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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  Solid Car! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Kapusta - January 13 - 8:00 am

  Aside from the ignition coil recall (dealer replaced w/absolutely no problem), lousy windshield wipers ($70 per pair!) and a buzzy dashboard (replaced once already), Ive been happy with my 1.8T Passat. Its a great road car.

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  TDI REPLACEMENT - 2017 Volkswagen Passat
  By CHRIS CLINE - January 11 - 7:49 pm

  If VW can not upgrade my 2013 TDI then this will be my replacement vehicle. Not happy about the loss of mileage but being 6 `5`` tall love the leg room.

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  Great automobile - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By rchkah - January 11 - 12:14 am

  Purchased the car in April and have just over 14,000 miles on it. Always averaging 42 mpg. Love everything about the car. If I have an issue it would be somewhat jerky in town driving like it is searching for the right gear. Mine is an automatic so I can always downshift it to increase the RPMs. Snow season will soon be coming and I hope winter traction is good.

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  Blue R32 - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By Brera - January 10 - 12:26 am

  I was going back and forth between the R32 and 2008 STI since I wanted a performance hatchback. After much angst, I decided to get the R32 - came down to I wanted a moonroof. While the car is fun to drive, it doesnt have nearly the same zip as my 2006 WRX which I still own, and find driving it more fun. The R32 is a great car to drive if you want to have fun and dont want to deal with shifting gears in traffic. Since Im only leasing the car for 2 years, I will probably unload it and get the new STI - 305 hp!!! There is no comparison.

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  VW cust service sucks - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Snia95 - January 9 - 10:00 am

  I was looking to buy a reliable used foreign car and got a great deal from a private owner. However, since I bought the car I have spent $900 so far in things that went wrong after I got a 32 point used car inspection on the car at the orginal VW dealership that sold the car. They are unfriendly and cold. I will probably sell at the end of this year b/c of VWs customer service!

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  Major Water Leak Problem - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Rob - January 7 - 5:33 am

  I cannot give this car a fully neutral review, because I have a design problem that ruins the ownership experience for me. After any significant rain fall, the doors fill up with water that does not drain out until the doors are opened. The problem is particularly bad in the rear doors. A full day after a rainfall, if you open a rear door for the first time, water will gush out on your feet. My local dealer knows of no known fix for this problem and I have read of this problem elsewhere on the net. When winter comes this water will become ice. This problem is too big to ignore or tolerate. Caution !

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  Fun sporty wagon - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ken - January 5 - 10:37 pm

  Bought the 3.6 back in 2012 and have loved every minute of it! Very peppy and hands very well. But be warned! After 120,xxx miles this car costs $$$

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  Poor Transmission - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By vwmaine - January 5 - 8:56 pm

  Love the Tiguan’s concept and design. It’s beautifully styled, very comfortable with nice positions of the steering column and instrumentation. Seats are exceptionally comfortable. What I am deeply disappointed in is the drive and its transmission. At lower speeds, it seems as if the engine is going to stall. It makes a terrible noise, and sort of kicks back a little. I have had it in for service now twice. Initially to have the transmission reset. Second service was to replace both fuel pumps. None of the VW fixes have resolved the problem. Very disappointed in VW, wish they would get it fixed quickly otherwise I may leave the VW brand. Anyone else having similar concerns?

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  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Paul - January 5 - 4:30 pm

  Purchased my Passat used with 38,000 miles on it. I thought I was moving up in the automotive world and I was, moving up into expensive frequent repairs! If only these cars performed as well as they look. I got hooked on the great exterior and interior design, but the reliability is horrible. Timing belt, ECM, suspension, power steering all have been problematic. Car eats oil for lunch, but doesnt leak. I got a decent price when I sold it, but I felt bad knowing what the new owner would experience owning this car.

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  Unhappy with my Jettta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By adonald - January 3 - 10:13 am

  Two year old vehicle with 70,000 miles. Almost all my miles are highway as I commute on weekends. Car is in the shop constantly. Have replaced the clutch, even though I am still on my original brakes. The cruise control module does not work and wiring harness is next to be repaired. It is a shame that such a fun vehicle to drive is such a piece of junk to own.