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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  Great non-truck option, to get diesel - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By in League City TX - December 16 - 11:23 am

  For an interstate commute of 90 miles a day the TDI Jetta is fantastic. Plenty of power ( relative, of course ) high comfort, and excellent design and build quality. Consumption so far averaging around 44 mpg. Having had rental car diesels in Europe, the Jetta is the best of the mass market ones.

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  Passat perfect - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Driver Found - December 16 - 10:00 am

  biggest 3 features that sold me: Styling Safety Warrenty bought the 1.8T model for the wife, will be buying the W8 model for myself shortly. also, there is an abundance of aftermarket parts for the 1.8T passat.

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  Who could ask for anything more? - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By GTI in VA - December 16 - 10:00 am

  German engineering. Luxurious interior, especially with leather trim. Controlled ride and comfortable seats make long-distance driving a pleasure. Ample power for even the most performance-oriented driver. Incredible gains possible with relatively inexpensive mods. Distinctive styling. Beautiful indigo instrument illumination. Availability of Tiptronic automatic for those who dont like stick. Many safety features.

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  Soms Review - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Som Vembar - December 16 - 10:00 am

  I have a base engine in my Jetta. However, that does not diminish its performance. Its very responsive. I like its handling and and I am very happy that I bought a Jetta.

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  My Passat was a star - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By California Casey - December 15 - 9:56 pm

  My 2003 1.8T Passat GLS just passed 98,000 miles with hardly a hiccup...when it was smashed by a hit-and-run driver today. Im not sure Ill ever see it again, the damage was so severe. But my daughter and I came out without a scratch, though the front end is nearly demolished. This car was a bit pricey to repair, but there were few of those...oil changes, tuneups, a timing belt (at 90,000, dammit). But it was a joy to drive, I got 26 city, 31 highway with the 1.8 turbo and the German engineering was solid. I fear my car is gone, but if I were you, I would not hesitate to invest in a Passat again, despite higher-than-usual maintenance costs. Its a great car.

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  The best car ever - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Shari - December 15 - 7:20 am

  This is the best car ever. All my friends love it. It is easy to drive, and a smooth ride. The interior is spacious, and you dont feel cramped at all. It was the best buy I made. When my Beetle is done with, I am definitely going to buy another one.

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  So far so good and fun. - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jorge Gomez - December 14 - 6:13 pm

  Almost 4 month and still so fun to drive. Good in gas. Excellent choice from all the cars we tested.

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  Great mileage and good car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By nimble1_42 - December 14 - 11:50 am

  I bought this vehicle to lower my fuel cost while driving for my job. I went to Atlanta to purchase because the local dealers wanted to sell above list. In 15 minutes on the Internet I had a better deal, so shop around. The car rides and drives very well. No problems to date. I really enjoy driving it and would highly recommend it to anyone. The only negatives are local dealers service and pricing. You will need to shop around for quality scheduled maintenance which is a big cost compared to other cars. That is my only negative. The car requires special oil and ATF fluid. All the changes have to be done at the dealer. Your local quick oil change will not touch it.

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  Fun to drive and reasonably priced - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mike Beattie - December 14 - 6:24 am

  First and foremost, this car is fun to drive. There are a few minor shortcuts on the interior (hard plastic components), but I dont view that as much of a detractor. The entertainment features feel modern and can be amazing if youre using CarPlay. Ive always been a fan of the control layout in a VW, and this one is no different. The touch screen UI present in the 2016 models is more responsive than I expected and works well with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The biggest issues Ive noticed is that the car is a little slow to accelerate under certain conditions and the navigation system is pretty terrible (but again, amazing if youre using CarPlay — or, presumably, Android Auto). Every once in a while, I have trouble putting it into reverse, but I may just need some time to get use to it. Also note that you cant use CarPlay wirelessly: you need to plug your phone into the cars USB port (which is a touch more snug than Id like). The wireless gap is less a VW problem and more an Apple problem; I understand the standard for wireless CarPlay was released only recently. In general, Im very happy with my purchase. I feel like I got a lot of car with the features I car about for a price that was actually pretty reasonable.

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  1.8T spirit - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By faithaa - December 13 - 9:43 pm

  First new car I ever purchased - after test-drive speeding up a long hill with the 5-spd, just had to have it! Winter package great for MN. Dealership replaced ignition coils on recall w/o problem; now seat heater is on recall. This car "floats" on highway, is smooth in city, turbo kicks in at low speed. Gets respectable gas mileage - up to 39- 40 highway on cruise control. Love the nighttime lights and overall look. Large trunk w/pass-through. Only real issue is fuse on windshielf fan-blower that blew twice in two months last winter - dealer couldnt find cause.