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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  Worthy of consideration - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Dldean - April 11 - 10:00 am

  There is more to this vehicle than it first seems. I have actually taken it offroad on the old Barlow Trail over Mt. Hood! If not for the support by the folks at the dealer, the little niggley things would drive you crazy, things like missing manuals, wrong size wheel center medallions, and a broken carbon canister for the emissions control system. None the less this is the best, the most fun, the most comfortable vehicle I have ever owned.

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  Thrilled! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By eap - April 11 - 10:00 am

  After owning 2 other VWs and a few other makes, this is the best one by far. Fun to drive, plenty of space for people and stuff. It feels like a car costing much more. I would but another one without hesitating. Car had a foggy taillight on delivery. Took it home and did what dealer suggested to remedy the problem. When that didnt work, they replaced it under warranty. Have also had a few rear bulbs burn out already but they, too, have been replaced for free. Service before and after the sale has been fantastic. The 1.8T is plenty quick, but like most people, Id love a tad more power.

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  Volkswagen Passat 2.0T - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By jasvir sandhu - April 10 - 4:03 pm

  The 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T is a great car to drive everyday. It makes the day more fun because it is so fast and has such a great supseption.

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  Phaeton - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By F Dohring - April 10 - 12:53 pm

  Have had Jaguars, Cadillacs...the Phaeton is the best car I have ever owned. Creature comforts, toys, ride are all exceptional.

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  its a hoot! - 2011 Volkswagen CC
  By jeshl - April 9 - 8:50 pm

  Love the car. Constantly get compliments at gas station or car wash. Sporty, comfortable interior. Superb highway cruiser. Must use cruise control or you will spend a night at the Mayberry jail.

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  Best car ever - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By GTI for life - April 8 - 7:30 pm

  I have a 2006 GTI with DSG. I love this car, it gets great gas milage, it is the funest car I have ever had, I can fold down the back seats and fit anything I need in it. The DSG is a must, it shifts faster than humanly possible, gets better gas mileage compared to the manual, and has been problem free for the entire 87000+ miles on the car. The only thing I dont like about the car is that I love it too much, ex. I always park far out in parking lots. This car has been 100% reliable, never has broken down and maintenance has been cheap.It is loaded with safety features which gives me peace of mind. I am going to drive this car to the grave and then buy another. I know someone who has 179Kmiles

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  An Excellent CAR - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Dwest21 - April 8 - 4:03 pm

  I love this car. Its awesome. I feel safe in the b\Beetle. Its quiet, it comes with an enormous amount of standard features, and for about $20,000, you can get a really decent vehicle. This is my first VW, and Ive heard horrible rants about their warranty department, so hopefully everything will go smoothly, and nothing major will go wrong. Ive only had the car almost a month, and as of right now, I couldnt be happier! It has a great sound system, great air conditioner, great interior, is extremely comfortable, has beautiful new head-lights, the list goes on.

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  Lovely Jubbly! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By fortistiger - April 8 - 11:43 am

  The Volkswagen R32 is an awsome car all round. I have owned many cars and it tops them all! I cant find any fault with it. It is so much better than a BMW!

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  My favorite car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By KevinG - April 5 - 2:26 pm

  I have put 15,000 miles on this car in the past year and have enjoyed every minute of it. This car is a 5-spd manual. I test drove the automatic but it tended to hesitate from a stop. The only problem I have had with this car is that Im always driving too fast (Ive never had a speeding ticket, Im not a speeder). It just performs best and feels best if I push it. The combination of 4Motion and manual makes it sprint from a stop. I will never get another car without 4Motion; I can hardly stand the comparative lack of road grip in our FWD cars, dry or wet. Gas mileage has been 32mpg@55mph, 30@65. Performance suffered the one time I filled with 87 octane, but 90 and up has been fine.

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  Kraut rocket. - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By fingyrl - April 5 - 10:00 am

  Nice car for wintry driving. At 31,000+ miles my check engine light came on and I needed a new mass air flow sensor (total repair $325). According to the Vortex website--this is a known problem, and I felt that it should have been covered under the 10 yr powertrain warranty. There was a class action filed against VWofAm so, that I think the window regulator problem others mention now falls under a separate 7 yr warranty. Other than the sensor, it has been great for me with only the usual scheduled maintenance. Id buy this car again as a V6 GTI or trade up to another German car.