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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  65k still runs like new .. - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By Luis - July 30 - 9:57 pm

  Got it CPO 31k now 65k runs great ..pricy DSG trans oil change., the only problem I had was the heat fan broke fixed under warranty. .. beware of tires cupping just make sure you do your rotation every oil change i do mine around 5-6k ..other them that simply amazing car ..very comfortable super reliable great for long trips.

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  What a HOOT! - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Carvin - July 30 - 7:06 pm

  Great car! On the fun to drive scale it is an 11. With 4 doors it is easy and comfy to carry 4 adults-the problem is they all want to drive. 17 in. Wheels still handle very well and the ride is far Superior to the 18s. Ill run 4 full on snows in the winter and know it will get me anywhere with safety ad fun. Instant power, no torgue steer, great fun with the dsg and quite good mileage make a great package. I have just over 1k miles in 3 weeks and have averaged over 26 mpg in mixed driving. I checked the speedo with our Garmin GPS and it is spot on. The sound system is great for me, although the sat radio seems to cut out a lot from trees, buildings, etc. The fit and finish are awesome.

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  I love my tdi - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By diesel3276 - July 29 - 10:16 am

  I love my jetta tdi very reliable and never had any Major problems besides the plastic cover on the bottom of the jetta. The only other thing is the timing belt I havent had it fixed yet because it is 900.00 and nothing can happen to the car if I dont get a new one. The gas mileage is amazing I probably fill it up every three months in gets about 45-50 mpg. And it the most fun to drive car I have ever had in my life I cant wait till I get the new jetta tdi

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  I LOVE my GTI - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By SarahB37 - July 28 - 1:13 pm

  After test driving several cars (Mazda3, MINI, Subaru WRX, Rabbit etc) I decided to purchase the GTI. I knew right away that it was the car I wanted. It is so much fun to drive. It is very powerful, handles corners great, the interior is very comfortable, it has a quiet ride, gets good gas mileage, is safe, etc. It comes with built in Sirius Satellite radio. I was concerned about the electrical issues VWs are known for when researching cars, but was reassured by the fact that the GTI is made only in Germany and that the electrical issues have been addressed.

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  So Far So Good - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Sue in FL - July 27 - 11:03 am

  Im coming up on the 5,000 mile service and I have no complaints about this car. I still am excited every time I put the top down or open the sunroof. One minor issue is that the sunroof is significantly louder than my Jettas, but the roof opening is also much larger.

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  2006 Jetta GLI 2.0 L/200hp/turbo - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By The Jet - July 26 - 11:26 pm

  Just purchased an 06 Jetta, red with charcol interior. I looked at Toyota, Honda, Nissan. For driveability and price it was a tough decision. No barganing on the Honda Accord Hybrid, all quotes were $30,000. The Nissan Altima looked pretty good but the mileage was not impressive and the price a little higher for the same features. Toyota had nothing to interest me. Drove the Jetta, excellent road handling, good acceleration, comfortable, manual transmisson and clutch very smooth. Gets 26/34, uses premium though,for this engine (2.0L turbo/200hp). Overall impression; excellent fit and finish, good comfort features, sporty, firm ride but not stiff, very quiet interior, premium sound system.

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  Good car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By bub - July 26 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned my Passat 3 weeks. Had a much smaller car previously. Im impressed with the gas mileage of my 1.8T and the body integrity. Very solid, good looking ride. A high quality car for the money. If you want a little more style than a Camry or Accord, this seems like a pretty good choice.

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  Audi performance; VW price - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Randy - July 26 - 5:16 am

  I test drove Audis and BMWs before deciding on the Passat. I love the six speed transmission, and using the Sport setting makes the car go like a rocket. Insurance is very reasonable on this model too. Absolutely no problems in two years of ownership, which is something even my Honda couldnt deliver (I dont know why Consumer Reports keeps knocking VW quality, when Ive owned 3 VWs and had few problems). The power and performance of this car is great, and its comfortable on long trips. If I had it to do over, I would have paid for the leather package because I plan to keep this car for a long time.

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  This car does it all - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By SeattleBob - July 25 - 1:06 am

  Ive had my 2007 Passat 2.0T for almost a month. Im averaging 29.6 mpg. This car replaced my unreliable 2003 Land Rover Discovery. My heart wanted a sporty convertible. My head wanted a good mileage and plenty of cargo space. This car does it all. It is a joy to drive and it has plenty of space for 4+ people and cargo. It has a solid feel, very comfortable, and superior fit and finsh. It has plenty of bells and whistles to compete with luxury cars twice the price. The large sunroof fills the desire for feeling the sun and wind. This car should be on your short list if you are seeking a sporty, roomy, fuel efficient car under $30,000.

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  Terrific - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Carlee - July 20 - 10:33 pm

  Ive only had this car for month thus far, and I absolutely love it. Its the basic 2.0 T model, but its everything I could want. The little extras that come standard with the new Volkswagens make it fun to own and to drive. I would definitely recommend this car to anyone. Aside from the "conveniences," this car also offers up exceptional gas mileage.