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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  Worth the extra cash - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By scotts968 - April 14 - 9:23 am

  Great car, lots of power and the all wheel drive is very tight. Much better than my Porsche. Its worth the extra cash and has a great resale value.

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  Absolute Blast - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Fr Stephen - April 14 - 12:23 am

  I bought my Jetta TDI fully loaded in every way, but with the standard manual transmission. I regularly get 37-38 MPG around town, and upwards of 53 MPG on trips. But this car is so much more than mileage records. It is quiet, smooth and comfortable. It regularly cruises in the 80-90 MPH range effortlessly, smoothly and quietly. My favourite trick is to sit the cruise on 80, and ask my passenger how he likes the diesel engine. I always get a whiplashed passenger; they simply cant believe it. From the bun warmers to the satellite radio and absolutely comfortable seats, this car is a joy to drive. Some of my parishioners couldnt believe I would drive all the way from VA to NYC; no hardship!

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  So disappointed at quality of VW. - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By juyeop - April 13 - 6:46 pm

  I bought VW jetta 2013 SE automatic about two months ago and it has been nightmare driving the car with so many flaws. First of all, about two weeks ago, the car just stalled out in the middle of the road when I was driving 40 miles per hour. Did I get into an accident because of that? almost. Nearest dealership towed my car and had a look at it, but what they said was there was no problem found, so you need to drive with it. Second issue Im having right now is grinding sound and from when gear changes. Ive never had this experience from my previous car that I drove for two years. Last but not least, steering wheel has been off-centered since it came out of dealership. Dont buy VW jetta!!

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  Never ever again will I buy a VW (any) - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By davemoon22 - April 13 - 5:05 pm

  1st Beelte had a bunch of issues (a/c, batteries would never last over a few months, oil leaking - had to do a major repair, then sold it). Second, a 2001 with 70k, has had more issues than I can possibly recall. I must have spent over 7k withing a 9 month period. Ridiculous. The major problem I have is with the dealerships. Theyll diagnose something is wrong, you get that done, the car still has the same issue and then they will tell you "Oh, well, then, it must be something else" Replace drivers seatbelt buckle, both windows regulators, cam shaft adjuster, turn signal relay, inner tie rods, valve cover gasket, pcv hose, door latch and list goes on: all major $$$ repairs.

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  They Leak - Severe Mold/Mildew Issues - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By John Gillis - April 13 - 1:10 pm

  OK, the Tiguan is a beautiful vehicle. Performance, handling and finish are best in class. However I have had a serious problem develop in mine, that is related to poor build quality. Mine leaks. Water was entering through back doors and seemingly the front fire wall. This precipitated and extremely bad mildew infestation and the car become undrivable. It is currently with the dealer, after 4 weeks, and they still cannot get rid of the mildew odor. Carpet, underlay, cushions, the works has been infected with this smell (spores). So if you are buying this car be very careful. Car has not been fixed. I have requested it be replaced as it is a very serious health issue.

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  cant go wrong if u care about ur car - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vwdrvr4life - April 13 - 6:23 am

  VWs are wonderful cars if youre the type of driver who cares about the vehicle. Theyre not "basic trasportation" cars. Find a trustworthy earnest mechanic who takes pride in his/her work and while youre doing what youre supposed to as an owner, the mechanic will hopefully help you keep your VW alive for years and years to come. I know whenever I see used cars they are always tons of cars from asia, but very few VWs are on the used car lots.

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  Money pit - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By money pit - April 12 - 4:53 pm

  When everything works the car is great to drive. Unfortunately thats not very often. My car has 129,000 miles on it. I am on my 4th catalytic converter. Ive always done my scheduled services at a VW dealer. The car has never made it the entire 5,000 miles without an extra visit for service. This car is such a disappointment. Ill NEVER get another one!

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  Avoid this car BAD QUALITY - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BRISKI101 - April 11 - 7:16 pm

  Here are the things you will face. 1) Glow Plug Module - Been through 3 2) Armrest latch - On my third 3) Window Clip - Both were replaced when window fell inside door. Some people actually have had theirs break. Recalled I believed. 4) Hazard flasher - 2nd one The interior is cheap and things fail like crazy. The dealer knows but says - Hey what do you expect you have 70000 miles? Frustrating. It is sad because the car performs well and the mileage is great. At least I bought and extended warranty. But be aware the timing belt change that is required at 60000 cost me $1500 dollars...and took a week. AVOID VW at all costs

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  Major upgrade from MK5 - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By Eddie - April 11 - 4:13 pm

  Let me start by saying that I was a previous 2006 MK5 GTI owner who felt that it was time to get into a new one. My MK5 was surprisingly reliable to the 50k miles that I traded it in at. No major mechanical issues at all. So I felt confident in purchasing a 2010 MK6 GTI. This car is fantastic all around. My previous GTI was pretty basic (manual tranny, cloth interior, etc..), so this time around I opted for the awesome DSG tranny and the "autobahn package" which added heated leather seats, awesome 18" wheels, and a superb 300w dynaudio stereo system w/ iPod interface. These options jacked the price to 30k, but it is well worth it IMO. This VW is hands down a better car than the Audi A3.

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  LOVE IT! - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By davidlm3 - April 10 - 10:12 am

  Purchased the 2012 Tiguan after seeing it at the dealer. It looks great and the interior is "Audi-esque". The radio and nav system are very cool. The interior is top notch. It drives very well and is smooth over bumps and ruts. It has very good acceleration and handles like a sporty car. Averaging 27.8 mpg combined according to the Tiguans computer. Would definitely purchase another one. The only thing I would change is offering the LED/Xenon headlights on the SE model as a option.