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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  I love this car - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By jannette - September 15 - 10:00 am

  I bought my car new and I am still loving it today. I love the handeling and performance. People stop me all the time and ask me about it.

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  An excellent value - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ernie3 - September 15 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my 99 passat now for almost 2 years and have clocked about 40k miles on it (odometer currently reads a little over 90k) the only problems ive had with it are a failed catalytic converter(totally my fault, i drove the car till gas was empty, still VW replaced for free), leaking engine seal (covered under warranty) and heated side mirrors(this i had to pay for), right now, it seems my cruise control is starting to act up. otherwsie, car is very reliable, considering the mileage , id say this was a really good record. i think some ppl have just been stuck with lemons. too bad we dont hear from more satisfied drivers.

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  Its been great - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rickwar - September 15 - 10:00 am

  Pushing 100,000 miles, no mechanical problems, everything works well, still tight, holding up well.

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  Faster Than It Looks - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Tim Bob - September 15 - 10:00 am

  Our 2001 Turbo Beetle has been a real hoot since day one! Ours has special limited-edition Vortex Blue paint, which seems to get noticed a little more and looks great with its black leather seats. The 150 hp 1.8 liter turbo motor and 5-speed manual really gives the car some punch, to the point that it seems to surprise some other drivers with its quickness. Its especially responsive while at highway speeds and the need to pass or speed up for a traffic opening happens. Response is "right now" in any gear. There no real turbo lag. Its been reliable and is now at 40,000 miles with no major troubles. My wife drives it most and she loves it, too.

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  awesome - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By robert volkman - September 15 - 10:00 am

  the best sport ute ever owned

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  Its my turn to drive!!!! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Bostonian VW - September 15 - 10:00 am

  We now fight over who gets to drive the best car weve purchased so far. Considered other cars at first and after test driving and considering cost/value, this one wins hands down! This is also our first VW and we love the casual style and attentive service of our dealership.

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  FABULOUS! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By artee419 - September 15 - 10:00 am

  The Touareg is a great SUV overall! From all the standard features to the smooth driving and sweet price compared to the Cayenne.

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  Love my bug!!! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By wtchhazle - September 15 - 10:00 am

  Well, to be honest, Ive only owned it for about a month and a half, but I have never loved a car like this one. Its just sooo much fun to drive. Im just thrilled with the purchase of this car. Its a peppy little turbo and simply a blast.

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  Electrical Problems - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Burnt - September 15 - 10:00 am

  This car has refused to start on many occasions since purchase. Five times the dealership has tried repairs without success. VW representatives mouth the company line but never fix any problems. We are demanding the car be taken back and will file a lawsuit if they dont. Other websites indicate there are many electrical problems with VW cars and refusing to start is one of them.

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  Extensive Repairs - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jerry Balat - September 15 - 7:38 am

  I purchased a used 2005 Volkswagen Passat in 2011. In less then 4 years of owning this car, I have spent over 5K in car repairs. Its one thing to fix normal wear and tear, such as replacing breaks, and worn out tires, but to replace the engine mounts, hinges on the trunk, the window panel,screws on the door which somehow fell off, replaced the air pump which had water in it, had work done on the sunroof which seemed to have issues closing and lastly, have a ongoing loud engine sound at the start of the car.