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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  EXCELLENT - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By SVK - May 2 - 6:10 am

  EXCELLENT VEHICLE TO BUY OR RIDE

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  Not Bad for a Wagon - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Craig - May 1 - 8:06 pm

  I recently bought this vehicle after years of driving a mid-size SUV. I couldnt be happier with the performance and fuel economy. Theres plenty of room for cargo once you put the back seats down. The instrumentation is great. The stereo is great, I just wish I would have the option of XM instead of Sirius. I am hoping for a long and beautiful relationship with my new Passat.

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  Great Gas Mileage - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hezekiah - May 1 - 4:23 am

  I got 44 mpg on my first tank and did not drive like a granny. The car has good freeway power. The power from a stop seems sluggish until you learn how to drive it correctly. Its amazing how easy it is to smoke the tires from a roll in first gear.

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  Kind Of Stinks - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MS760 - May 1 - 3:23 am

  I bought this car used about a couple weeks ago. Im starting to notice a few things. Firstly the horrible crayola smell! Its such a strong nasty odor that gives me headaches when i drive. Found out i need to remove sound deadening material under carpet to eliminate the smell. Its shifting is jerky. A belt in the motor squeaks loud so i replaced it but continues to make noise, was told its something more pricier to fix. Steering wheel is hard to turn. Car struggles when going up hills, transmission gets loud. Shocks squeak loud. Purchased car because it was the most decent one available at car dealership. Regret buying this car. Will definitely stick to hondas after paying off this car.

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  Love It - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By md_medic - May 1 - 2:25 am

  I have wanted an MKIV since they came out. I bought a 2000 in 2012 and was in a total collision 3 weeks later. The other girl went to the hospital I walked away without a scratch. As a former mechanic and mobile electronic technician I can tell you the build quality on this car is amazing. It is extremely safe. The only drawback to the car can be the cost of parts. This is one place where is does not pay to cut corners. There are a huge number of aftermarket companies out there that make replacement parts but when they charge $35 for a part that VW charges $350 there is a reason. With this car you basically get an AUDI in a VW wrapper. Most of the parts are interchangeable.

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  Nicest car Ive owned - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By EchoBlu - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Although we bought this car used, its still in fantastic shape and a dream to own. Very powerful (love that Turbo!) yet I feel perfectly comfortable and safe. Ton of features -leather heated seats, moonroof, power everything, floormats that lock into place-I love that! Very pleased with the purchase.

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  New Beetle Turbo S - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By LuvBuggy - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Everyone told me that it had limited cargo space ... well I was able to transport a new Toro Snowblower 2450 GTS for a friend 80 miles for a Christmas present ... Couldnt do that in any other compact car!!!

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  Fun, but huge waste of money! Listed Repairs. - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By karmann11 - April 30 - 6:18 pm

  The car is fun to drive, AWD 4motion is amazing, and it does deliver fantastic MPG vs other models released the same year. Heres the issue. Read all other reviews, Its a maintenance lemon! Below Ive listed the problems occurred after owning my car for 3 years (2009 - 2012, 54k - 96k miles) 1) Timing belt replaced - $320 2) 2 Coil packs - $240 3) Oil sludge recall - covered fortunately 4) 3 CV boots - $750 5) Oil Cooler failure - $1,600 6) 2 front axles - $360 7) 2 Cylinder Oxygen Sensors - $400 8) Clutch - $800 9) Fuel pump - $800 10) 4 tires - $450 11) 4 brake pads, calipers, rotors - $600 Total repair costs = $6,320 not including routine oil change, tire balancing, etc: $400/year

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  2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Minnesnowta - April 30 - 1:00 pm

  I just got my Passat three days ago, and Im still anxious to go drive it after work. Ive driven many cars, from old rust buckets to top of the line $100,000+ vehicles, and this is right up there with the best of them. The ride is smooth and quiet, and its hard to tell when the engine is even running sometimes. This cars acceleration is incredible for a 2.0T. I have the package 1, and theres far more in the car than the salesperson could ever tell you about. It has an uncanny resemblance to the Audi A6

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  2005 Volkswagen Jetta New TDI - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Patrick - April 30 - 10:40 am

  Great car! Good gas mileage! I test 40 in city and 48 on highway and its only getting better. With the diesel engine I was surprised after driving a V6 Jetta that a 1.9L diesel would have about the same power when driving. Safety features are great. The price of my vehicle was $23,075 for GL version. It has everything I need. For the money its worth every penny.