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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  2004 VW GTI VR6 - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Adam - August 12 - 7:30 pm

  From the day I owned this car it has been a pleasure to drive. VW has a knack for incorperating feel into thier cars. My GTI has more feel than almost any non german car I have driven. Some people do not like to feel the road while they drive and just want to be as disconnected from the driving experience as possible. If you are one of these people do not get a VW. But if you are passionate about driving you will not be dissapointed with this car.

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  Efficient and Fun - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Warren - August 11 - 10:30 am

  This car is so much fun to drive, not to mention its getting ~43mpg over the first 5,500 miles (its not even broken in yet). It is fun to drive and the heated seats are great! The DSG automatic transmission is awesome! I also have the option to run up to a 5% blend of biodiesel (which I do). This is a great car with lots of room (Im 6 tall and dont have to put the seat all the way back).

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  Love it! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Renegade - August 11 - 2:00 am

  Great car! The back seat has plenty of room for adults to sit comfortably. Driving performance is great, Excellent turning radius, car has a secure heavy feel to it. The car has lots of room and a huge trunk. This is my second Passat - cant change - great car for the money.

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  Who needs a V6? - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Keebler - August 11 - 2:00 am

  I have now owned this car for about 2 months and I am thrilled,the 1.8T with a 5 speed is very smooth.Leather interior is top notch as well as overall fit and finish. My wife and I have twin girls so needless to say we gotta lot of stuff and the Passat wagon has tons of storage.I just could not bring myself to driving a Mini- van,with the Passat 1.8T I get the best of both worlds,fun to drive and very practical.

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  great deal, practical car - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By slcastle - August 11 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! I thought it would be too small for my 6-5" husband, along with our 2 year old twin toddlers, but we actually do fit just fine - for it to be a second car. The car is a great deal because of the diesel engine, once we saw it we were hooked - we will be saving over $150 a month with the incredible gas mileage. The safety of the 6 air bags is unbeatable - and not even offered in other sedans of comparable price. The interior is sleek and well-made. We looked at everything - but Volkswagen won mainly for crash test ratings, retaining its value (60% after 5 years!), and gas mileage, making it a practical car.

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  So far so good.... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By swdcin03 - August 11 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car with reservations but the interest rate and warranty made me take the chance. So far not one problem and Ive driven it hard. Like others have noted the back seat needs improvement but I hear that is coming in 2005. The cupholders ... dont hit a bump with that soda can not being held! Other than those minor issues I have nothing bad to say....Ill be able to write more once its back from the body shop. Nice drive side swiped me two weeks after making the first payment!

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  Great Little Convertible - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Cindy - August 8 - 11:13 am

  The design and fit of this EOS is terrific! It handles very smoothly, has enough acceleration when needed, and has interior comforts. The display is fully designed with a compass, mpg ratings, miles to empty, etc. The design of the hardtop convertible/sunroof is amazing and causes everyone to stare when lowered or raised.

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  B5 Variant - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By onie - August 8 - 2:00 am

  25000 miles and still going strong

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  Great Car - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By DrBYU - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Fun car, very reliable.

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  Best one yet! - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Scott C. - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This is my third vw. And bye far the best one yet! Ive been leasing vdubs for the past 7 years and have been very happy.I picked this one up in July and Im thinking about buying it at the end of my lease. Its fun to drive,and has plenty of power and I really like the way it looks,and another cool thing about this one, all I have to do is put gas in it for the next three years cause vw has a great promo, free service! I will never get tired of the looks I get. People stop you all the time to ask what kind of car your driving. If your thinking about a new car I think you should put this one on your list of cars to test drive.