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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  This car is HOT - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rebecca - February 16 - 1:03 am

  The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta GLI does a great job of mixing a "responsible" 4-door sedan with a fast, sporty car. This is my second VW Jetta, the last being a 2002 1.8T. The redesign on the Jetta was superb, although the 2.5 I test drove didnt have enough pickup for me. The GLI did the trick, and then some. This car is FAST, and I love to drive it! I love that it is a 6-speed, too--not that I ever have much occassion to get there. But it is a heck of a lot of fun! VW makes a quality car and Im a customer for life.

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  45000 miles and still turbos like new - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By SouthJerseyVWFan - February 13 - 2:00 am

  At 45,000 miles I have had zero problems with the car. The car came with zero defects. I have the car serviced per VW spec (cost is not unreasonable). The fit and finish is superb (inside and out). Looks great and drives great. The engine is smooth, powerful and economical. The ride is awesome. The five speed transmission is a blast (would be 20% more fun if it had a six speed).

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  Jetta 1.8T - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JKandJR - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Just a lot of fun, we liked that we got more features then on most cars in this price range. Also the tiptronic is great, he gets the feel of a stick shift, I get the ease of an automatic.

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  Jettas are the best - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bob the builder - February 13 - 2:00 am

  It is a wonderful car and i love it very much

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  love my car - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By kvarias - February 13 - 2:00 am

  enjoying any time w/my beetle

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  my 13th VW - the best ever - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Allan - February 12 - 11:03 pm

  Comfortable to drive, Turbo gives great kick. Gas mileage 33-34. Since Apr 04 never been back to the dealer for problem. The trunk handles almost everything with back seats down. Fit and finish is superb.

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  Fun and Practical - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By ECONROY - February 12 - 9:50 pm

  You dont see a bunch of these on the road, probably because the price is above others in this class. But for those who enjoy driving and want the utility of a hatchback and a small car that zips in and out of tight spaces, this car fills the bill and then some. My wife says it has "scootability". Ignore stats on power and weight. This 200 HP turbo MOVES this car and you feel it. We got package #2 with leather in tornado red. Yesterday we got a Pioneer AVIC- Z2 with nav and music hard drive installed and component speakers. For under $30,000 weve put together a car my wife and I hate to get out of.

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  Surprised By A Beetle - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Extremely Satisfied - February 12 - 11:33 am

  I did a ton of research before settling on this car. I am not disappointed. As soon as it was in my hands, my wife and I took a 1,000 mile trip. We left for a week and brought our two bags, overnight bag, my laptop w/ case, and Christmas presents AND our bedding for a cabin stay over New Years. It swallowed all of this plus more from my wifes parents. All the while, it got 33mpg hwy. Thats 478 miles of range on regular 87 octane. If you can find a TDI, get it. But this is and should be the #2 choice. The 2.0 liter motor is a revver. I never once thought it needed more power. With its full load, it pulled the Grapevine at 72mph easily. It is roomy and comfortable too.

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  The Wolfsberg Edition Sedan - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By CBraish - February 12 - 11:03 am

  Ive driven Mercedes, BMW, Dodge, Chevrolet, and even a Nissan but this car is the best EVER. It handles like Mercedes, is faster than a BMW, and costs as much as a VW. It is so quiet and comfortable, and it is huge. Im 61" and I can sit in the back seat comfortably. You could by an Audi A4 (Which I consider the only real competitor) but for 2/3 the price, Ill take the Passat. I did buy this new and I have 17,000 Miles now.

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  2.0T & DSG - best combination! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Pogi - February 11 - 6:30 am

  We absolutely love this car! This is my wife’s car but I try to make excuses everyday just to drive it. The 2.0T engine is fabulous! No turbo lag and handling is great. DSG is amazing! I am not sure why high end cars don’t have DSG. This will be the benchmark for sequential gear boxes and the future of changing gears. The finish is fantastic. VW has put the fun back in the Jetta. Reliability is still a question mark. Hopefully VW fixed this issue. Overall, this car is a sensation! Should you get one? You bet you should.