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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  Love this car! - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By kalba - November 15 - 9:53 pm

  I bought this car a year ago with 100,000 miles on it expecting that with mileage like that, it may need some maintenance and repairs. I have driven it about 17000 miles and all I have had to do is change the oil and give her a tune up. It really hasnt given me any major trouble and it is so much fun to drive. My advice would be to shop carefully and find one that appears to have been well taken care of. I looked at at least 10 of these before I chose this one. It seems to be one of those cars that young drivers beat the heck out of and cant or dont take care of them properly so there are a lot of used/abused cabbies out there. But when you find a good one, grab it. You wont regret it

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  Very nice and Economical - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rich - November 15 - 11:40 am

  My typical around town mileage is about 35, on a trip to Maine it was 42 so it easily lives up to its mileage claims. Comfortable, accelerates well into traffic on entrance ramps and from stop signs, thats all I want I have a Jag XK8 for the stop light derby. The sound system is great, the glass roof makes the interior very nice and bright. The DSG transmission shifts remarkably smoothly, I can hear the engine change RPM but there is no noticeable "bump or pause" at shift points.

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  Weird car - 2014 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By katherine3333 - November 15 - 3:42 am

  This car is the "compromise" for those who want decent gas milage and a wagon without breaking the bank. Be prepared to be uncomfortable in the small, hard seats as get your 40 MPG. And it is LOUD, a noise that music can not drown out. Oh well...gotta give to get.

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  Fun to drive, and Low cost to operate - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mbielick - November 15 - 3:03 am

  I was looking for a low cost to operate vehicle, and I was not impressed with the hybrids. I bought this car, and was amazed by the fun-to-drive aspect of it. The huge amount of torque available from the engine gives you a lot more zip than you would expect from a diesel. Highway cruising is great, with barely 2,400 RPM turning at 70 MPH. Although I have only driven the car 5,000 miles to date, there has been nothing wrong with the car, and Im getting over 47 MPG each time I fill.

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  2010 Golf TDI - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Steve - November 13 - 4:10 pm

  One of the best cars out there for the money, the performance, the gas mileage is great Im getting 38.5 mpg around town the and the interior is top notch. Anybody out there looking for a car with great styling, an excellent interior, and has awesome performance while getting great gas mileage should give this car a try you cant go wrong.

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  Unreliable - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By DonM04 - November 13 - 2:00 am

  The electrical system in the Passat is terrible. The ignition coils took it out of service for a week. The radio (monsoon) died. Both headlights, one at a time died. Handling is heavy with pronouced understeer. Turbo lag is ever present below 3000 rpms. This is my 3rd, and final, VW product.

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  Low-reliability car. - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By babalooo - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle has had numerous problems from a blown manual trans, to engine, drive train, emissions, problems, you name it. Pure crap car: poor engineering, poor materials, poor design, just plain poor overall. Everyone else I know that has a VW has the same problem. VW will not fix these know generic problems like trans seal, broken locks, etc. Never again!!!

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  The Bug I Had To Have - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Meillasdad - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I kick myself everyday for buying this car. It was so cute, that I didnt think before purchasing. It has given me problem after problem. My interior is peeling too. I have replace countless sensors. I now have a EC... sensor going bad. My gas cap release only periodically works. The paint chips easily, however, it still looks really nice with red colour wax. I needed a new throtle assembly last month, $1000 installed. I have put $3000 in three months. Time for new car, eh?

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  Best SUV for the $$$ - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By subzero - November 13 - 2:00 am

  If you want a quality, power, quietness this car is for you...Do not get the V6, spend the money and get the V8...overall better return when you sell the car, and one of the fastest SUVs on the road...Considered LexusRX330, what a dog, if you are over 50 get a LEXUS, if you want great fun, power and luxury get a V8 Toureg..Also considered InfinitiFX45, what a bumpy ride, and a cheap build interior..finally, looked at CAYENNE V6 (base model), Toureg V8 has double the option and 15K cheaper...if you have the money and must get a CAYENNE than get the Turbo...best car I have ever owned and drived..job well done for VW.

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  Just as Great as my BMW 330ci - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Traintraxboy - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I love my Jetta, I have a BMW 330ci also, The BMW is no better! I think that the Jetta is the best car!