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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  DSG in 1/8th mile - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By TOM - June 25 - 2:46 pm

  For all of those who think DSG is weak because its an auto, think about that next time I can pull 1 to 1.5 seconds ahead of you by having the transmission alone. I raced a worked out Neon SRT-4 at the track 1/8th mile, bone stock I ran 9.89 and he ran 10.75. So I say let the numbers talk.

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  love this car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By happy passat guy - June 25 - 10:00 am

  Best car I ever drove/owned. The wagon has so much room. Who needs a SUV with all this room? The price is thousands less than a BMW 5-series wagon, and the details are just as nice as my co-workers Bimmer. In fact the leather seats seem better quality to me, and all the standard equipment thats extra on a BMW really impresses me.

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  Great little car - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By jeff31 - June 25 - 10:00 am

  Great looking car. Awesome fuel efficiency! Turbo diesel is more than enough to get me where Im going.

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  Great car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jlw_52 - June 25 - 10:00 am

  This is a great small car loaded with standard features that others list as options. Solid, responsive and fun to drive.

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  Too new to tell, but.......... - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By dkross737 - June 25 - 12:46 am

  Ive had my TDI SEL just about 2 weeks, so all comments are preliminary. Engine and DSG combo-first rate, mpg 45+ 75/25 Highway/City. Interior well laid out, but some cost cutting (vertical travel on center armrest and forward edge of drivers seat, goose-neck trunk hinges, prop rod vs gas struts for hood) ) noted...car is built to a price. First rate highway car with great road manners, audio, seat comfort, and noise level. Exterior somewhat bland, but that may attract less attention from our State Troopers, and not look dated in 4 years.

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  Worth every penny - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By asj2012 - June 24 - 6:49 am

  I have owned my Jetta TDI for almost 2 months and have 3k miles on it - and I have only good things to say about it. Since fuel efficiency was my goal, I decided to buy the TDI in a 6-speed manual transmission. (Note: I also preferred the manual over the automatic because the automatic felt like I was driving a golf cart). At first I was nervous about getting the manual because I had owned the Nissan Altima Coupe manual and it was horrible to drive that I traded it in after 1.5 years for an xterra. The manual transmission in this car is a breeze to drive. The clutch isnt super tight and the gears are easy to master. The interior has lots of upgrades and accommodations. Fun, classy car!!

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  TDI Convert! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sean in SD - June 23 - 6:56 am

  Ive owned this car for almost a month and have just over 1,000 miles and really love it. Very nice luxury interior and features without the luxury price tag. I got the 2010 TDI and the only options I got was the 17" Avignon wheels, which were reasonably priced at $450, and the rear spoiler for another $500 to give the TDI that sporty look. Im getting over 40 mpg on the highway and got 48.1 mpg on a long road trip. I love the touch screen radio, blue tooth, steering wheel controls and the multi-function display. The V-Tex "leather" interior is nice and the other standard features such as heated seats and heated windshield fluid will be nice when its cold. Overall its a great car!!!!

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  2001 VW GTI - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By RTieken - June 22 - 1:26 pm

  Other than an engine that runs rough for about thirty seconds at start up (after a long rest), the car is great. Handles pretty well in the snow thanks to all-speed traction control. Radio reception is horrible, but the rest of the 8 speaker Monsoon powered system is outstanding.

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  3,308 lbs of fun - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By John from NJ - June 22 - 2:50 am

  While only owning this car for about a month, Ive had the opportunity to take a couple of 250 mile trips. On the interstates, this car is fairly civilized and comfortable; its an absolute blast on the back roads. The exhaust note stirs the soul without being obnoxious. Driving around town sounds like it would be bothersome as my car is a 6-speed manual but, the gearing is such that youre only shifting to 3rd gear and possibly dropping it in 5th if you can cruise. This car is considered by some to be expensive for its class. I feel that you get what you pay for. What I paid for is a very well made, fun to drive, economical and well thought out car.

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  awesome! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Brian - June 21 - 6:36 am

  Ive only had this car about 2 months, so far with 63k mi, my wife and i love it. 25-35mpg is a little less than i wanted, but still pretty good. fun to drive, takes corners like a champ.. 1.8T has been "upgraded" with a new performance chip, giving me roughly 200hp (up from 170), blowing those other sports cars away.