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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  Great Car Minor Problems - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By fralopez4636 - January 16 - 7:06 am

  I have owned this car since July of 2006. I am truly impressed with the DSG transmission and the 2.0T engine. This is the best engine transmission combination I have ever driven. I get 28 mpg combined. The acceleration is very good especially for passing in DSG Sport Mode. The ride and handling are also very Germanic which to me is good. I have had several problems with the car all of which have been fixed under warranty. The most severe problem was an engine misfire caused by bad ignition coils. The A/C compressor also gave out after 15K miles. I bought this car used with 9,000 miles on it for $19.8K and for that price this car is hands down the best car purchase I have ever made.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gibco - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car almost three years and have had very few problems with it. Most have been of the normal maintenance/wear and tear variety. It is well design and well built, though after nearly three years, it has developed so squeeks and rattles that are annoying. Still, its the best car you can buy for the money. Previously I had a 96 GL that was likewise trouble free and fun to drive.

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  Great for my little family - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By RobH - January 16 - 2:00 am

  It fits our needs. We defined them before we purchased a vehicle. We test drove the Japanese cars that are in the same price range & this car felt better on the road, we enjoyed the interior layout more. The only way to describe it is it felt more solid on the road than the other cars. The back seat in the vehicle is not really built for LARGE adults, but again it is just my wife our 2 year old and me. When we add a child in the future we still wont use all the space. We have not had mechanical problems with our Wagon. We have 10,000 miles on it. Best sporty wagon on the road for the price, plus we feel safe in it (great safety ratings.

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  A Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By PassatLover2003 - January 16 - 2:00 am

  The car drives better than I ever expected it to. The 4 cylinder gets very good milage (up to 30 mpg) and still has unbelievable pep. Passing on the freeway is almost too easy. Its basically an Audi A4 at a great price

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  Awsome Car! - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By The pocket rocket - January 15 - 11:46 am

  My mom bought my 1998 Bug a few years ago. She bought it used and fell in love with it as sonn as she drove it. It is awsome. She has now sold it to me and has gone and bought a 2002 (used) turbo sport. We call it the pocket rocket becuase it is so fast and fun to drive. We have five VWs (2 Bugs, a Golf, Jetta, and a Eurovan) and we love them all. They sometimes have small problems, but never anything bad. We will buy VW probably for the rest of our lives.

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  2006 Volkswagen Touareg V8 - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By joan - January 14 - 6:46 pm

  My Touareg has been great! I purchased it to transport my two Labs. It has been great for moving college kids and highway travel. Its very comfortable, and I love all the special toys. My only disappointment has been the gas mileage. Ive never driven a vehicle that didnt get good gas mileage. Because its a V8, I only get 18 mpg on the highway.

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  Great Little Car - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JET-7 - January 14 - 7:13 am

  Just purchased a dark blue 2006 Jetta 2.5 loaded with leather, sunroof, heated seats, rain sensing wipers, etc w/ 27k miles. Great little car, classy and clean looking with a lot of pickup and go. Very fun car to drive. Compared with used Camry, Fusion, and Malibu - definitely the nicest quality and drive of all, followed by the Fusion. Also looked at the new Passat, but found that the drive wasnt nearly as fun as the Passat and the dash layout was a little too complicated for my tastes. The Jetta is just right...

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  Excellent Car - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By robertj9 - January 14 - 4:27 am

  I had been looking for a car since December 2011. I did a lot comparison between Honda, Nissan, Subaru and Hyundai. But overall the Jetta won, it is the best quality vs. price car that I found. I was looking a good price for a sedan with leather interiors, sunroof, responsive engine, and space. The reviews about the quality of the interior it may be for the one that does not have the vinyl interior. Because I really like the interior of this car and the space is more than enough. The trunk is huge. The engine is responsive. The MPG is not impressive though.

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  My Best Car Ever - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By pete - January 14 - 2:50 am

  My 2003 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI is much peppier than my past 1982 VW Rabbit diesel. I find it responds well in the snow. It has excellent fuel economy. I have short legs and have to leave the seat rather close. I am 58 and my head always hits or knocks off my hat when entering driver’s side. The rear seats are a little tight. The car rides like a much heavier car and if one is not careful, the speed can creep up on you. I find the car runs reasonably well compared to my previous diesels. Overall, in my opinion this is the best car in its class and it seems to hold its value well.

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  Solid! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VWdriver - January 12 - 10:16 pm

  After reading reviews of this model and trim level, I was a little wary about purchasing this vehicle. But all of my worries have been disproven, as this car is awesome. The only problems I have had were from the buyer passing on due maintenance, and otherwise I LOVE this car. It is fast, fun, the stick shifts smooth, the interior is fantastic, I love the sporty boxed-out styling, the sunroof and remote locks work flawlessly, and the trunk is cavernous, bigger than my old 96 accords. 95,000 miles and still going like a tank, no problems with the drivetrain. This car is great because of the extra touches: the dialed in steering, the wolfsburg leather accents, everyhthing. This car is great!!