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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  From BIG to small - 2015 Volkswagen Golf
  By kruby2 - August 28 - 11:19 am

  I was tired of pumping gas for my LX570 2 times per week so i made a big move or shall i say a small move.I always liked my daughters 2008 rabbit and have loved diesels in the past so i sold the suv and bought the golf. What a great car to drive. it is so responsive and fun. I am 65" and cannot have the seat all of the way back. I have more legroom than in the big LX. Go drive one, you will love it. my first tank took me 500 miles of mostly city and some highway driving. I am impressed. They look great too.

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  just like the others - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By debbe - August 27 - 9:33 pm

  No different than any other vehicle. You pay for what you get and sometimes you get less than what you pay for.

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  Sporty looking car but lacks some key features - 2017 Volkswagen CC
  By RK - August 27 - 6:02 pm

  2017 CC R-Line Executive car is really sporty looking stylish car. Seats are comfortable. Being closeout model year for 2017, they are priced aggressively to sell by some dealers. I wanted to point out that some must have features at this price range are missing. Blind spot monitoring, Rear cross traffic alerts, Home link/Home Connect features are missing.

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  Instant Gratification - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By alyslever - August 27 - 4:36 pm

  Im a 21 year old girl that always wanted a VW Jetta. Little did i know, they suck! After the first week of having it my front bumper started falling off. My car has been in the shop since day 1. I love the way the car looks but its not the most practical car. Ive had so many problems such as, catalytic converter, trans, alternator, belts, a/c, ABS, etc. The inside of the car is junk. Everything falls off or apart. Have fun if you decide to buy this car!

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  Awesome Car - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mohamed - August 27 - 7:11 am

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  Dump this car after 100k - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By astrivian - August 27 - 4:54 am

  I bought a 2006 Jetta TDI that had endless problems right off of the lot. A week after buying it, the car would choke and lose all power. I took it in, they said they fixed it, and it happened again, and around and around we went. Finally i told the dealer i wanted a new car for free and they could take the lemon. It took the BBB to finally get me a new car. It was great until we hit 130k on the odo. Once we crossed this mark we spent $1,200 fixing a hissing sound, $900 trying to fix some engine light problem (which didnt fix it, go figure). Two months later the turbo went out ($3000). Did not fix turbo, not worth it, dumped the car. Last one i will buy

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  Great long-term vehicle! - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By kaper - August 27 - 2:10 am

  I bought my manual trans V6 Passat almost 10 years ago and have to say its been a great car overall. There have been few unexpected repairs but the repairs I have had to make have been expensive. The car has a peppy V6 engine that gets great gas mileage (low 30s on the highway). My wife describes my Passat as "smooth in every aspect". Ive been happy with the quality of the engine and body. The interior controls have a quality feel but many of the buttons, knobs and cupholders have failed or begun to become unreliable. Overall the positives of the vehicle far out way its issues and I hope to drive my Passat for many more miles!

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  Transmission Nightmare! - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By R Ives - August 26 - 9:56 pm

  I loved this car when I first purchased it. At about 500 miles, the transmission started to buck and loose power accelerating into traffic. Dealer could not find the problem. The problems started getting worse until it was jerking an shaking when backing or proceeding slowly. After numerous complaints they finally replaced the Mechtronic unit. That fixed it for about another 100 miles. Now its starting all over again. Ive had 3 situations where the car lost transmission power while proceeding into traffic. I wouldnt recommend the automatic to anyone.

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  one owner TDI - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dave - August 26 - 10:13 am

  This car was chosen for size and mpg. Best mpg has been 56 and 36 is the lowest. Performance is suprisingly good with 1 or 2 adults in car. Add 2 more in the back seat and they will be suprised at the space, but driver needs to reconsider passing on two-lane roads. This car does hold its speed very well on the interstate. Climbs mountains as if they are ant hills. As long as the glow plug relay gets the right signal, this car starts like a champ on sub-zero mornings.

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  Nice Car! - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By jim - August 26 - 3:16 am

  I just bought my first VW and it is a 2006 New GTI (2.0 turbo). I am very impressed by the handling and performance of this car and would highly recommend it to others. It is fun to drive, decent on gas, has pleny of leg room, and it is FAST! I test drove one last week and when I came back home I made the decision to go out and by this car the next day. I have no regrets.