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 When It Works, Which is 10% of the Time - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ME - April 3 - 2:03 pm

  This car is great when it works. It has good handling, and a nice feel, but it is the biggest pile of junk I have ever owned. I have spent more money in one year on repairs than all the other cars I have owned put together. I will never buy another and am trying to get rid of it. So dont ever buy a VW! Most people I have talked to have similar experiences.

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  Nice Dress, Shame about the Bod - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By MTLA - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Think hard before falling for the Beetles very real charm. Replacement brakes at 35K, failed starter motor at 45K, broken hood realease, failed glove box hinge, sheared off mirror adjuster, 3 new O2 sensors, 3 mass airflow sensors later were ready to say bye bye. Add to that a customer service dept which manages to sound concerned and attentive while never actually giving the immpression that theyll ever do anything.

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  Never buy another - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By bonerrick - March 31 - 4:13 am

  first, this car sets so low to the ground that I scraped the bottom and broke the oil pan, 2x. costly repairs! Then the it overheated and the timing belt, pump had to be replaced, another costly repair. The windows dont work, especially in winters. The door doesnt open on the passenger side and a rock hit the windshield and put a big round crack on the driver side. Now, the check engine lights comes on and when I put it for diagnosis, it says that a valve is going in the wrong direction. What next!!!! the door lining is falling down on me when I drive so have to use duck tape to keep it in place. never will I buy another german made car, made in Mexico...

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  Dont make a mistake! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By NissanOwner - March 27 - 10:00 am

  What a waste of money and time! This car was a problem from the minute I got it (new). As have others, I could list a long list of problem parts which were replaced. They never could fix the howling sound that came out of the A/C - from the first time it was used. Obviously VW knew they didnt have a reliable car when they only offered a 2 year warrenty. Id never buy a VW or Audi again.

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  Bad trade - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AmDan - March 27 - 10:00 am

  CD player stopped working. Oil leak. Air condition stopped working. Almost no engine power, when u turn on Air condition it is very bad.

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  Buyer beware ! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sammy(alias mario) - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Bought our Jetta on 10/2000 , a shiny black one with beige interior, it was beautiful! After the honeymoon was over ( about 10,000 miles ) reality set in. This car is not reliable or fun to live with ! The cloth they use for the interior picks up anything and everything and always looks dirty, plus its impossible to clean. The engine is peppy at low speed but on the highway it always sounds like it needs to be up-shifted to a higher gear. The doors leak out a gooey mess all over the rocker panels in hot weather. Both front side windows fell down inside the doors ( one twice so far ). The turn signals quit working at 30,000 miles ( new flasher @ $120 ).

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  I miss my Honda Civic - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Carpentier - March 27 - 10:00 am

  I have four separate rattles. I can hear two rattles in the dash idling at a stop light from the engine vibration even with the stereo on. The transmission has a mind of its own. Shifting is often rough. I averaged only 16 mpg for the first 600 miles.

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  Do not buy a Beetle! - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By emily - March 19 - 5:03 am

  I bought this car used in Oct.2007 and within a week of buying it, it was in the shop. I have to go to the shop at least once a month, they know me by name now. First I had to replace my radio then my headlights kept burning out and its just easier for them to change them. Then my backseat came all the way off when I tried to fold it down. My engine light has come on twice now. Im taking it back in Monday because something is wrong with my transmission, I cant use the triptronic feature and all my gear lights stay on. It died on me for about 1 minute while doing 80 mph on the highway. I definitely wont keep this car past the warranty, probably wont make it another year anyway!

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  Worst car ever driven..... - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By suma120200 - March 9 - 1:27 am

  I fell in love with this car from the moment I laid eyes on it, how ever the moment my warranty expired my nightmares began. Luckily, some of the problems started when I still had warranty. Since I bought me car, I had to replace the septic system, I had electric system problem where my sunroof didnt open and my radio did not turn on. Now Im having intermittent problems with my gas cap not opening. I looked to see if there is a manual release, but unable to locate. Im driven a Mazda, Toyota, and a Honda, I have never seen so many problems on a car under 35,000 miles.

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  Much Improvement Needed! - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By bucnasty - March 7 - 11:30 am

  This is my parents car, but i drive it mostly, and have to deal with the dealership on the ongoing problem with the check engine light coming on. It comes on all the time and they keep telling us its a computer code that has to be updated, and they are waiting for it. Theyve been telling us that for a year now. Furthermore, the cup holders are awful you cant even fit a "pony" in them. They are poorly designed. Also, how can a car as tiny as a bug get only around 27 mpg? My grandmother had a huge Mercury Grand Marquee with a V8 and it got around 28 mpg. The engine needs to be revamped, there are so many larger cars out today that get a lot better mileage than the Beetle.