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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  Quality, Comfort and Looks - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By aztrader - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I spent weeks going over Carlike SUVs and was debating between the VW, Volvo or Acura. The Volvo was too much money with the V-6 engine, but a very nice ride, the Acura had the power, but the interior felt cheap, but the VW, had the luxurious interior and loads of power with the V-8. My only complaint is the gas mileage. Very fun to drive.

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  SUPER CAR - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By PEGGY - July 19 - 10:00 am

  BEST CAR I EVER OWNED. THIS IS MY 4TH VW 2 JETTAS AND 2 PASSATS. IT WONT BE MY LAST. VW BEST FOR SERVICE TOO.

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  I cant stop smiling! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By lovemybug - July 19 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has incredible styling and performance! Not only is it fun to drive, but it rides like a dream--very smooth and powerful. The interior space is surprisingly roomy--probably not enough legroom for 2 large adults in the back seat for an extended trip, but just fine for getting around town. This car makes everyone smile!

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  VW Jetta Wagon TDI, great car - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BrendaJGP - July 19 - 10:00 am

  My Jetta is a great car to drive and I think it is a very safe car. On the Jetta I was able to get a sun roof and side air curtains, some other cars either did not have the air curtains available or not avail with a sun roof. I have side airbags as well. The milage is great and the ride is peppy when I need it. The heated seats get a lot warmer and warm up faster than my husbands S-10 quad cab.the front seats have good leg room, the back seats are OK, a little more leg room would be nice, but I test drove worse. I like the fact that I have 3 head rests in the back seat and that all the head rests are in a good position for safety.

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  Great sports sedan - 2013 Volkswagen CC
  By pjkroseville - July 19 - 6:56 am

  Ive been a Honda guy since I was 17. I wanted a sedan mated to a 6 speed manual because I enjoy driving and the manual makes the experience much more fun! It is next to impossible to find an Accord with a manual transmission, so...I landed at VW. This is my first dive into a German car and I couldnt be happier with my 6-speed CC Sport. It is smooth, quiet,comfortable, sporty, great looking (many say it looks like a Benz CLS) and fun to drive. Ive had it for over 5 months and I still look forward to driving it everyday. Im in sales and spend a lot of time in my car and its wonderful to drive. I drive over mountain passes, simply put it in 6th gear and it just goes. Well engineered

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  REAR BRAKE ISSUE - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ron langdon jr - July 18 - 2:50 pm

  Bought this car when I retired. Overall nice car for its class. Enjoy driving. The 30m oil change & service was about $300. Wifes Volvo was about same cost. Dealer note on bill, "needed to have rear brake job done est $300 to $350. Ive owned many cars in my life,never remember having a brake job on any. Not happy with this.

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  167,000 Miles and Running Strong - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kaitlyn - July 18 - 3:13 am

  The day my dad brought home his little 2000 Jetta GLS, I was instantly reminded of his old Audi. With about 120,000 miles at the time he bought it, the former owner had driven the Jetta on extremely long highway trips between Michigan and Detriot for about two years. In the time that my Dad owned it, he only ever needed to change the timing belt and oil every 3,000 miles. The car never gave him a problem despite cold Michigan mornings and the ocassional nasty blizzard. Now, Ive bought this car from him. It is the second vehicle Ive ever bought, and continue to care for it despite its 167,000 miles and climbing. I couldnt ask for a better car.

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  Return of the Peoples car - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By justin_w - July 18 - 1:05 am

  I have read a few reviews that knock VW for "Down Grading" the Jetta to make it more affordable, but I think VW is getting back to its roots. There is nothing down graded about the new Jetta. If anything the previous models were too up scaled for their demographic. I have owned a 1997 Jetta GLX which I had once read as being referred to as a poor man’s BMW 3 Series. But the 2011 does not disappoint. When compared to other cars in its price point, the new Jetta takes all. I test drove a Kia that cost the same as my Jetta, and it truly felt like it was going to fall apart over every bump. With the Jetta that is not an issue. It really is great, for the price of good. This is VWs finest hour.

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  More Car for the Money - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By jim - July 17 - 8:40 pm

  I am very impressed by this vehicles performance capabilities. It picks up quick when you need the power. It was between the Matrix and the Rabbit. Both were similarly priced, but the Rabbit came in a bit less expensive and it is more fun to drive. This is my second Golf (Rabbit). My first Golf was purchased new in 1987. I had that car for over ten years. I finally sold it to a friend. We are still friends, haha.

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  Perfect first car to own! - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Shannon Nesterowicz - July 17 - 2:47 pm

  This Jetta is my first car, and I honestly could not be happier. I drive between Syracuse and Albany about twice a month, as well as around Albany day to day. This car is reliable and worth the ~$8,000 I spent. Ive purchased a rust undercoating, as well as top-of-the-line snow tires, to handle Syracuse winters, so those purchases have definitely positively impacted the reliability and durability of the car. The only issue Ive noticed is that the acceleration is slow for the first 20 minutes or so within starting the vehicle, but it is by no means a deal breaker. To summarize, this car is phenomenal and I would easily consider buying another when the time comes to purchase a new car.