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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  Great overall car, maintenance is key to go 200k+ miles - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vwguy84 - July 23 - 1:08 am

  I owned 2 VWs on the past, a 02 Jetta Wolfsburg, and 03 Gti , both 1.8t 5spds. I recently got rid of my newer truck to go back to No payments, and found a 1997 Jetta Gt black with black leather w/140k miles this past January. This car has been awesome, ive taken great care of her, since it was a 1 owner and interior is immaculate with no rips and paint looks new. mechanically car seems very sound, especially on the freeway, its very smooth. Ive had a few hiccups with car, such as gas gauge not always working or power door locks not working on driver side, but its expected with a older car. I plan to do a full overhaul and tune up to car in next 6 months, glad i finally own MK3 JETTA.

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  A good looking nice ride. - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By Larry Hilliard - July 22 - 10:06 am

  Some road noise.

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  Buy one, if you can find one. - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ToughCustomer - July 22 - 10:00 am

  This thing is incredible. If ranked soley as a luxury car, off-road 4x4, sport sedan, station wagon, it would do very well. The fact that it can do ALL of those functions, is amazing. We have a current BMW M5 and its no longer the favorite car to drive! No kidding. We had a Cayenne Turbo on order. Im sure its nice, but glad we went V10 Diesel instead.

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  Passat Wagon- fun, functional, awesome - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lise - July 22 - 10:00 am

  We bought the Passat after trying out over 8 different models/makes. We selected it because it offered all the features we had to have in a car; safety, economy, comfort, fun, and looks great. The kids love it and are excited for their friends to see it- no wonder, its a beautiful car. The Passat is smater than the humans that drive/ride in it- seats molding to your own body, remembering you when you return- even if someone else has taken your place before. Hopefully this car will last as long as the 17 year old Saab we traded in.

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  Great Car! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By RRanchL - July 22 - 10:00 am

  This car is way more car than I expected! I went to get a Jetta and ended up in a Passat and am I glad. Its truely a luxury sedan at no where near the price of a BMW or Mercedes for the same features! I love driving it and you dont see a million of them on the road like some of the other sedan models! Highly, Highly recommend.

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  A wonderful car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ylingf - July 19 - 11:13 pm

  I test drove the Lexus IS 250, Toyota Camry V6, Honda Accord V6, Mazda3, Chevy Impala SS, Subaru Legacy 2.5GT, Acura TL, Infiniti G35 and a few others, only to fall in love with the Jetta within 5 minutes of the test drive. The Jetta 2.0T represents a wonderful combination of ride, handling, power, and fuel economy. The build quality/material are on par with many luxury vehicles. The interior is tastefully designed with great ergonomics. The engine has very good pickup, especially in 3rd and 4th gear, and it feels like it is gaining more power after the 1st and second oil change. The powerful brakes saved my day a few time already.

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  Great Car for the Price - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Desert Driver - July 19 - 2:00 am

  There are very few things that I dislike about my Passt. It looks great and handles great. I have taken the vehicle on several road trips, encountering a variety of weather conditions. It performed flawlessly. The only problem has been with the headlamps that continue to burn out. The dealership has taken care of this and is covered under the warranty.

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  The Best Yet - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By riskc - July 19 - 2:00 am

  I have owned SAABs, BMWs, Volvos, and older VW models. For the money, you cannot buy a better vehicle than a VW. Comfort, drive, safety are all standard with this vehicle or any other VW for that matter. I look forward to a long relationship with this car.

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  Feeling 18 again! - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By Gary B - July 18 - 10:23 pm

  When I traded in my Mercedes CLS500 to buy a GTI many of my friends and family thought I was having a midlife crisis. Buying practical cars has never been my habit as a life-long car guy. While the CLS is a great car, it didnt make me smile. It impressed other people more than me. I feel like a kid again just waiting to run to the store so I can drive it again! I am amazed at how much torque it always has on tap and the handling is confident and fun without being overly harsh. I was also impressed with the level of available equipment. Being able to get xenons, leather, nav, satellite radio, a great 300 watt stereo & more makes me still feel like Im driving a luxury car.

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  So Far I Love It! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By JS - July 18 - 9:30 am

  Ive had this car for about a month and so far Im thrilled with my purchase. Everyone notices this car and asks me what it is. I am not very tall, but the Rabbit has great visibility. VW rates the fuel efficiency as 22 city/30 hwy, but Ive been getting around 24-26 city mpg. Im very pleased with the acceleration of the inline 5-cyl. engine, yet it still has decent fuel efficiency. It is roomier than expected and has a lot of cool creature comforts. This car has a lot of bang for the buck. All the safety features are STANDARD, while other cars I tested had extra charges for side airbags and ABS and traction control. This car had the most features for the best price.