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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  Well built Sedan- Peppy engine &great fuel economy - 2016 Volkswagen Passat
  By DGT - May 20 - 5:58 am

  Those in the market for misize sedan should test drive this car before making a purchase decision. Passat is an excellent sedan. Quick acceleration, plenty of low end torque, comfortable ride, quiet and very very spacious cabin. This is a drivers car, excellent visibility, large side windows add to it. Touchscreen is average but responsive. I have not had any problems with it. Rearview camera guides are very useful. This is my 3rd car and I use this for daily commute. I have put in about 2500 miles so far and I still enjoy driving this car. Engine is very peppy and acceleration is brisk. The car feels very composed and in control at highway speeds. On an average I get about 34 to 35mpg in mixed driving. Design is conservative and it looks good to my eyes. This is my first german sedan. My other cars are Japanese luxury brands. I do not know about long term reliability but from the way the car is put together it should last a long time. The one negative I can think of is that the AC air vents are a bit noisy even at low fan speeds.

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  Class winner HANDS DOWN (are you tall?) - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Diggity - May 20 - 3:40 am

  IMO the tiguan wins Best in Class. It is the ONLY vehicle in comparison that Ive found comfortable, font and back for tall people. Im 64 and the Tig is the sweetest ride Ive tested outside of the full sized SUVs. Editors seem to only have two complaints - the price tag is higher and it has marginally less cargo space. I cant argue the sticker - but lets be honest. Yes, that will sacrifice 2MPG, but the solid acceleration and grip on the road is the benefit. Cargo space? If the difference is that important you should probably be looking at the full sized. Great VW !

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  51 mpg va to ny - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mark - May 19 - 11:36 am

  Once a month I make a 1100 mile round trip from Alexandria Va to the Adirondacks in NY. I mainly stay on interstates at 75 to 80 mph and the car handles like a pro. Cold weather, snow, no problem. The best its done for mpg is 51, worst 49. The only complaint is it takes forever to warm up at 0 degrees F. My tootsies get cold by the time the heat starts blowing on them. All in all, I highly reccomend the car, and love owning it!

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  Best All - Rounder - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By LostBoyChuck - May 18 - 10:00 am

  VW didnt just focus on the engine like other cars in the segment. The car is very well rounded, great engine, superb handling and the best stock interior Ive been in. The car doesnt feel as fast as it is, but thats because of the level of refinement... A quick look at your speedo will remind you how fast it is. You get all the performance of an Audi TT 3.2 Quatro for 10K less plus room for 3 more and even enough cargo room for your luggage.

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  love my .:R - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Jwillie4321 - May 18 - 10:00 am

  Ive never had so much fun on road trips (even the 2 mile jaunt to work). The power band is wide, suspension is tight, and seats are supportive. The downside, I wouldnt call it a steal at $30k, but you just cant understand until you drive it. Its also a bit heavy, so a few more HP or less weight would be appreciated. I have an AWD five- seater with a powerful, silky-smooth VR6, (mini) SUV storage capacity, and compact car fuel economy.

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  No regrets - 2009 Volkswagen GTI
  By Mr. Shandman - May 18 - 5:33 am

  I didnt want to spend over 20k on my first car, but when I test drove this car, I didnt want to stop. It is so fun to drive and so comfortable. Ive gotten endless complements on this car. I got the 18 inch wheels and the winter mats inside. I fell in love with the plaid seats as well.

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  Much better than expectation! - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By GA - May 17 - 1:36 pm

  It is well built a car. Roomy. 150 MHP - Enough power. Easy to park. Fun to drive.

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  Great Car - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By roger6855 - May 16 - 12:33 pm

  I have had my Jetta for a year and a half with zero problems. This car is fun to drive, comfortable on long trips, has plenty of power and I get 22-24 mpg in town and 32-35 mpg on the highway. In fact, it seams the faster I drive, the better the gas mileage is.

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  Great Car for the Buck! - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Eric - May 16 - 1:30 am

  I used to drive a Mercedes SL500 (priced around 105,000). Switching to VW has been a great experience. Mine is a Basic 4 cyl.The car is just great! Exterior and interior design is fabulous. I get a lot of compliments for the car. I certainly recommend it.

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  Breaks the mold - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Goodie Shoe - May 15 - 7:40 am

  Its a car that just doesnt fit into the usual molds. Its a roomy car with great gas mileage, thats sporty and fun to drive. After a month, its still a pleasure to drive. Looking forward to when the engine fully breaks in and, as others have reported, better gas mileage.