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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  New Jetta 1.8 Turbo - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By john james - July 12 - 10:00 am

  I have not had a new car in 12 years. This one has me feeling young again. Drives and handles like a sports car. Plenty of power on tap. And that wonderful German Engineering. I cannot say enought good things about this car.

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  Turbo S - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Joy - July 12 - 10:00 am

  The turbo s is a luxury car in a small package. Its a dream to drive with power to boot.

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  Great Performance - Some Glitches - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mr Bill - July 11 - 3:33 pm

  I have an early release 06 Passat w/Sport package. The performance on the car is great except for the throttle lag problem which I havent yet fixed. I also had probs w/adaptive headlights that took 25 days in the shop to fix. Doesnt make for a happy owner. Also took 2 trips to stop water leaking in trunk. Driver seat had to be repaired after 2 weeks. VW still needs to work on quality. Most problems were in 1st 2 months. Since the car has been great. Its really fast, but wish I could get a real 6 spd stick like the TL, Tiptronic isnt the same.

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  First Time Beetle Owner - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By S.Horton - July 11 - 2:26 pm

  I have owned by Beetle for 7 months and have had no problems. I love this car. At first the look impressed me the most. I finally found a 5-speed, green model which was hard to come by. The way this car handles is great. It hugs the road and is the ultimate road-trip car. The fifth cylinder can really be felt on a steep incline and the cold-weather package has helped me through many a snowy morning! It handles in 6 inches of snow, no problem, and the sunroof makes the summer weather even better! If you are looking for a fun car with a low-maintenance feel and features then this is the car for you!

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  Great gas mileage and fun to drive. - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By clidaw - July 10 - 6:40 pm

  Ive put over 3000 miles on the VW TDI since 15 March and have enjoyed it immensely. I hit 44 mpg on a trip from Memphis to Indianapolis and still had 3 gallons in the tank when I filled up only a half mile from my house. The car doesnt have as much kick as the VW Jetta 1.8T (our second car), but it is close and improves the gas mileage by over 10mpg. Gas mileage does take a hit going over 70, but you could probably get close to 50 going between 55-60. I wasnt about to get run off the interstate to find out. The stereo features a great sound stage because of the extra speakers, and the 16cf is great. In response to an earlier review, the car does have brakes that do work well.

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  Near Luxury product - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By quietguy - July 10 - 12:06 pm

  Purchased the vehicle two days ago so havent driven many miles yet. My gf and her two daughters have Jettas and Passats, which prompted me to buy one. Was able to haggle a decent deal and got a very good interest rate. So far, the car is much more than I hoped for - great performance, comfortable ride, wonderful interior and good looking. Got the new "White Gold Metallic" paint... unique.

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  What a disappointment! - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By grinchy - July 9 - 11:12 am

  This was my dream car, which quickly became a nightmare. The convertible operation would freeze mid transition, I take it in for service and of course they "can not duplicate the problem". The very next day I take pictures proving that it is stuck, then they miraculously they can find the problem and fix it. Now, it leaks. It burns oil- im told this is normal, and i have to add 1qt per 100 miles. Really?! My transmission was not smooth, or shifting properly, as well- this is normal. After 3 visits, they finally duplicate the problem, AFTER they crash it on a road test. My car was in service for 1 month, and the issues still persist.

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  Great fun but suspect electronics - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By shueybubbles - July 8 - 4:26 pm

  We love how this car handles and performs. The engine is responsive and the ride is quiet. The nav system is easy to use. Fabulous in the snow. Down sides: The flat tire sensor has been replaced twice because of persistent failures. The battery cable was replaced. Note that this car has a battery that cant be jump started or used to jump others. A stepper motor for the power steering was replaced because it was causing seize ups on tight turns. Overall Id say this will be a great short term car, but the reliability for this first year model is low and Im glad were leasing it just for the length of the warranty.

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  "FUN" - 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
  By jmf80 - July 8 - 9:03 am

  Bought a used Beetle turbo with 1800 miles on it, couldnt believe I got for the price I paid. I have 3 73 Super Beetles and a 68 Beetle, and also had a 98 New Beetle. This 2012 is what it should be 40 years later. Had a Passat and missed the 2.0 Turbo and the way the seats fit me. This beetle is the same could drive for hours without fatigue. The gas miles are 32 to 34 MPG highway so far with just about 3400 miles. The Nav, Roof, push button start, leather, and Fender Stereo are awesome. The lighting at night is too cool. The kind of car you drive around the block just one more time before you want to park it. Led Zeppelin on the fender is well words cant explain it.

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  CMR Review - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By crule - July 8 - 2:00 am

  I purchasd the R32 one week ago, after seeing it actually make it to the dealers. I traded a 2003 GTI VR6 for it and Im very happy I did. This is one fantastic performance car. The ride is a little stiffer than the vr6, but not a great deal. Turn-in is amazing and in- gear accelleration is like nothing Ive ever experienced. Im very happy that Ive paid up for this car. I look forward to taking it to work every day.