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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  VW Golf - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By Allen - June 9 - 11:53 pm

  The Golf gets great fuel economy and has very comfortable seats. I love driving it everyday and do not get bored with it. The only interior item I would have liked to have was an armrest. It would have been better with a little more power as well. I had only a few problems with it such as, the a/c compressor needed to be replaced, a spring for the airbag in the steering wheel, and the airbag in the drivers seat. Those would have been very expensive without the extended warranty.

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  The gooad and the bad - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By maninva - June 9 - 2:30 pm

  Like other reviewers I had a bit of buyers remorse upon driving this car home from the dealer. No auto headlamps, compass, auto dimming review mirror or back up cam left me a little disappointed. The car grew on me once I got used to it. It is fun to drive and I enjoy getting 50mpg on the highway. At 8k the paint on the front bumper started to chip off very easily. After three different attempts to have VW repaint the bumper they refused to do so. This was my first VW and will be my last. I will not buy cars from a manufacturer that doesnt stand behind its product.

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  Der Wagen! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By el_matador - June 8 - 2:30 pm

  Solid ride, incredibly reliable in wintry conditions. It survived Colorado winters and now South Dakota winters are nothing to "Ulrich". Manual transmission makes it fun to drive and the ESP is a great feature. Great winter car with the heated cloth seats, heater mirrors, heated wiper nozzles. Quality materials in the interior, great room on the back seat, awesome cargo area with hidden compartments on the floor. Its a little bit sluggish between 3rd and 4th gear, but it accelerates decently when merging into highways. Good mileage for its size (about 26-27 mpg). Fills up with $40 or less and lasts us for 2 weeks in city driving. Ich liebe Ulrich der Wagen.

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  Very happy with my Passat - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By johnwild - June 8 - 1:37 pm

  The last VW I owned was a Rabbit Diesel, I loved that noisy, smelly car and it got great mileage. Since then I have had a couple of Mercedes Diesels, I also loved them but the mileage was nothing to brag about I bought my Passat 4 months ago and now have almost 8,000 miles on it. I recently took a 2400 mile round trip and got an easy 45 mph at highway speeds. Now at almost 8,000 miles I get amazing mileage. If I keep my speed around 50mph I get almost 60 mpg!! Im loving this car, even though the oil companies are ripping us off on Diesel. I wouldnt hesitate to buy another one or send a friend to VW to buy one either. Great Car........5 stars!

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  Who Needs a Hybrid? - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By WFO163 - June 8 - 2:03 am

  While I was stationed in Spain I fell in love with turbo diesel cars. This was my first purchase upon coming back home! I average 35-49 mpg depending on the temperature and my driving style. The best economy is on the highway of course. The car handles excellently at all speeds and seems to really grab the road at approximately 80 mph. Mine came with really good Michelens wrapped around aluminum wheels and every interior feature you could imagine. Of course, it had the typical Euro accessory problems. One of the heated seats burned a hole in the fabric and a bracket in the power window failed. All of these issues were fixed under warranty. It must be dealer serviced to keep the warranty and you must use the right engine oil!

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  Great SUV - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Bill - June 7 - 3:13 pm

  This is the best auto that I have owned. It is a great for people need something a bigger than a car with enough room for road trips. I will either purchase this one or buy a new in August 07. Great for empty nesters looking to hit the road and feel very safe.

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  Two cars one month and now water? - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By syopspwnz - June 7 - 2:00 pm

  I got my car in May and after 300 miles the engine had to be replaced due to a hole in the upper oil pan (isnt that the crank case?). Fast forward a month of hell and I ended up getting another new car. Shortly after getting my second car it I had water issues and a funky smell slowly developed. It wasnt till I took it in that I ascertained it was due to water leak in a body seam. It spent two weeks in the shop at the dealer before being fixed. Mean while in both warranty situations Ive driven a crapy toyta camry. Can you say numb? If this is average reliability I want out NOW. Id gladly have paid the premium and eaten the gas mileage difference for a subaru wrx at this point

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  Exceeds Expectations - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Sabotino - June 7 - 7:53 am

  Our Touareg is four months old with nearly 4000 miles. Driven daily in traffic and on two long trips. Vehicle has performed nearly flawless and continues to impress. Only mechanical issue was a faulty battery which dealership replaced under warranty. We shopped SUVs for nearly a year and narrowed our choice down to the Touareg and SRX. Touareg is a better value and has a balance of features for on and off road. Ride is impressive with adjustable air suspension. V8 with six- speed automatic is nimble and smooth. Fit and finish is impressive, especially the teak/antracite interior. Navigation and sound systems are logical and easy to use with practice. We are happy with our choice!

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  Loving my 2005 New Beetle Convertible! - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Bsktlover - June 7 - 3:13 am

  This is my second New Beetle, the first being a 1999 New Beetle, 5-speed manual, and not a turbo. The first time I drove my 2005 turbo on the highway, it felt so good - when I wanted to pass a big motor home or semi truck, no problem! Just step on the gas and I was there! The fuel economy on this vehicle is amazing, too - I have averaged of 29 miles per gallon so far, with a total mileage so far on the vehicle of about 8,000 miles. And fun to drive - nothing could beat it!

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  Simply Outstanding - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By johnnyforensic - June 7 - 1:57 am

  Ive owned an Acura TL, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland, and more, but the CC has quickly become my favorite of them all. It has more and better tech than the Camry (and thats saying something), its more fun to drive than the Acura TL, and it has a richer interior than the Jeep Overland. Truly, this is a vehicle that is more than the sum of its individual parts. Its quick, smooth, comfortable, and offers the technical amenities a geek like me prizes. My real world gas mileage on the hybrid was 38.5 MPG, and my CC is routinely hitting 33-36 MPG and does it with a LOT more vigor and style.