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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  Its Never Gonna Die - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By knoxgrassdealer - July 3 - 5:00 pm

  I bought my 1.8t 4dr in early march with 100,000 miles, and Ive put it through the works. Im 19 year old so Im not the slowest driver, the second day i had it i crashed the hell out of it. Im not sure how but the air bags didnt deploy, and i was able to drive away with ease. I had to replace many parts including doors, windows, wires. Very easy work considering the dept of it. Since, Ive put over 8,000 miles on it and my girl friend had smashed more windows out lol. But overall whenever i get more money Im definitely gonna consider buying another one. Excellent performance, Decent fuel economy, Kinda small, Big trunk! ;) Great car..

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  Fun car....but there are issues - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By kris - July 3 - 8:50 am

  I bought my 06 after a ton of research. I really love my car, its fun to drive and i get pretty good gas mileage. Ive had a TON of issues with my dealership, so dont go to Fladebo in Irvine CA. Also, my car kept overheating and my temp light kept flashing red. It took 4 days for the dealership to fix it and the entire coolant system had to be replaced (thankfully it was covered by my warranty). My top gets stuck sometimes too, and wont go all the way down. Surprisingly good trunk and passenger space. My husband is 62" and has lots of leg room. The car drives pretty well, but it can be really bumpy. By far one of the best convertibles for under 25K.

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  Entering 6th year, still love my Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Kristi Collins - July 3 - 8:20 am

  I still love driving my car, and I do drive like the proverbial bat out of hell. I dont know about the "underpowered" reviews, but then again, I upgraded from a Chevy, so its still a delight to drive. No fit & finish issues. Yes, it costs a lot for an oil change, but theyre not JUST changing the oil... theres a whole checklist of things theyre doing to ensure your car wont be a rattletrap at the 3 year mark like some other vehicles can be. (My blazer was.) Yes, the headrest obstructed, but they sent a replacement (low-profile) headrest for the middle- free. Recalls, but they always put me in a loaner.

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  TDI Rocks!! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DieselRocks - July 2 - 7:50 pm

  Its all about the fuel economy, 530 miles per tank, need to say more? Handles the Turnpike very well, sways a little with the wind - the best part driving around curves Vroom Vroom Vroom.

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  Disappointed - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Derek Glaaser - July 2 - 10:46 am

  I have had numerous engine and structural difficulties with the Passat, from engine malfunction and brake pumps failure on several occasions, to doors and windows not working electronically, or doors not closing. Engine failure has been the primary problem, although the design of the shield to prevent water from leaking into and accumulating in the space between the body and the engine has also been a major issue. There have also been many factory recalls on components beyond those that have malfunctioned on my car. VW responsiveness at the corporate level has been unsatisfactory.

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  Dont Do It! - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By smn - July 2 - 6:42 am

  I bought a 1998 Beetle, 5 speed manual transmission from my neighbor. They saw me coming! The car now has 112,000 miles on it and the control module, catalytic converter and ignition module all went out. It is going to cost me more to fix it than its worth. Dont bother with VW. The glove box and trunk release are broken. The clear coat has peeled off. Regretting spending $3K on this car. My Honda has 200,000 miles on it and runs like a top!!

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  Drivetrain to die for! - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By JimboTheFed - July 2 - 2:00 am

  Yes, it has hardware issues: door latches, power window alignment, ignition keyswitch (recall issued), electrical gremlins... But even with all that, I love this car! But I am an engineer and tinkerer, own the Bentley repair manual, and dont mind pulling the door panel off, either. 179000 miles and climbing 30K+/year. Well grow old together. Drive this car hard and it will NOT ever smoke - the computer craves to be driven!

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  Excellent Car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By ani - July 2 - 2:00 am

  I love my passat, not only does it have everything you can imagine or want in a car(everything is standard) its comfortable, fast and fun to drive not to mention the fact its practically a luxury car but it doesnt break your bank account, It looks more expensive than it is. The mileage on long trips is very good, I get over 320 miles to a tank usually on long trips. City driving mileage is what is to be expected from a V6 engine when you stop and go in traffic.

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  Piece of junk, Im going to trade this... - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By SlyGuy - July 2 - 2:00 am

  My car has 12,000 miles and its sad its been in the shop 5 times 22,000 dollar car gti 1.8t fully loaded all the packages. Window fell in door, coil packs went(ignition), door seals leaked, monsoon radio stopped working, seats made cheap noises, and now its going back again for a loud tapping noise when its started. My tip dont buy one!!!!!!!!!! been in the shop 2 out of 6 months!!!!

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  Great when running - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kate001 - July 2 - 2:00 am

  I have been extremely disappointed since I bought my Jetta in November of 2001. I have been stranded and had to tow my car twice in the past three weeks from ignition coil failures (26,000 miles and 26,800 miles). The check engine light flashes randomly and the electrical controls on my car have been repaired three times. My brake switch failed at about 18,000 miles. Not a good year for the Wolfsburg. Id sale mine as soon as possible, except I would feel guilty turning it over to someone. I must say, it is a great car to drive...I just cant call it reliable.