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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  My dream car!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By the duke - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Ive wanted this car for a number of years and I can definitely say it was worth the wait. Just like everyone I know who has looked or purchased the car has said, its simply a fun car to drive. Deceiving with the amt of room througout the car; engine is more powerful than expected; and great interior and exterior style. The leather and luxury packages are a must.

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  Whats all the excitement about? - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By sw - March 7 - 10:00 am

  My Passat was delivered with a defective radio and an indifferent attitude. The dealer in Libertyville, IL was unconcerned about my problems. Besides, the car has lousy gas mileage (burns 92 octane for a V6?) and a mushy ride for a VW. Otherwise, the hard seats and spare interior add up to an uninspired choice for a compact/mid-size car. These cars are nothing special.

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  Would Do It Again - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JettaDriver - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I love this car even with its problems. For the money the Jetta is fun to drive, has good power and looks great. The car feels solid and well made for just $16K. Once I learned how to drive the car right, I had plenty of power. You just gotta know how to use those 115 horses. The issue I have with the Jetta: expensive to maintain, battery exploded at 24,000 miles, switch for air cond sometimes doesnt work, wheels covers and reflectors fall off, 3 front and rear wheel alignments, parts are expensive, VW service departments suck, options and add-ons are too expensive. Overall, I love this car.

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  Why did i buy one? - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By mstellaluna - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Once I saw the Golf, i fell in love with it. But the car has been brought at least 8 times back to VW for repairs. My car came with a broken light, a leak in the sealing around the rear window, and a busted alarm. The alarm took several visits to fix. Then the transmission as acting up. The car needed to red-line to change gear, the car felt as if it was forcing itself to move. The car is now has suspension issues. The suspension equalizer bar needed lubrification (why was it missing in the first place?),but still have the whistling sound coming from the front of the car after hitting some bumps. Please avoid.

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  Problemed Passat - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By wdr - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Fun car the drive and sporty. However, the Oil Pressure sensor has gone off 6+ times and they just keep replacing associated parts and have no answer for me. The O2 sensor has gone off 3 times in last three months. 20 day wait on replacement parts, that tells me alot about that problem. Am getting rid of VW and getting a Honda Odessey!!

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  Pure garbage - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By alexis - March 7 - 10:00 am

  my 2000 jetta constantly has something wrong with it. Please do not buy this car. My neighbors 2000 jetta also has had many problems. Electrical problems, brake problems, windows coming off tracks constantly, starting problems, annoying knocking that you eventually learn to ignore. Please dont take the chance.

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  My service manager knows me by name - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CRABBY VW MAN - March 7 - 10:00 am

  5 hrs.after pick up from dealer, sunroof motor quit. 1 month later strange creaking/groaning noise from front end Dealer found that "something" was missing in right strut Check engine light comes on at 11 months followed by speedo going nuts List is too long on "items" replaced by dealer. 1 month later, same issue again, This time, different items replaced, told that this will correct the issue. 7 days after picking up the car, my favorite light comes on again " check engine" Just dropped off the car today the service manager....tells me it is one of the oxygen sensors. This is my 6th Volkswagen, and my last.

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  2002 VW Jetta Wagon - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MrZero - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Tight shutlines and a build quality normally associated with costlier vehicles. Rich interior materials. The base model includes 4 wheel disc brakes,ABS, side curtain airbags, dual front airbags, and front side bolster airbags standard. Honda charges a premium for ABS. Attention-to-detail is immaculate both inside and out. ABS plastic pans cover the underside of the car, properly diffusing air, causing less buffeting and lower wind noise. As with other 4 cylinder cars, the 2.0 engine bay is neat and all fluids are clearly marked and within easy reach. I am thoroughly impressed with VW

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  2006 VW Rabbit - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Ralph - March 7 - 8:56 am

  this is a very nice car. I looked at five other hatchbacks, this had the best features i.e. interior, four wheel disks, 6 cd changer, power moonroof, etc. It is has very good quality throughout the car. Everyone is impressed.

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  Awesome - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By taleggio - March 7 - 6:36 am

  I love my Touareg! It had a few issues early on but were fixed as necessary. It is heavy and all wheel drive, so its tough on tires. I ditched my factory tires at 11k miles for a set of Nokian WR G2s and havent looked back. Really the best tire for the Touareg. I had an Expedition previously, so gas mileage wasnt an issue. The FSI V6 and V8 on the newer models are a significant improvement over 2004-2007 models.