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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  Insane - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sacalait - December 3 - 11:36 pm

  I would have never imagined so much from a diesel. At 3,000 rpm’s I was doing 90 mph getting 42 mpg with plenty of pedal left! That’s just insane. This car is great for anyone commuting daily more than 25 miles, its fun, safe, and economical.

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  Very satisfied - 2012 Volkswagen Touareg
  By steve41 - December 3 - 11:13 am

  Traded a troublesome 09 BMW X5 diesel. Could not be happier. The new body looks like a Cayenne, (had a Cayenne prior to the X5), and the interior is very nice. Handling is great; mileage will hopefully improve from 26,27. I hope to get 29, as I did with the X5. Touch screen with phone interface, nav with traffic,sirius xm is very nice and easy to use. Good sound system. Feels solid and hopefully will be a good ride for a long time. 2700 miles to date.

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  Still lovin it. - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By JStew - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car new in 2000. Have had only a few minor problems. Yes, the oil issue is a pain but it improved over time. Ive had the hatch latch repaired under warranty and the cruise control module was replaced, but otherwise no problems. Great gas mileage, still fun to drive. Hatch holds a lot of stuff. A great basic car.

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  1998 VW Jetta GT - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By C. Caputo - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Great car to drive, fun, sun roof, all my friends have followed in suit and bought a VW.

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  Impressed with VW now.... - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By knightflyr - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I never thought of owning a VW till I bought this one..One word WOW!! The German craftmenship is outstanding. Just drive one and make your own decisions.

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  2004 touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By pnwra - December 3 - 2:00 am

  i love this car..............its fun..its built like you expect german automotive technology to be. the quattro AWD system is great.

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  Excellent Internet Buy! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By La Chula de Coban - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Upgraded from my 2000 Jetta, and paid less in 12/03 than I did for the Jetta in 06/00, and the Pasat has more expensive features (leather interior, 6 air bags, for example)! I found that Internet salespeople work on a salary, not commission: one saves a bunch! The 2004 Passat has a wealth of creature comforts & great engineering.

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  Mexican German Quality - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AndreF - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I had been hearing about years how Volkswagens were well built, had incredible fuel mileage, etc, so I decided to try it out myself. After the twins came along, we decided it was time for a little larger car, so we bought a 2004 Jetta GLS TDI. I simply cannot believe how cheap this car is to run, we get over 1100 kilometres on a tank of combined city and highway driving. That alone offsets the high price of the car and the oil changes. Dont let other reviews change your mind about Volkswagens, they truly are made for drivers.

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  Excellent but not perfect - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vincef329 - December 3 - 12:23 am

  VW produces 5 Jetta models, the S, SE, SEL, Wolfburg, and the non-Jetta GLI (with the 4T engine). The S manual being the base, the SE Auto the most popular coming in at $21,000. For that hefty tag you get quite an impressive list of options including heated seats, satellite radio (not satellite ready!), 6sp, auto trans, full auto up/down windows (all 4) and a nice sun roof. Remote electric heated mirrors and remote trunk and fuel door. Heated washer nozzles and the newest I-beam wipers. Some say its expensive but do a hard side by side comparison and youll see that the Jetta is just a little more. You may not like the Jetta if: you like cushy seats, sloppy steering, need excessive legroom

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  23 years of German Hot-Hatch-History - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By Drew - December 1 - 6:56 pm

  I love how the GTI has German engineering. It is a car fit for the Nurburgring. Highway speed can shoot from 55-85 mph at a drop of a hat. It has a good sound when reving through higher rpm. It has styling cues of the 3-door Audi S3. I love letting onlookers hear the turbo spool up and whistle. BME 3-Series drivers wont know what just flew past them. This is truely the poor mans Porsche Boxster.