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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  I love it so far - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By donwarnatray - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had it a couple of weeks, but so far it is great. It handles well. There is a little turbo lag, but it is quick. The build quality is fantastic. It is really quiet, and feels very solid and tight. It comes with a lot of nice standard features and safety features. I am hoping that it is as reliable as the Rabbit I had for 15 years. It is a pleasure to look at as well as drive.

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  Not Bad, Its Great! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Incubus474 - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Passat now for almost 2 years and have put 31,000 miles on it. There has been only one issue with the car. the coil packs went and where replace by the dealer. Besides that its been a kick ass car. i drive very agresive and the car handles turns, accelerating and decelerating really well. I drive mostly city and 70-80 mph on the highway and get 21.3 MPG not bad for my style of driving. I have no complaints. I wouldnt give this car up for any thing. I plan to modify the car to get 210hp from the standard 170hp. Easy to Modify very inexpensively to increase the engines performance. Go get one, trust me.

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  my thoughts - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ragtimeAlex - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Smooth alternative fuel vehicle.

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  Amazing Car for the Money!!! - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By WGR - May 2 - 7:16 am

  I bought the car today, and I am thrilled! The seats hug you, the stereo is great and the style is second to none. Why buy a boring Accord, Camry or other when you can have style!!! live now!

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  After 9 months..... - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By daveeman - May 2 - 4:49 am

  I mainly purchased this car for the diesel fuel economy. My driving is mostly around town which gives me 36mpg. HWY is 43. All new cars are exciting at first, especially one with with great reviews as this one. My mind was already made up during the test drive, so I ignored a glaring issue. It is a rough riding car. I can feel (and hear) every crack in the pavement like Im piloting a go-kart. Each road thump echoes a mild bass throughout the car, causing the need for the stereo to be turned up to mask the road noise. I read that Hondas are known for road noise, but nothing could be this noisy. It corners well, but Id sacrifice the sport suspension any day for soft & quiet.

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  Ugh! Headache within 2 months! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By David - May 1 - 5:36 pm

  Truthfully do not waste your time with this car... I got this car used at 64k miles... Exterior and Interior was BEAUTIFUL. 2 weeks after I have the car my check engine light come on. Take it back to the dealership they check it... its the AC temp gauge. They replace it... 2 days later the check engine light come on again. Take back to the dealership and they ask me to bring it back when I can use give up some time... later that day my dies. every dashboard light comes on and my ac and radio stops working... its been almost 2 weeks and the dealership can figure out what wrong with this car. I had a friend with a year older model and the same occurred with his car...

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  DO NOT BUY THIS CAR - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Joe - May 1 - 2:46 pm

  This car is the worse investment I have ever made. Bought it used in 05 with 18,000 miles on it for $18,500 and have put over $9,000 in it on maintenance. Currently it does not run because the car leaks water very badly through the ceiling. I had to replace both axels, the clutch after about 2,000 miles in my ownership, i had suspension problems, turbo/exhaust problems, leaking all over the ceiling. About 20 different hoses and gauges replaced, no exaggeration. It was on 2010s Consumer Reports worse car list. Timing belt was replaced a lot sooner than is should be replaced because of issues, the Catalytic Converter was replaced, all of this because of the cars build quality.

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  ROCKS! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Kuya - May 1 - 7:50 am

  I do not know why this people are saying bad thinks about this car!!! i was reading the reviews and ohh man.. i have never seen anything like that on my car. Good Performance, the Torque is great for this car. It handles pretty good. not problems with this car at all. Also, the oil change, you can do it in several places, like Goodyear, good people, good price for a synthetic oil. the brakes are really good, it could be better, but i cant complain. even i have driven my Stock Rabbit into a track race and it performs really good in corners. If you really take care of your car, and drive it responsible, you will receive response back from it!!! Love it!

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  Long Haul Cruiser - Philly to Indy on one tank! - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By pdhamm - April 30 - 7:03 pm

  Ive owned the car for 3 weeks and Im totally impressed. The diesel engine has plenty of power even though the car is really full size...actually its nearly the same size as my 2002 S80. After 2 weeks I took it on a round trip from north of Philly to Indy on one tank approximately 650 miles and 45+ mpg crusing 70 to 75 mph most of the way. The car is rated for 40 mpg highway but Im getting that just driving to and from work at average 35 mph. The exterior looks great, interior is nice quality,comfortable and the fender audio system sounds great. Ride and handling are exceptional.

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  Yellow car = less green wallet - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By AJ - April 30 - 2:13 pm

  I bought my Beetle, in December 2008. I bought it with zero maintenance records, at night. Oops! I have been a Beetle/New Beetle nut since I could walk. Im 23 now, this is my 15th car. It was always my dream car and knew I messed up when I bought it. No service records took a big hit on my wallet. If you buy a Beetle, be smart, get it from someone who appreciates the car. Look for maintenance records. Id agree some people DO get a lemon. These cars are "particular" and require TLC to be right. I love my car. Dont buy this car thinking you can let things go as you would in another car. If you are reading this, know its a VW not a Toyota, and you have to maintain it thoroughly.