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 car overall! - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By imafishinnut - August 29 - 2:00 am

  I love the car in general. It is really fun to drive and has great fuel economy (average 48 mpg city and 54 mpg highway). Excellent power for a four cylinder. Only have encountered on problem so far -- faulty window mechanism for power windows. Driver side window fell down into door and wouldnt come back up. Dealer fixed both windows simultaneously and indicated that it was a problem with the pulley design.

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  2004 Passatt - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Chester - August 29 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive, the cold weather package is great in these really cold days. Good performance and movement. Like the feel of the wheel and how it sticks to the road

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  vroom--vroom - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GiGi - August 29 - 2:00 am

  I have alwasys been a VW fan. This just builds my confidence in the maker. Solid handling and quickl acceleration make it a fun car to drive.

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  VW - Wow! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Daniel Shaffer - August 29 - 1:10 am

  It is all there, but the fun, well its actually a bit of fun, but not like my Miata. Wonderful sedan that can carry a foursome with clubs on a short trip. The ride, handling, fit and finish, everything is tight and first class. No problems and great mileage! Average about 40 mpg with mixed travel and about 50 mpg on a trip with cruise @ 80 mph. Had a SunBug back in the early 70s and this is not anything close. This is tight German craftsmanship at its best and a decent price point. We have two. I drive a manual and my wife drives an automatic. We will buy VW diesel again in about 15-20 years when these have 300K.

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  My first VW - and its a diesel! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ashift30 - August 28 - 10:13 pm

  I never would have thought about buying anything but a Honda, but the interior drivers space is becoming poorly designed. A friend told me about the Jetta TDI. Wow! I am an aggressive driver. I drive in mixed traffic 100 miles a day and I get 37 mpg. On the highway, 41 mpg. My wife drives slower and gets 38/42+. We love this car! It is designed for a 6 driver. It seats a 66 person comfortably in the passenger seat. This is the first car I have actually enjoyed driving in quite some time. 26K in 8 months with no problems but one tire.

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  Honest Review - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tommy - August 28 - 9:00 pm

  The 2006 Jetta is a fun car to drive with good handling capabilities. The gas mileage is great compared to my SUV trade in. This is the main reason why I wanted a smaller car. I like the looks and the way the interior is designed. I have the navigation system which is ok. The radio sound system is weak and the satellite radio always seems to loose connection. The wind noise is very lound on the highway you need to really turn up the radio. The front seats are very uncomfortable. There is a bar in the drivers seat that hurts my rear end. This is the biggest negative for me.

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  Edmunds has a great tool for finding a vehicle - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By QATL - August 28 - 8:22 pm

  I purchased the 2012 VW Passat. The VW Passat has a great value at this time however I do regret that I have to wait for the airbags to get repaired. The vehicle was recalled for the airbag safety. This is my first time owning anything other than a Toyota, Camry. I was in the Toyota family for 25 years. I have only owned it for two weeks so we shall see if the VW family can live up to my expectations of a quality vehicle.

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  Fun Volkswagen - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By ellis - August 28 - 8:00 pm

  My 2003 Volkswagen GTI is very fun to drive. I enjoy the vehicle very much. It handles great. I love the 6-speed transmission.

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  Best Value out there - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By donaustx - August 28 - 4:36 pm

  I love my Passat. The quality is far better than what is being offered by competitors. The drive is amazing. This is my 3rd Diesel VW product. I drive over 30K miles a year and have never had more than routine maintenance performed. NEVER one quality issue in over 300K miles driven. And the service is great. Free loaners, they wash your car, and the intervals are 10K miles not 5 or less like most cars. By far the most economical car to own compared to the competition. My wife was a Honda girl but she is a convert and also has a VW now. You cannot go wrong with a VW diesel.

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  I made a big mistake. - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By alleyoop - August 28 - 12:30 am

  I paid too much for a Over Steroid GTI. Not a bad vehicle but not what I expected for the price. I only have 901 miles on it and it sits in the garage. When I do take it out I pray that someone will steal it or total it out. I cant even give away as a cheap trade in. Basically, I did not do my homework.