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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  Keep Looking - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By rocky - November 29 - 1:53 pm

  Ive now owned 2 passats now and what a joke! I fell in love with my first one (2000 model) and I although I loved it, thought I may had just gotten a "bad" car. After consistent repairs, I decided to try another newer version. I got a 2002 and same thing; if one things not messing up, its another. The car looks good and goes fast, other than that, it offers nothing but a waste of time and money. I am very sad to have to report this!

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  Nice Car, but - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By VW_in_ny - November 28 - 12:43 am

  Still a nice car after 2 yrs and 40,000 miles. Car brought in for 40,000 mile service, rear break pads were worn and I was shocked to find pads and rotors need to be replaced as same time. Im used to honda & toyota & subaru where the front breaks do the work (and need service) and the rear breaks can be pretty much ignored.

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  Lovin the V DUB - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Beav - November 27 - 11:06 pm

  This is my second VW and Im very impressed with the looks, performance, and features in my perffecta model Jetta. It was a great value at a total of $21,000 (including $4000 off because it was last years model) with Sirius, 6 disc cd changer, alloy wheels, euro style lights, spoiler and leather seats, plus the dealer added heated seats and a sunroof. It drives very smooth and handles well, and can very easily reach high speeds without realizing it. I drive it 100 miles for work every day, and drove it on vacation for 12 hours, with 3 people in it, and it is pretty comfortable to ride in.

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  We love this car! - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By big harry - November 27 - 7:43 pm

  38 - 40 on a long trip. Stick shift is smooth. Lots of leg and headroom. Best car Ive ever owned. Far superior to my 91 Passat.

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  A Fair Review - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By JD - November 27 - 4:26 am

  I actually went back to VW when buying the Tiguan. My first VW, a GTI VR6, had a lot of small problems and a major problem with the computer. However, nothing comes close to German style and especially the interior comfort and technology. My favorite feature is the sunroof which allows for a very nice view of the sky for both front and rear passengers. The gas mileage is respectable compared to the Mercury Mountaineer I traded in. The response to the accelerator is also respectable.

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  2012 VW CC SPORT with DSG - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By ccelia2012 - November 25 - 10:29 am

  Over-all I love this car. However the experience of driving it is one in which you are aware of everything the car is doing. Personally I believe good engineering means the car should feel natural and respond to your inputs the way you intend. This car definitely does NOT deliver in this respect. On the highway is where this car shines as a comfortable grand touring sedan..uh..coupe. In the city it is almost the opposite.

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  Gremlins everywhere! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Andy - November 24 - 6:00 pm

  The new Jetta in impressive with its list of luxury and safety features. However, I have just over 10,000 miles on it now and have had constant minor problems. The radio was replaced due to a recall, the speakers rattled and had to have a repair made (the dealer broke the outside mirror control stick when fixing the speakers), there is a "ticking" noise under the dash which was a heating/AC modulator gone bad, and it still sounds like a tank when you first start it. Maintenance is rather expensive due to special oil and filter. The dealer has been terrible with getting parts in and fixing problems. Im not sure if its a dealer problem or if VW parts are hard to find. Take a long test drive before you buy!

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  My Second New Beetle - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Beetle Turbo S - November 24 - 5:00 pm

  The Turbo S is a much more refined vehicle compared to my previous New Beetle, a 2000 GLX. The car is a blast to drive, just as the other. It does everything smoothly and with ease. I hope, for a change, it gives me a few years of trouble free service.

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  Touareg review. - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Chris - November 24 - 4:26 am

  My touareg has been great. Ive owned it since June 2003 so I had one of the first ones out there. While I never had anything worse than minor software issues, some have had serious problems. All I can say is this truck is worth a little bit of hassle. Its fairly exclusive, you wont see yourself coming down the road. And the luxury and build quality exceeds BMW and Mercedes, its really on a par with Audi. In fact, I sold my Audi A8 because whats the point of owning two luxury vehicles. Also, I over 6000lbs of trailer for several hours at a time with zero issues. Its been near perfect for us...theres no other SUV wed consider (except a V10 Touareg!).

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  Update - clutch failed at 20k miles - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By - November 24 - 2:12 am

  I tried to add this as a comment to my previous review, but the site was not cooperating. But, I would be remiss not to provide an update on the resolution. VW did agree to pay for the repair as a courtesy, acknowledging that it was an unexpected failure to have it happen so soon. I must admit I was pretty shocked when they told me that, but pleasantly so. While I am still disappointed that the clutch failed so soon, I must applaud VW for doing right by me and standing by the car.