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 my Jetta - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By xochimahuac - September 3 - 2:00 am

  Have had my Jetta for 2 and a half years now, and it has always been great. Even in the accident where the other car was totalled, my Jetta protected me perfectly and was able to be fixed. Still runs great and feels very safe. Only strange thing is it consumes so much oil.

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  fun but could have been better - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By AJ - September 2 - 2:53 pm

  The R32 is quick and fun to drive, but I expected more improvements over my 2004 R32. I think the 04 had a better exaust and certainly got better mileage. The seats seem cheap compared to the 04 which had stitching on the R. It just seems VW did less than was expected after having an 04. Maybe the GTI has gotten far better and the R32 needed to excell even more. I also had an 20T GTI with DSG. Compared to other cars the R32 is above the crowd.

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  Excellent All the Way Around - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Shana - September 1 - 5:33 pm

  I bought my 2002 Passat used one year ago. It now has 41,000 miles on it. I chose the Passat because I did much research beforehand and wanted a car that held its value better than what I was used to with the cars Id previously owned (Mazda, Ford, and Buick). I was so sick of trading in and seeing the trade in value of American made cars. My research showed that German made cars hold their values better than any other. I wasnt going to make a haisty decision though and did much research on the Passat. Im very happy with my choice. I recently had it appraised and the value is holding at what I gave for it. How many cars do that a year later with 14,000 more miles? My Passat is a stylish, fast car and I have had no problems with it at all.

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  First GTI - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By John - August 31 - 5:43 pm

  Tons of fun for the money and Teutonic build quality. GTIs love the back roads and the turbo has no lag for immediate and decent burst. Best at high revs but an additional 20-30 bhp would be nice. In town or traffic it is easy and quiet. Highway I am getting around 30 mpg. Lot of rear leg room - better than 3 series BMW or Audi A4 - and hatchback flexibility. This car has almost everything and I didnt bother to look at anything else, it meets all my practical and fun needs. Taken me 30 years of driving and admiring the GTI to finally buy one and have absolutely no regrets.

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  Loved my Car!! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Nikki - August 31 - 12:10 pm

  We purchased this car because we were looking for something that got really good gas mileage but wasnt a hybrid. Ended up getting 32 average mpg city. Just recently got in a car accident and it held up well. No one was seriously injured when our Jetta rearended car in front of it at about 40 mph. I loved this car!

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  Got what I wanted - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By bayesian - August 29 - 9:16 am

  I love the Eos. At 511/ 170#/ 32-33" inseam I fit fine, but if I were over about 61/ 34" or seriously overweight (rather than slightly) Id be running out of room. Seat comfort, support, adjustability range is excellent; control layout mostly excellent. Not _that_ quiet with top up, but OK. Handling with Sport pkg (18") is excellent - ride is firm but not uncomfortable. The 3.2 (which I didnt particularly want, but it was the only way to get Eismeer blue with sport suspension; glad I did) is a rocket with the DSG in sport mode or manual control (in D mode, the DSG has substantial downshift lag; not sure why). Needs more interior storage. No leaks after one month/two rainstorm

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  2004 Touareg - Heaven to Drive - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Lbronchus - August 29 - 2:43 am

  I have had my Touareg for two years. I bought it slightly used. It is a V8 with most all the extras. This is the nicest most fun vehicle I have ever had. The ride, comfort and aesthetics are great. I love the radio especially with the Phatnoise system I added. The fuel economy is not great but in comparison with similarly powered vehicles it is on par with them. I initially had only some minor warranty covered issues but not major repair problems. It really drives like a dream. The Audi engine is very smooth and powerful.

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  SUPERIOR VEHICLE - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By DAVID - August 28 - 6:26 am

  Moving from larger suv but wanted all its features minus size. This suv fits the bill. Excellent fit and finish. The 4-cylinder turbo is the best of its class. The ride is stiff but ergonomically sound. The Tiguan has highest rating on all categories of safety including roof strength by the IIHS. Interior is thoughtfully planned out. You pay more for this vehicle versus the other small suvs out there but you get more.

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  The turbo is worth it. - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By blueone - August 28 - 2:00 am

  This car is really great to drive- especially when passing people. The turbo makes the car fun, but the interior layout (the back seats fold down flat to double trunk space) makes it practical. The back seat doesnt have a lot of leg room, but for a semi-compact car its not bad. Ive heard several people complain of the cloth seats pilling, but I havent really had any problems. My dealership dealt w/the problems Ive had (a radio that made the alarm randomly go off & a bad heated mirror) quickly & w/o any hassles. The factory cd changer is ridiculous. Its much cheaper & as simple to buy from somewhere else & either do it yourself, or get it installed.

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  lovin it!! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By shwagen - August 28 - 2:00 am

  I just got my Jetta one month ago. I absolutly LOVE IT!! I love the interior lights, the styling, and the features (especially heated seats). It gets attention and I just cant drive it enough! Love it!!