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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  AutoBahn quality - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Johnny - June 12 - 7:46 pm

  Very satisfied and wild on the car. Almost like sports luxury when you drive it. Needs a bit more performance but has alot of potential and style.

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  200 HP V-6 is a winner - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By trillium - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I kept waiting for "buyers regret" to set in and it hasnt. The torque the engine provides pulls all the way to redline and the six speed manual gives you all the choices you need to keep you entertained. The car has the added benefit of not attracting undue attention from the local police. Having ESP (stability control) instead of ASR (plain old traction control) is a big benefit for Minnesota winters.

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  Awesome Passat "love those Germans" - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rick Snider - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Great car! We have only had it a month but it is awesome on the road and it has all the bells and whistles. Firm ride with great handling and low end tourque. Monsoon stereo is great! The dash lights up red and blue at night. Its a great look.

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  mb - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By mab - June 12 - 2:00 am

  What a pleasure to drive! Smooth, quiet, and very peppy. Gear ratio is great in traffic or on the highway. The ride is comfortable but I would not put anyone in the back seat for any distance. Lots of fun and perfect size for virtually every errand.

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  VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI 52 mpg - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rp4042 - June 10 - 4:46 pm

  I bought this car on July 30 2013 and wish I had bought it sooner. I love this vehicle. the only gripe I have is the odometer is not constantly displayed in the speedometer, rather you have to page through a display screen to read it. Volkswagen claims 42mpg on the highway but I get 52 mpg with 60% highway and 40% city driving as long as you keep the rpms below 2,000 rpms. this is with the automated manual transmission. my best for those conditions was 55.4 mpg. as far as some people saying the interior looks cheap I beg the differ it is not flashy like some other cars but certainly not cheap. this car is a joy to drive on winding roads.

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  Great thus far - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By fmrporscheguy - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Have had this car for a full 3 months, and its met or exceeded my expectations. So far no unscheduled trips to the dealership, which is good. Being that this is a "performance" German car, you have to know it will need regular maintenance. The engine is adequate, though not at all inspiring. Does a decent job of moving along when pushed. Int design is very nice. Leatherette works great w/o worry of ruining it with wet beach shorts, sun damage, or regular wear and tear (look at pics of older models and seats still look new). Center tunnel is a tad narrow and would be nice if it were carpeted. I think ext looks nicer than Passat sedan. Audi-esque front grill is great!

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  Perfect...Except "Wheres the 48MPG"...??? - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
  By kksdad - June 7 - 11:52 pm

  Our Jetta Hybrid will be a year old next month, my wifes the primary driver and she loves it, but, I LOVE it more, and enjoy driving it so much whenever she "lets me"...!!! dont be fooled by the fact this is a "hybrid", VW has "done it right" with great handling, performance and fuel economy (that cold be BETTER..more details below...) for a car that we are happy to own and have NO regrets in buying. Our 16 yo daughter "cant wait" to get her hands on it when she starts to drive..."in her dreams"....!!!

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  Everyone should own a beetle - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Animalia26 - June 6 - 11:10 pm

  The VW Beetle is a great little car. It combines fuel economy with performance & legendary VW handling. The crash test data speaks for itself. (One of the safest small cars I could find) All you need to do is go test drive one and you will be hooked. I drove mine and I fell in love. Good things come in small packages :)

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  Quick, Solid, and Fun - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By P.G. - June 5 - 3:00 pm

  The VW Jetta has a r responsive and refined engine with little turbo lag. I love the smooth shifting 6-speed DSG transmission. This car is very steady at high speeds. It has a high quality, quiet interior. I like how all of the buttons are illuminated. It has a very thoughtful design. Mine is white with Pkg. 1 and 2.

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  Love this car - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Shawn - June 5 - 3:26 am

  Everything about this car is just awesome. But the most important thing is the turbocharged 2.0 engine, boy it really flies without any turbo lag. Love the ride!