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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  V W Diesel Jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michelle Croxton - December 31 - 10:00 am

  This car is so enjoyable to drive and ride in. The comfort is great. I have the turbo diesel and this is truly the best car I have ever had. I am averaging about 45 to 50 mpg. I traded in a Nissan Maxima and the Jetta blows that car off the road. For this car only to have 4 cylinders, there is no problem with the car not having power. I get compliments on it every day.

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  Jetta GLI 1.8T - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michaels GLI - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Bought my Jetta GLI 1.8T a month ago and I have put on 1500 wonderfully fun miles so far. I absolutely love this car and am thrilled that I decided on it over the others I was considering. I was a bit concerned about VW reliability and post sale treatment by the VW dealership, but after doing a lot of research it appears that all of the bugs that were in this generation (MK4) of Jetta have been worked out. I also felt comfortable that this dealership would continue to treat me well. It appears that VW is making efforts to improve their customer satisfaction ratings. Just do yourself a favor and drive the car, youll understand why I bought one.

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  buy it - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By JBo - December 31 - 6:13 am

  Awesome car! Fuel economy is a plus, although the potential to have fun and drive this car aggressively doesnt help fuel economy. I dont miss my Audi A6 quattro one bit. In the first month I drove from Durham NC to Florida for the hoidays and felt safe sailing along I95 with big rigs, SUVs and countless bad drivers. I got waves, smiles and only stopped for diesel once on the way down - about 500 miles into the trip. I wouldnt want to sit in the back seat for too long, but I had plenty of room for all my xmas presents on the way home!! Go for it, you know you want one!

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  Great Value - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By joan - December 30 - 8:36 pm

  I love this car, it has such a smooth quiet ride. I love all the tech features, the blind spot monitoring, and rear view camera, the Android auto play. Ive had the car only for about 2 months, and about 6 thousand miles. So far no complaints. Also gas mileage is reasonable - about 34 mpg on average.

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  Well Designed - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By CC Rider - December 29 - 11:30 pm

  I started looking at this car because of its looks and also I like the idea of having a coupe-like sedan. The most impressive things about my CC so far is the build quality, the attention it receives and the fuel economy (avg 28).

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  Dont Listen to the NaySayers - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By turboDan - December 27 - 6:16 pm

  In all honesty, Im surprised. Being a Chevy fan all my life, we bought this car primarily for my wife and Im actually jealous. Like every other vehicle Ive owned, there are its problems but the dealer has satisfied our every repair and maintenance need and more. Vacuum lines went at 90k and our water pump just went out at 120k. We bought it with 68k. Ive done almost all the maintenance myself without difficulty. The engine is super strong for its size (zips past most vehicles on the freeway) and its just perfect for a small family like ours. Gas mileage can suffer if you like the gas pedal like me, but we still average 24 mpg. I still have a Chevy, but my next car will be a VW.

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  Favorite Car Ive Owned - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By enviro_freak - December 27 - 8:26 am

  I had an 03 VW diesel wagon that was crashed to the point it was not repairable. The fact that everybody in the car was safe was the main reason that I bought this car (06 VW TDI sedan - no more wagons for 06!?. The second reason was the fuel economy. The torque/power at takeoff is great and the car is fun to drive. The resale of these cars (diesel, TDI engine) is amazing. Even without the government subsidized tax credits, this car is a much better purchase than the hybrids, such as a Prius.

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  Very Happy- VW Golf TDI - 2013 Volkswagen Golf
  By hamahowa - December 27 - 6:48 am

  I purchased this car back in November 2013 to replace a 2002 Acura TL. Very happy I did. The fuel economy is outstanding- averaging 34 MPG with about 95% city driving. Easily getting over 42 MPG on the highway. Huge upgrade from the 20 MPG I was getting from the Acura. The ride comfort is amazing considering the small wheel base. The seats are outstanding and incredibly comfortable on long trips. The engine is smooth but gets a little loud when pressed hard. Not a big deal. The paddle shifters are fun to use allow for quick passing maneuvers when needed. The DSG transmission is great and works very well. I usually prefer manual transmissions but this one is just that good.

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  Love the Touareg - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ellie - December 26 - 6:30 am

  Consumer Reports gave the Touareg V6 low ratings. Their reviews citing "sluggishness" do not consider the tiptronic shifting or "superdrive" options. It is not a racecar, but its performance is more than adequate. Also, I get 19-20mpg in 7,500-8,700ft mountainous terrain using high quality oil; its as good or better than comparable SUVs. Ice and snow on steep hills -- no problem; the Toureg outperforms our Subaru Outback on ice because of the locking differential and torque. The heated seats sure do help on cold mornings. For driving performance, there is very little lean around corners; I feel safe while driving and would recommend this truck to anyone.

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  Fun and Fuel Efficient - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tdilover3 - December 26 - 12:55 am

  I have 13,000 miles on my 2012 Jetta. This is my third Jetta and my second TDI. I love this car. It is amazing for the money. I drive 55 miles everyday in mixed driving in this car, and I have fun the entire time. It only costs me $90 a month in fuel to drive this amazing car. It has power for days, the torque is amazing. It handles great and has plenty of space. I have two kids in car seats, no space issues. I love this car and I plan to keep it forever.