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 Touareg V8 - Awesome - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By florha - October 29 - 11:03 pm

  I love my Touareg. It runs well my only complaint would be the periodic engine light coming on. The dealer is great. I really love this truck.

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  Well-rounded car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dm - October 29 - 12:20 pm

  I have a little over 4K miles. Excellent mpg, mid 30s around town, mid 40s highway. Plenty of pep for merging/passing. Manual trans is smooth. Seats are very supportive and long drives are not tiring. Interior is well designed. Radio sound quality is good and voice activated bluetooth calling works well. The iPod interface is slow to dial through playlist. Great trunk space. I have 17 inch wheels and the handling is very precise and solid. Is very quiet on the highway, but I like the sound when accelerating.

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  Great Car - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By rahjr - October 29 - 4:23 am

  Traded in my BMW 328i for the Passat, so I was a little nervous that I was going to be "stepping down" in quality, etc. I just wanted a slightly bigger car that didnt rattle my teeth every time I went over a bump. I got just what I wanted with the Passat. It is very very quiet and gives a nice smooth ride - cant believe it only has a 4 cyl engine, but it has 200 hp and it gets down the road very well. So far, I couldnt be happier - nice comfortable ride and plenty of room inside.

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  2007 5-door GTI w/DSG - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By seminole_kev - October 28 - 3:33 am

  This is a very nice car. It is a good blend of sport and comfort in the typical European fashion. It offers lots of nice features as well.

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  Quality German sedan - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By homerkc - October 27 - 6:27 pm

  This is the fifth VW Ive owned and while not the most exciting, it is the highest quality! Smooth and comfortable, and very roomy. Back seat passengers are amazed. A terrific highway cruiser - every VW Ive owned is as stable and smooth at 95mph as most cars are at 65. The 2.5 engine gets a bad rap, as its more economical in real life than many of the newer turbo engines. Im seeing 25 avg in around town driving, and 31 on a high speed trip through Texas. I shopped against a Fusion 1.6T and was certain the Ford would be my choice, but the quality of the VW shone through. Im very satisfied with my choice.

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  best volkswagen - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Donwalsh - October 27 - 10:00 am

  simply the best car!

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  I love my Jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By KCrabtree - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I too researched the new cars and I was sold when I drove the Jetta. I love it more and more each time I drive it. My husband was impressed with the interior, since he is a large man, he fits in it nicely.

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  GLI VR6 is the Way to Fly!--No Regrets!! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jettix2 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  Having previously owned a 2000 BMW 328i, 02 WRX, and 98 Audi A4, I wanted a sedan that had a sporting feel, was powerful, well-built, and had that "German feel" without the huge repair and maintainance costs associated with owning a BMW or Audi. The Jetta GLI VR6 feels and drives like a 95% BMW or Audi at half of the price. Jetta GLI is a perfectly rounded package......

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  love my jetta - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kimberly dunn - October 27 - 1:58 am

  No problems so far except headlamp keeps going out. But as far as performance no prob. 5star

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  One of my favorites - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By wg_h66 - October 26 - 5:10 pm

  Purchased mine used 07. Overall a very fun and satisfying car to own. The fuel efficiency really wasnt that great and it is premium only, so it can be expensive. The only issue I had with it was due to the cabin pollen filter not being maintained properly. Two days of heavy rain and the passenger side floor was filled causing computer damage. (I had no idea going in that this was an issue). If you are reading these reviews before purchase then you will have a very dependable car.