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 the 2003 b5 - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By grad - February 14 - 10:00 am

  i love the 2003 b5, great vehicle. had the two recalls- engine coil packs and the rear wheel well. otherwise, i find that the car handles well, accel. decently, the manual helps out the 1.8t. good mileage.

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  Electronic Problems - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By John - February 13 - 7:50 pm

  This is the best driving car and most fun car to drive I have ever owned. Previous cars were Toyota, Ford vehicles. This blows them away. Great brakes and the ride is comfortable. I have never owned a BMW but I dont think they could drive better than the Passat. Car layout also great.

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  A great value for those wanting a "drivers" car. - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By ken boilesen - February 12 - 8:16 pm

  Performance is excellent for a front wheel drive car. Tiptronic with paddle shifters makes you do "naughty" things behind the wheel. Well bolstered heated leather seats hug you. And yet, a very safe, family oriented mid-sized sedan. Stiff suspension will not agree with those who want a "cushy American" ride. Fuel economy is great (30 mpg on highway in summer - if youre not being naughty). Sound system is outstanding. Instrumentation is outstanding. Trunk is enormous - folding down the rear seats gives you nearly 6 feet of platform. Front quarter panels rust at the top of the wheel arch ... VW replaces them when "perforation" happens before 12 years.

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  7 VWs and I love each of them - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By TheRaven - February 12 - 4:23 pm

  My 2004 GTI is number 7 on my list of VWs I have owned. Aside from the ridiculous place of the cup holders (which I am now over) I love all of this car. I have 76k on it now and it runs great. Everyone who complains about the quality of their VW does not follow the directions provided by VW. You must use full synthetic oil, preferably from the approved oil list from VW. You must do routine maintenance when it is supposed to be done. I always do my maintenance on time and I have had a variety of VWs go to nearly 300k miles. Treat the car nicely, drive it nicely, fix whatever breaks. If a person acts like they like the car and takes care of it, it will last.

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  still going strong - 2011 Volkswagen Routan
  By ncrsx - February 9 - 2:51 am

  We have over 61k miles with no major issues. Only problem is the brakes. My dealer replaced them at 26k miles no charge then I had to replace them at 55k miles with aftermarket cause oem rotors are crap. Other than the brakes Im happy with my purchase. I guess Im one of the lucky ones.

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  Love my Bug!!! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By CHRISTIE - February 8 - 2:00 am

  I had been waiting for the NBC since the New Beetle came out years ago. This is a peppy little car! Does it handle like a sports car? No. However, it handles great, its comfortable to drive and has plenty of front seat leg room.

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  Beautiful but very unreliable car. - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Eddy - February 7 - 2:56 am

  I was attracted by the interior and exterior design of the Passat. Very beautiful car, feel like luxury compare to a Camry or Accord. But the biggest problem is reliability. There has been too many recalls on this car. I have had all kind of problems with this car. Oil pump, Vacuum hoses, Water pump, OIL SLUDGE...etc This car was apparently not built to last long. Even the mechanic at my VW Dealership recommended that I get rid of the car. I am very happy I did. Buy this car only if you love to visit the mechanic every month and spend a lot of money on costly repairs. If you choose to buy it, sell it before the warranty expires.

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  Cute, but flaky - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Katherine - February 6 - 11:36 pm

  Ive had the car over five years, after buying it used in 2003. Within 18 months, the alternator went out and had to be replaced, the clutch went out at 16,000 miles and had to be replaced (believe me, I do not ride the clutch THAT hard), the hoses had to be replaced twice, and the power windows both had to be replaced. Later, the blinkers and cruise control failed and had to be replaced (though it was always fun to flip the blinker switch and see what would happen. It would blink in some pretty spectacular random patterns, until it was fixed). It handles surprisingly well in the snow, but due to the myriad electrical and mechanical issues - I will not be buying a VW ever again.

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  Sportwagen model excels - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By oppai - February 6 - 1:06 pm

  Recently picked up a TDI Sportwagen discounted due to light exterior hail damage. So far Im extremely impressed with the build quality, handling, responsiveness, and power of the TDI. While I cant compare the 2011 model to prior models, I still remain impressed with the upgrade it provides from my prior vehicle: 2002 Pontiac Grand Am. The wagen feels larger but is actually several inches shorter than the Grand Am. The DSG transmission is butter-smooth and relatively aggressive driving is still averaging 30+mpg (5 better than conservative driving on the Grand Am) The interior is suprisingly roomy as well; Im 61 260 and dont feel cramped in the least. A long haul car.

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  Looks great, but has too many problems! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sw - February 6 - 10:00 am

  I was at first very pleased with my Jetta, but after only about 8,000 miles the dashboard light and headlamps began to flicker. There was also an oil leak. A few weeks ago the automatic transmission got stuck and I couldnt shift from P to any other gear and had to restart the car several times because the problem went away. There are rattles everywhere in the cabin, and the 6-disc CD changer skips more times than the number of bumps on the road. Yesterday one of the brakes started making a horrendous noise while I was driving on a hilly road in an isolated forest. Once I got out of the car I could smell a strong burning odor from below it. I have decided to get rid of it ASAP.