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:
Showing 6091 through 6100 of 13,910.00-
2010 Jetta LE - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
By troverman - August 11 - 7:23 amBought this car to replace my 2000 Jetta GLS. The 5-cylinder engine is very smooth and has plenty of power, especially above 3000 RPM. The 5-speed in this car is light years ahead of the 5-speed in my old Jetta, in terms of shift feel. The car, for the money, really is beautiful inside and out. Very high-quality, well designed interior, nice paint and tight panel gaps on the outside. Lots of features you wont get on any other car in this class, like auto up-down windows on every window, nice switchblade key fobs, standard heated seats. I really love this car.
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Passat 1.8 GLS - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
By pawwap - August 10 - 11:56 amAfter 1 month of ownership, all is superb. The bad rap that VW has often had has not been the case with me. Great deal, good dealer experience and the car is great to drive. Plenty of room for 4 adults; interior quality is excellent. The "leatherette" is very well done. I love getting in this car every day. It handles wonderfully and is a joy to drive. With a new Passat on the way, the current models are being dealt on, and they are going to have to go pretty far to improve on this model.
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Love my Tiguan, But... - 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
By john hibbard - August 10 - 7:59 amReplaced water pump at 64,000 miles,$1,000. Replaced trailing arms at 60,000 mile, $1,000. Facing oil leak cost exceeding $1,000. Brakes are not worn, but feels like rotors are warped. Disappointed that I am incurring these costs at c. 60,000 miles. Still, it is a joy to drive. Considering trading it in for a low mileage 2014-2015 Tiguan. Ex-Audi A4 driver with similar disappointing history of repair costs. And yet...this is a beautiful little SUV
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Great Sedan - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
By big_guy - August 9 - 3:06 amI have only owned my Passat for 6 months but really love it. It handles great and provides the two most important features for me . . . lots of head room and lots of leg room. Im 6-7" tall and dont fit into a lot of vehicles but the Passat definitely fits the bill.
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A car that you can have fun with - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
By rainer - August 8 - 2:50 pmI have had this car now for almost a month. I have driven 2,675 miles. I It handles like a charm. There is no excess lean in corners. In rain or shine it sticks to the road like it is on rails. I am waiting for the winter and snow. My fuel mileage so far has been 22 mpg - city, 31.5 mpg - highway, avg. 27.2. I am using the Triptronic when I first start the car and drive in that mode it gives me better gas mileage. After the car has warmed up, I switch to standard auto. I also use Tiptronic in the city for the same reason.
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Sweet car - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
By Rieger1.8t - August 8 - 2:00 amReally nice car, very fast, fun to drive. Roomy interior for a 2 dr. Reliable, great features. Sporty car for half the price of most.
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Good Car - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
By dP3 - August 8 - 2:00 amThe Golf is fun to drive, it has however some reliability flaws, according to many people, I have not experienced any, yet (knock on wood.) The pricier models have nice amenities, the stereo sounds good (serious audio buffs might want to change a thing or two.) and the engine responds nicely. The front part of the interior has space, and theres enough space for people in the back. However, if youre looking for a more trunk space, you might want to consider a Jetta (same chassis and everything, but added space.)
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Wish I could get rid of this POC - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
By Unhappy Jetta Owner - August 8 - 2:00 amVarious problems...last of which was a crack in the engine block, which renders car undriveable until entire engine replaced...cost for this would be $2500 (for a USED ENGINE); $7100 new. Car is not even worth that. -fuel nozzle flap retainer falling into the fuel filler neck a few weeks after buying the car. Fuel tank replaced. -CEL (Check engine light) started coming on (on and off). Dealer said that they did not put the fuel tank on correctly. Fuel tank replaced again. -Rear breaks wore out very early. Same with tires. CEL comes on AGAIN. This time, they replaced the Mass Air Flow sensor.
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VW Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
By Dublin Hawk - August 8 - 2:00 amIf you can get by the funny name, the Touareg is well designed midsize SUV. The interior is comfortable and has a lot of standard features that were options on other SUVs that I looked at. It handles the snow without any difficulty, and rides like a dream on the open highway. If it does have a downside it is its fuel mileage. This is the SUV I picked after test drives in the Lexus RX330 and Infiniti FX35 since the price was the same and I felt I got more for my money with the Touareg.
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Great Sedan - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
By Ivonne Brown - August 8 - 2:00 amYes, after looking and test drive some japanes car such as nissan honda, mitsubishi and mazda. The winner was german car Passat. The classic lines and desing, the interiors and ergonomics. The small turbo 1.8 engine is agile and very responsive for a four cylinder.
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Volkswagen Atlas 41 Reviews
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Volkswagen Beetle 29 Reviews
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Volkswagen Cabrio 124 Reviews
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Volkswagen CC 350 Reviews
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Volkswagen e-Golf 17 Reviews
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Volkswagen EOS 252 Reviews
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Volkswagen Eurovan 94 Reviews
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Volkswagen Golf 608 Reviews
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Volkswagen GTI 1,003 Reviews
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Volkswagen Jetta 4,495 Reviews
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Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid 9 Reviews
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Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN 89 Reviews
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Volkswagen New Beetle 1,368 Reviews
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Volkswagen Passat 3,322 Reviews
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Volkswagen Phaeton 137 Reviews
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Volkswagen R32 199 Reviews
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Volkswagen Rabbit 331 Reviews
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Volkswagen Routan 150 Reviews
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Volkswagen Tiguan 313 Reviews
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Volkswagen Touareg 979 Reviews