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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  Perfect 10!!!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Gadancegirl - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Best car ever! Love everything about it!

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  Very Happy So Far - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Jetta Upgrade - March 11 - 8:03 am

  I have put the first 500 miles on my GTI and so far I am very happy with it. The car drives extremely well; a lot of pick-up and very smooth gear changes. The ride is a little stiff, especially on city streets, but not prohibitive. I dont have any problems with rattles or the radio, which I think sounds great! My only complaints are the iPod adapter - not super user friendly. The seats could be more adjustable - I am petite. It could use more storage space in the armrest and the price of premium gas. But overall, it is fun to drive, and it feels safe on the road and quite luxurious.

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  love my Rabbit - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Becki - March 9 - 9:56 pm

  This is my 2nd VW. We drove one in Europe and loved it. The Rabbit has a huge fun factor; only thing I really miss is a sunroof. The gas mileage is good but could be better Im sure.

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  Love it! So cute! - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By u2dan - March 9 - 10:00 am

  I am over 6 feet 1 inches tall. Everyone laughed because I am so big in a small car, but there is a ton of room. I sat in the back seat and could easily move around and had leg room! The car is super fun to drive on the highway and great for weaving in and out of traffic. The ride is so smooth and SO quiet, i couldnt believe it. The pick up is great too, very powerful little car. I feel like I am driving around in a nightclub when I got some good music going on.

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  Zippy Rabbit - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Kyle - March 9 - 6:13 am

  Ive been researching cars for months and when VW finally came out with specs for the new Rabbit I was very excited. The test drive sealed the deal. This car has a lot of pep, handles extremely well, and is just an overall blast to drive. The car is very solid -- pretty much every aspect of the car gives that impression clearly. You get a lot of car for your money in this model, theres no question.

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  Great Car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Brian - March 9 - 3:16 am

  My 2006 Jetta TDI gets amazing gas mileage and is a fun car to drive, however - having driven stick shift my whole life, Ive never had a car come out of first gear with as much difficulty as this one.

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  Awesome "upgrade" car! - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jenndr81 - March 7 - 6:46 am

  I recently upgraded from a Mazda 3s sedan to my Jetta SEL. I am very pleased with all the features you get at the lower 20k price tag! The drive is so smooth with this car. My mom has a A4 Audi and the Jetta provides a very similar driving experience. Some features that are included in the SEL are sunroof, leather seats, upgraded superior sound system, 6 disc CD player, Sirius satellite radio with 3 months free subscription, pretty red lights shining down from front ceiling and blue lights in the instrument panel and music player, huge trunk with inside trunk release as a safety precaution. The Jetta also comes with a 5 star crash test rating. A lot of thought went into building this car.

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  A decade Plus and still tickin - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By R. Lee - March 6 - 5:12 am

  This VW was the first year for the redesign. The engine in my opinion sounds great. Reporters have stated it "sounded rough". Nonsense! The engine and exhaust were designed by Lamborghini designers for that very reason. The transmission performs very well and can be shifted manually. The ride is somewhat Sports Sedan-ish and it handles almost like one. Very competent on the road, straight or twisting. It inspires confidence. Overall, the car is a winner in my opinion. (Many years ago, I used to race cars and am familiar with those characteristics that make a car road worthy and "fun to drive), this car fills that bill to a tee. ENJOY!!!

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  Excellent Car - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By loschios16 - March 5 - 2:00 am

  Fun, reliable, safe, comfortable... this car has everything its competators dont. It has all of the features of more expensive cars for much less.

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  55,000 Happy Miles! - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By passate - March 5 - 2:00 am

  I love my Passat. When I was shopping for a vehicle, I thought that I wanted a Honda Accord because of reliability. But the passat had only one problem... a burned turn signal bulb... Thats it! really impressed with this car! The german solid feel and the expensive look is a great feeling! After two years and 55k miles Im still enjoy driving the car... This is a drivers car...