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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  Owing a bio bug - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By David in Colorado - November 27 - 3:40 am

  I purchased this car used for the diesel engine as I was commuting 720 mile per week in my job. The car handled very well in all kinds of weather like snow and ice. Mileage was right at 40 mpg on the highway. I started mixing my own bio fuel 50/50 oil and diesel and was surprised at how well the car ran. about 10-15% loss in power but for the fuel savings I gained it was well worth it. The TDI engine coupled with the Automatic 6- speed gearbox is like new at 116000 miles. I have owned many newe cars in my lifetime and was a Honda owner before this but Volkswagon TDI performance along with durability and realibality really impressed me.

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  A Budget BMW - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By umfxc20 - November 26 - 10:36 pm

  This car is incredible for the money. It has great power, and its built like a rock (meaning there are NO rattles). The quality of this car is better than any other car you will find for under $20,000 (except for other VWs). The manual transmission is the smoothest shifting transmission I have ever used. I drove 60 mph on my way to college in Maine and got 35 mpg for highway driving, which was much better than I expected. Just a great car, and more VWs will be purchased in my future.

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  Fast, Comfortable & Useful - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Bob Swain - November 25 - 6:20 pm

  Purchased new. Not driven hard except for an Audi Quattro Club weekend at Road America where it held its own at 110 mph plus. Several long trips were very comfortable. A very useful hauler of all kinds of stuff. Sound system: Excellent & I have lots of cassettes and CDs to play. I prefer the front end styling to the later chrome; understated, not glitzy. The engine is wonderful: strong, powerful, smooth and gets remarkably good mileage for an eight; 25 mpg plus at 65-70 mph. Major complaint: Car delivered with OnStar and salesman knew it was important. Two years later (and three years short of the new car warranty) VW canceled the service. VWs response to my complaint. Too bad.

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  BYG Review8 - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By bygkid - November 25 - 7:20 am

  To own a W8 is love. I cant wait to turn the key, crank the stereo and shift into fun! The W8 is a marvel of auto-feats, 4Motion keeps all four tires grounded like no other! The 6 spd manual is effortless and has a powerband that is limitless.

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  Diesel UPDATE - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sprouty - November 25 - 1:40 am

  I originally reviewed this car on 1/15/05, and I just wanted to give an update. Now at 35,000 miles, the car is still a delight. Now that fuel prices have surged well past $3.00/gallon we enjoy the great mileage all the more (now averaging 43-44 MPG). The car has been 100% reliable and durable - much more so than our 2001 VR6 was. We obviously love the fuel economy, but the TDI engine is also wonderful for low- down torque. You never have to wind this engine to find the power. Its right on tap and very smooth. With 4 snow tires, its great in the winter. Factor in the wagon versatility, great comfort, a fun and spunky driving personality, and the car is a winner all-around. I hope the new ones come as wagons.

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  Brains & Beauty w/Fun Personality - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By bostonian8 - November 24 - 12:36 pm

  A longtime Honda/Acura guy, I was looking at getting a new family sedan. Looked at sedans in the $30-45k range:Audi, BMW, MB, Lexus, infiniti, Honda, Nissan, and Acura. Many great choices, but none had a better combination of performance, road feel, elegance, or room. Many smiles were had driving the Passat especially when pondering about the real benefits of great mpg of the 2.0, and its very excellent value compared to others evaluated. Research showed VW/Audis have a reputation of lower reliability to Japans best. My criteria homework showed I could live with the balanced experience of a fun, safe, practical car, that sacrifices a little reliability for some very "soulful drivability

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  Excellent Car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By abarcius - November 24 - 5:40 am

  If you are looking for a fun-to-drive, powerful, reliable car and does not mind paying a little extra for these three things the Jetta GLX VR6 is your car. I bought mine in Feb. 2001 and I love it.

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  Such A Shame - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Miami Guy - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Owning this car is like a relationship with a hot, sexy, person who has a severe chronic disease with many symptoms which can appear at any time for any reason. The car has had the ENTIRE ENGINE replaced at 34k miles because of a problem with an oil leak. Before that transplant I had replaced the clutch at 18K, all the power windows have broken. I have a little pile of plastic peices that have fallen off the ashtrays, seats, and interior which I cant figure out where theyre coming from but they all have the VW logo. Gunther Volkswagon is the best, like nurses in the cancer ward, they are very sypathetic and understanding. This car is Junk..

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  Volkswagens are great - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Kinghaas - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Quick car. Recently purchased a brand new Volkwagen Passat Station Wagon V-6 4motion. Wanted another one, so I bought a used one.

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  not thrilled @ 1st but its growing on me - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lori & Tom - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Sporty, gives us a confident feeling in snow & bad weather. Getting baby in & out out of the back is impressive, as the rear doors open very wide making access amazingly painless! The turbo acceleration takes a while to get used to, theres a measurable hesitation when you really need it. Door locking system, seems to think. If I pull the hatch release button, then dont open it for a few minutes, it thinks I didnt want it to open, thereby, locking it again! The remote buttons are hard to push with big fingers,& even harder in cold weather. Its been in the shop 3 times for various problems, making us leary on its reliability.