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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  The last sensible VAN on this planet - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By Paul Huang - November 14 - 10:00 am

  The following made me choose this old discontinued beast over the Toyota Sienna: Toyota has shiny plastic in the instrumentational which causes specular highlight before 10 AM and after 3PM. EuroVan doesnt hat that stupid decorative panel. four-wheel disc brakes (Toyota only available in XLE: $32,000) third-row EDGE-to-EDGE seating. Not even Suburban has this. Easy (easiest) to get in and out of the passenger compartment.

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  nice ride - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By bobby43 - November 14 - 10:00 am

  this is my 1st vw & i like very much, it has nice ride and quite from inside.

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  Dracula - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By 80sgirl - November 14 - 6:33 am

  As the title of the review states this car has totally sucked the money out of me. So far I have put $1000 in it, but it needs MAJOR repairs...Recently, the air bag light has come on and stayed (checked the code in computer and it disappeared, came back 3 days later, told could be electrical glitch). Passenger door lock switch needs replaced, the relase to shift A/T from park wont work, and now, no brake lights. I HATE this car now but loved it when I got it...It has been a complete NIGHTMARE!!! Major Electrical problems with VWs (read the rest of the reviews)...STAY AWAY or youll be sorry.

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  Good... but... - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bigal11 - November 13 - 12:14 pm

  52k miles. Nice look, cheap interior. Doesnt feel or sound as solid as my German built 13 TDI Golf. Ventilation controls feel frail. No mechanical problems yet but fear of the fuel pump issue lurks. Generally we like the car but wouldnt buy it again. MPGs the same as my traded 08 Civic 5sp, so no advantage using pricy diesel ar paying VW service rates. Particulate filter is a joke. Burning raw fuel without contributing to forward motion hurts efficiency. Whats up with the $12/qt oil? VW owns the arbitrary spec and charges for access to it. Truthfully, I wish I could have my Red 01 Jetta again. Better materials, better MPGs, simpler, better ride and handling qualities.

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  2008s are good buys - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Davrub100 - November 12 - 8:43 pm

  Our first VW was a 2005 VW passat sedan GLS. To the day we turned it in it was fun to drive. But we bought it before children and a family. So in the market for a small SUV or a wagon, we compared the Rav4, CR-V, Volvo V70 and Passat Wagon. So to all the dealerships we brought our car seats, and strollers. We tested every one of the above cars. This test eliminated many other cars not mentioned. Being petite(51") my wife did not like reaching up to put the children in the car seats, after the 2005 Passat the SUVs were not fun to drive. So it came to price between the Volvo and VW. With several 2008s to pick from. I went to the best deal. $4000.00 below invoice. They needed to unload 08s.

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  VW - Never Again - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Millenium - November 12 - 8:16 am

  Since I purchased this car 6 years ago, it has been in for repair at least 4 to 10 times per year, every year (on top of the regular oil changes). Always some electrical problem or oil leak. In the first 3 months all four tires had to be replaced. While the people at the dealer were always friendly and cooperative, they were not forthcoming with detailed answers about any of the mechanical/electrical problems.

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  07 Jetta Wolfsburg Edition - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By usferic - November 11 - 6:20 pm

  I just purchased my VW Jetta. It is the closest to a BMW I will get for a while and so far I love it. It is fun to drive and has tons of features, I am finding new features everyday. So far I love this car. I would definitely recommend it to others looking for a reasonably priced sedan with lots of features.

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  110,000 Miles and still no issues - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By dmateja - November 11 - 12:53 am

  I bought this car new 7 years ago and racked up 110,000 miles. I had a couple minor sensor issues within the first year, and were all covered under the warrenty. Since that first year no major issues.

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  Time will tell - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By marystdi - November 9 - 9:10 am

  I just bought my Passat 2 weeks ago. My husband had been looking for us a new car and trade in our KIA Minivan with 191,000 mi. We travel. Was disappointed in the 3yr 36k mile warranty. Having a Kia was use to the 100K warranty. Shopped several dealerships and decided on the Passat TDI SE. Just to find the right color. Well found a dealer 1 hr away from us that offered a FREE Lifetime warranty on Engine and Transmission. Since we keep our cars a long time this was great. Well 2 weeks and 1000 miles first tank was 41 mpg city and hwy. Have noticed the 51+ on the display screen but we keep our mileages in a book. Love it Room Good Ride and Excellent quality inside and out. Will keep posing

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  1999 VW Beetle (2.0 Engine, GLS, Automatic) - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By hulahips2 - November 8 - 7:43 pm

  Love my buggie!!!!!!!!!! I bought this used with approximately 55,000 miles on it back in 2010. Now my mileage is @ 75,000 and it has held up nicely. My buggie can move when I need it to, stop when I need it too. Suspension is awesome! I can fit into any stall with ease. And i think the quality is top notch (excluding switches, etc.), however, the German glass is top notch, so is the body from rust and the door closes nicely. in fact I really like the way VW makes the doors close, that certain sound it makes! LOL Im truly a VW believer.