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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  Best vehicle I ever owned - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By paulinthesouth - September 19 - 8:13 am

  Reading review after negative review I wonder whether I was just lucky, or whether my experience is more representative of the norm. My Passat was totalled last summer when a tree blown over by a storm crushed my garage (of course the Passat was in the garage). My experience? 95,000 miles with only 2 service matters. Fuel pump failed at 88,000. Parts and labor < $300. Replaced one CV boot at same time as a precaution. Parts and Labor also about $300. Thats it. Outstanding performance and handling. Understated but elegant interior. Good ergonomics. Seats were firm but wonderful for long trips.

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  Coming in Hard - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By emaxx123456 - September 19 - 4:20 am

  This car is crazy. i take it off roading, racing, off jumps and still have not had one problem. I thought it would be my fun car to rip up but it is now a performance and luxury car. I dont know how VW can sell it so cheap. The turbo that I thought would be so so is a pretty good size for such a small car. If you are trying to choose between a BMW 3-Series, a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, an Audi, or this car, go with the VW.

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  Not Perfect but so good I dont care - 2010 Volkswagen Touareg
  By GD - September 19 - 2:00 am

  Weve had it now for one year and it has lived up to everything we could have hoped for. Its an incredibly smooth ride with pretty decent pickup especially considering its a 5000 pound beast. I feel very safe driving and feel as if Im surrounded by luxury - though there are a few things to be desired. The nav system, like most factory navs, is mostly accurate but has out of date store/gas registries. The system takes about 10 seconds to start up which means if i need the cam., I have to wait. We got the air package and combined without the low gear case it moves effortlessly in 18" of untouched (or compacted) snow. I recommend at least the tech package - it makes the car feel "cool"

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  Makes Phoenix A Year Round Event - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By grandlapaloma - September 17 - 6:06 pm

  After a thorough search for the next generation convertible. We traded our beloved 2001 VW Cabrio for the EOS. It does not have a soft top. Dont buy a soft top convertible, period. This multi-function hard top sportster convertible is everything true engineering can offer. We bought the base with the upgraded auto/shift transmission and satellite radio. It was tough to get since supplies are low, wait for it. We tested every car within a $10,000 range of the base price of EOS and its still the best value at full MSRP. The fit and finish, engine, gas mileage, quality, etc make this the best every day car or weekend blaster.

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  So far so good! - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By coachbrain - September 16 - 2:56 pm

  Reluctantly traded in my Nissan Frontier for this car and had some buyers remorse when I left the dealership. That has quickly changed when I got close to 600 miles on my first full tank. Everything Ive read about the TDI indicates they get better mileage than what theyre rated for by the EPA and this seems to be true. I had bought my truck to haul all my kids sports equipment to and from games and practices before I took a new job that requires lots of travel. Ironically I traded a Jetta 2.5-S for the Frontier and now I find myself driving a Jetta again! This time around, the trunk is roomier than the previous one. I am able to fit a large softball equipment bad, a bucket of

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  Some issues, but I still love my Jetta! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michele - September 16 - 8:03 am

  I bought my Jetta brand new and have not looked back since! Its been the best car Ive ever owned. Theres nothing quite like quality german engineering! I have had some small issues though, the seat heaters had a recall, brake light switch had a recall, check engine light came on in the first 12,000 miles due to a faulty sensor, but overall I am very please. Most recently I had to take the car in for a broken link on the sway bar which was covered under warranty. Despite these issues I still love my Jetta!

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  Quite A Car - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By charlie cooper - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Just got back from a 5,000 mile trip with parts of it through the Arizona desert. This car with the V8 will keep up with any traffic. None of the "gee I wish this trip was over." The car was so much fun to drive I wished we could keep going!!!!!

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  Silver Ride - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By ohmiee120273 - September 16 - 2:00 am

  This is just an awesome car to drive. Im a former Accord owner and I think my Passat is a much better car than the Accord was.

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  OWN 1 - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MARCUS HURT - September 16 - 2:00 am

  LOOKS GOOD EXCLENT WARRENTY LOVE THE IN SIDE LIKE THE BLUE DASH LIGHTS NOT TO SURE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION SOME TIMES SHIFTS VERY ROUGH

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  Excellent - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michael Messina - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Looks great, drives great, comfortable interior, quiet ride, and very safe. Couldnt be happier.