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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  This car is a lemon. STAY AWAY!! - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MS125 - April 28 - 8:07 pm

  VW should be ashamed of their refusal to acknowledge the intercooler problem on this car. After I passed 65k miles, moisture got inside during cold weather, and it cracked, resulting in a pretty useless engine. VW said its not covered by warranty, but clearly, given the number of people whove experienced the same issue, its obviously a design flaw. Stay away!!!

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  We love this car - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Trackula - April 28 - 1:00 am

  Initial quality of this car is flawless. From the paint, fit, quality of materials and craftsmanship, we cannot find flaw. The engine and manual transmission are perfectly mated. The short-throw 6 speed is a joy. Power delivery is a rush. Fuel economy is 27+ combined city/highway. The seats and interior materials appear to be of very high quality. Reported top leaks are non-existent in this one, of course the seals were lubed immediately after delivery, which is critical to maintaining water/air seal. We researched this car for weeks before buying and determined that proper maintenance of the roof seals is a must.

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  Tryuwillike - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By lovingit - April 27 - 10:33 pm

  I absolutely love this car. I have previously owned three Honda Accords and one Lexus IS 250 (a waste of money). I decided on the Passat because of its interior comfort,size, features, performance, and design. The only issues I have experienced are not due to the vehicle, but the dealership. The car had 600 mystery miles on it when new. I later realized my black car had a blue bumper which was repaired by the dealership. The chrome around the windows was also tarnished and the paint has imperfections. I would challenge anyone looking for a new vehicle in this range to try the Passat. What an incredible vehicle for the price. I got mine with Pkg. 1 for $22,500!

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  Classic Bargain - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By RMU - April 27 - 9:56 pm

  I bought this car at a very substantial discount, because nobody wants to pay a price the car deserves, being afraid of telling their friends that they drive a VW. This car is beautifully finished and engineered and a pleasure to drive. HI have not had any issues during the first 20,000 miles. As long as the dealership will support service, this is a keeper for a long period. I am not longing back to my three BMW 740ILs, which had substantial more quality and repair problems.

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  A Keeper! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Too Tall - April 27 - 10:00 am

  This wagon is an ideal vehicle for almost anyone. Itll carry four in total comfort, five in a pinch, and haul stuff in the rear that sedans cant match. And, with AWD, it does it in all but the worst blizzards. Performance-wise, it keeps up with all but the hottest performers on the road. The car is two years old, and Im still getting complements on how nice it is and admiring looks from other motorists.

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  such an awesome car!!!! - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By jessisd77 - April 27 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my GTI VR6 for 9 months and I love the ride!!! Its so much fun! The stick shift is so easy to use and I wouldnt give it up for any other car. I actually have one of the only ones made in cosmic green so it defintely calls atention. Everything is so great about this car, but if you drive a lot of people around, a two door might not be the best thing, but I manage anyways. So I hope you consider this car, you wont regret it!

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  Dont waiste your time!!! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Brianpoo - April 27 - 10:00 am

  Its always in the shop.

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  Jetta GLS - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wmaxwell - April 27 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car. I owned a Jetta about 10 years ago and fell in love with it all over again. The handling is an absolute dream. And its sure footedness in the snow is remarkable. Gas mileage is very good.

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  Love the bug - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By mariabug - April 27 - 10:00 am

  The only problem with this vehicle is the front spoiler is low to the ground and gets damaged.

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  Touareg tweety - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Mike D. - April 27 - 10:00 am

  We purchased this vehicle new as a luxury SUV. Problems have been of the annoying variety. An on again/off again warbling noise when the air is on which the dealer says they cannot fix. System monitoring sensors that are faulty and a moonroof which vibrates noisily at speeds of up to 45 mph. There is a marked pause on hard acceleration, even to the point of the car revving up but the trans not engaging.I could live with the level of annoyance if this had been an entry level vehicle, say a KIA maybe,unfortunately for me this was a 50,000 vehicle and I expected more than I received.