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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  Love It! - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By Hossman - July 13 - 6:20 pm

  Just getting into our 2003 Eurovan. It was a VW executive use here in Canada. It only has 12,000 km on it so time will tell. First impressions are, there isnt a vehicle on the market here in Canada that even comes close to this in build quality. Superb!

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  Jetta TDI owner for 21 days - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By St. Louis Jetta Girl - July 13 - 8:00 am

  This is the first car I have owned that isnt American. I struggled to find a happy medium with price, high fuel mileage & satisfaction with the size/interior of a new car. My Ford was 10 years old & I wanted the next car to last that long. After lots of online research & many test drives, I wanted a 09 Jetta TDI in theory, but needed to drive one once they hit the street. It was love at first drive. The car is substantial, feels solid, not much noise & I dont feel like Im driving a tin-can. Other cars get similar mileage, but dont have the "pep," feel as safe or have the quality. The standard equipment is great. I love my Jetta TDI & Im working on my guilt for not buying American.

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  Dont pass up a chance to drive one! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By spockcat - July 12 - 10:00 am

  This car is FAR, FAR superior to the 99 ML430 I traded in. The ride is absolutely awesome and smooth with the air suspension in comfort mode or nimble and quick in sport mode. The comfort of the Nappa leather is fantastic. The 310 hp Audi 40 valve V8 makes this a super highway cruiser. This is by far the best value SUV being sold today. These features in an Audi would cost you $10k more, and $20k more in the Porsche Cayenne.

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  We love our new Touareg! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By steve maller - July 12 - 10:00 am

  We get more looks and positive comments in this car than any other car weve ever driven. The car is a great value, and we couldnt be more pleased.

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  Love that TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AGB - July 12 - 9:50 am

  A great car all around. Drives great and very reliable. Comfortable on the inside; I like to haul things and there is plenty of room for that with the seats knocked down. The sound system is great. I am happy with engine and fuel economy but I only wish they would improve the engine to perform like the European models - more power for the same fuel economy. I would recommend it to anyone.

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  Far Exceeds My Expectations - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By triumphguy - July 12 - 8:30 am

  I wanted to test drive the new Passat because I had read so much about it in the car mags and on line. The Fender sound system and interior space intrigued me, and I was not disappointed. This car is huge inside, and it actually has an upscale feel in SEL Premium trim. I feel like I have a less expensive luxury car instead of a tricked out midlevel sedan.

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  This is no cotton tail - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Texas - July 12 - 12:23 am

  Have owned this car several years and its reliability is excellent. Did test drive several others before making this purchase. Drive 60 mile round trip to work road control is amazing. Ave around 28 mpg. I agree you have to watch it or you will be speeding, I tell everybody this is no cotton tail this is a jack rabbit. I have had no trouble so far with performance of any- kind.

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  Fun car. - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By lubdosedubs - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new in 2000 and have had it for over 10 years now. Other than a few dings, the body still looks great and the interior is fresh. It goes like stink and handles extremely well, yet is comfortable for long distance driving. The only niggling problem I have had is the airbags; have fixed them 3 times and now the light is on again.....

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  Love this car - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By Amy - July 10 - 10:00 am

  No mods and Im terrible at maintenance. I pay about $1000 every other year on maintenance, usually get get rid of the check engine light. Love the car. Im going to keep it as long as it keeps going. I cant find another car with all the features this has. Manual is the way to go. Even as a used car I would recommend. Quite reliable.

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  It is spacious inside! - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Anna - July 10 - 10:00 am

  For a long time, I didnt think this car would offer enough space, so I didnt bother to look at it. I considered Subaru Outback, Volvo, and simply did not bother to check what this car has to offer. Turned out, it was just what I needed! Rear seats slide forward to offer more cargo space, the leatherette trim is easy to clean and didnt cost any extra (for 2011 model), the AWD is just fantastic. The car drives like butter, and is quiet. My previous Jetta was just the opposite. Lots of annoying, unnecessary beeping sounds. The Tiguan is smarter, it knows not to beep when I unbuckle on a parking lot! And for all the moms out there - there is plenty of space