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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  Best SUV - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ALONSO - September 14 - 11:50 pm

  No problems at all for 8 months, just one oil change. Lots of power, very good handling and excellent off road delivery.

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  Love this car - never buy gas/oil/smog check again - 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf
  By mrmichaelwill - September 14 - 6:24 pm

  I bought this car January 2015 assuming it is going to be our secondary car. Turns out its so much fun to drive that its used as our primary car, and we use the Honday Oddysee only when we need the extended range going on vacation, need more than 5 seats or transport bikes, or when second adult commutes to near by train station. At the rate it is going we are putting about 12k miles per year on the car, so I am glad I did not lease it. Update: May 2016 we replaced our Honda Odyssey with a Tesla Model X, and now the VW eGolf is our secondary car again. Still we put 25,000 miles on the eGolf in the last two and a half years and it is still a lot of fun to drive. Gas cars are still revving up behind me at the light when the immediate electric torque propels me forward continuously accelerating. My only gripe is that Volkswagen sold me the car with three years of remote phone access car-net service included and then two years in their sales people started harassing me Comcast / SiriusXM style to start paying $15/month for it. They are lying and harder to get rid of than toilet paper stuck to your shoe. Since tesla Model 3 comes out this July and has more range and a more honest business model I will probably trade the car in for that.

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  Update to Previous Posting - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By ATLDriver - September 14 - 1:33 pm

  Just wanted to revise a previous posting I had made earlier in the year. Car had been experiencing jumpiness out of first gear and reverse, and seemed to hop forward when foot was off the accelerator. Sometimes would experience severe lag out from a dead stop. Problematic when merging in to on-coming traffic. Dealer replaced the Mechatronic unit after a 5 week wait for the part and it seems to have resolved any of my issues. Will sometimes experience the lag from a dead stop but not as severe and could be due to having the a/c on in the car. Overall, the car has been great otherwise. Part replaced has a dealer cost of around $1800. Retail would cost for you or I over $3000+.

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  Mid-size alternative - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By cincinnati kid - September 14 - 8:53 am

  The look, the room, the zoom!

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  2003 Jazz Blue Gti 20AE Review - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By DaneFrost - September 13 - 10:00 am

  From the moment you unlock the door til the time you lock it after returning EVERYTHING about this car makes the road a much more enjoyable place to be. The seats cradle you and hold you when the 1.8T engine forces Gs at you. The Sleek design of the interior is just perfection. I really think this could contend for one of the best cars created. This car is a definate way to celebrate the 20th birthday of an amazing car.

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  very satisfied - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Neurodancer - September 13 - 10:00 am

  This is a great all around car -- a great fit and finish, fun to drive and economical

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  2004 VW GLI from thirsty85@hotmail.com - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By thirsty85 - September 13 - 10:00 am

  LOVE this car. Look forward to getting in & driving every day. It handles unbelievably & has a ton of pep. Would recommend highly to friends and have! One of my friends just bought the GLS and she couldnt be happier. Minuteman in Bedford, MA were exceptional to work with!

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  Love this Car! - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By jcostello1 - September 12 - 5:36 pm

  We are a middle class family who searched for mid-size sedan that would be roomy enough for my 6 foot 3 husband, myself and two kids. we have been driving an SUV but i was getting tired of paying so much for gas. I wanted a luxury feel but at a middle class income price. This was the car that fit all those needs. Its huge. Its actually longer and wider then my Ford Edge. The kids and husband have a ton of room. Its really nice to drive, it has that cozy sports feel drive to it. It grips the road like a glove. I love all the techie touches. The stereo system is great with the touch and blue tooth and all the information if gives you on the dash! This car is great.

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  Great Car! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jeff - September 11 - 8:23 am

  This has been a great car. I have over 180,000 miles on it and it still runs like new. I cant believe the gas mileage - 45 MPG and I dont have a light foot. This car is fun to drive it handles well. The only thing that I have done to it is put diesel in and change the oil. I love the torque curve you get with a diesel plenty of power especially on hills. The 5-speed is all so great!

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  As good as a VW gets. - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By gazoo - September 10 - 2:00 am

  This is a complete german car that can compete with any other at a much lower price. It is a fully loaded sedan that still offers a fun ride. The 1.8T engine hadles like a good 4 cyl at low RPMs, but as soon as it gets close to 3000 RMP yo can feel the car pulling. Precise steering and good breaks. The only thing I would change are the tires, They a confortable set of Michellin, but they lack the grip when working the 1.8T