to drive. I have owned several diesels and loved the economy but not the lack of power. This one has both economy and power. Love it.

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  My first new beetle since 1970 - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By BigJer - August 3 - 2:00 am

  This was supposed to be my wifes car and I didnt drive it until several weeks after we had made the purchase. Once I drove it I found it to have excellent ride and handing. I didnt think that 115HP and an A/T would be ample for interstate merging and passing but on a recent trip from La Quinta, Ca. to Las Vegas, NV I was traveling 75mph on long upgrades and still had plenty of the "GO" pedal in reserve. Terrific little car!