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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  Golf - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By dleecycles - October 21 - 10:00 am

  This is a super fun drive. Lots of interior room with the seats down. The car gets pretty good gas mileage.

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  2000 Jetta - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SpotsChicago - October 21 - 10:00 am

  My favorite car Ive ever owned so far. Id keep it indefinitely (unusual for me) if the gas mileage was better. Id return to VW if they can get the mileage up!

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  this car is great - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By jennifermayo - October 21 - 10:00 am

  The customer service at the dealer was horrendous, the sales manger crunched on a candy bar as he half- assed explained my warranty and the such, but ut was such an awesome car in that I had to get the car. I bought itused and I have never had any problems with it. It only has 30k miles on it and it has just hit its stride. It is great car and it habdles excellently.. The interior has clean lines and is simply elegant, not flashy- similiar to interior of a BMW.

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  A MUST SUV - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By sgbst9 - October 21 - 10:00 am

  I must admit people look at this car on the road. It gets plenty of attention. Its unique looks and sleek style def. turns heads. This car does not dissapoint. If youre in the market for a quality SUV which is not common place on the road..you must consider this SUV!!I

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  Ich liebe mine Jetta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Thomas Witte - October 21 - 10:00 am

  Two words, "Love it". I was going to go with the base model 2.0 or the 1.8T but after test driving this wolf in sheeps clothing I knew what I had to do. I get the biggest kick out of people pulling up next to my unassuming Jetta and revving their engines. The next thing you know Im doing 40 MPH and just getting ready to shift into second. :) All the while I can hear them behind me struggling to keep up. The accelleration in the GLI is quite surprising. Be it first gear off the line, or third gear while getting on the highway... Just try it, youll love it.

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  3939329209 - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Ayana - October 21 - 10:00 am

  this vehicle is great for everyone from teens to adults excellent car A++++

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  Ethans Bug Forever! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Sherry Trail - October 21 - 10:00 am

  I bought my VW about a month ago. My son just loves it. Its new name is Herbie. Its his favorite car in the world. I just love everything about it. It rides like most luxury cars I have rode in. Its very comfortable to drive. Im a small person and I just love to ride and drive it.

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  04 was a bad year - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Lars - October 21 - 8:10 am

  We love the way our Touareg rides, drives and handles, but hate the reliability, and gremlins in the electrical system that we have experienced over the two years we have owned it.

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  Lovin this little car - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By neweosfan - October 20 - 3:56 am

  Ive had my Eos 3 mos and really enjoy this car. Comments: the top is amazing - attention getter - same as on much pricier models - mine works great & used a lot. Moon roof great & huge for the car, handles on mountain roads well. Light car, acceleration to spare, good brakes, fun! Quiet ride (top up), sound system good for the price. Lots of people stop me to compliment/ask about this car - really. And I live in a car lovin town. That was a surprise. Glad I saved that BMW money and got this sweet little ride. Love it - recommend it highly. Fun, good-looking, great convertible top. One thing, got hit in drivers door. No repair parts are avail., so slow to get Euro parts at plant.

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  VW is King. - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By VW Fan - October 19 - 9:23 pm

  Blue Anthracite/Beige Leather 2002 GLX 4Motion. I got her for $28,000, including TTT, from VW South in Charlotte, NC. Living in Washington, DC, theres a big market for Passats, and was having a hard time locating a dealer that a) knew the VW products, b) was willing to treat their customer decently, and c) was willing to haggle on price. None of the VW dealers I met over the past two months fulfilled these three traits. So, I went to Charlotte, NC, to visit family, and went to the local VW dealer. I couldnt have had a more pleasant experience with the salesmen/finance managers/service dept. Im now sold on VW and Audi. Edmunds, many thanks for giving me a heads up on pricing.