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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  My first German car... - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mongo - April 6 - 10:00 am

  I picked up the Passat because of how comfortable it is, and Ive been suitably impressed by every dimension of this car. I love the way it drives, the way its built, and all of the amenities included in the base price.

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  What a Mistake! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By shenry - April 6 - 10:00 am

  After doing alot of research and test driving I purchased this vehicle from Downtown Fine Cars in Toronto, Canada. What a terrible mistake. 8 months later the car doesnt start and had to be towed into the garage due to a broken fuel guage sender. The customer service was horrendous and they have failed to respond to a both a letter of complaint and a telephone call. Now, the roof trim is delaminating from around the roof rack. Do not purchase a VW!

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  Best Valur for the money - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cjettaf - April 6 - 10:00 am

  I did quite a bit of research prior to purchasing this vehicle and I could not find a comparable equipped car for anywhere near the price. Most features are standard and some are only available in the higher range vehicles, i.e, Air Curtains.

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  Given the choice, I would buy it again! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ETClermont - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Ive always liked the Jetta... and now that I own one, I love them even more. Other cars go by and you might not notice them; but when a Jetta drives by, I always notice! The best thing about it is you not only get a high quality car, but you get a fuel efficiency that I could never do without now.

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  tops with no top - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By beetlemom - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Best car overall ever. fun reliable suprising roomy with the exception of the trunk which is just an extension to my pocketbook. Good pick-up great with the top down, easy to use. Poor visablility with the top up in the back left and right hand corners due to small rear window, but NO prob with top down!!!!!!! BeepBeep!

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  Away we go - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Andi R - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Rides beautifully, fast as a bullet, very roomy inside

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  black tdi wagon-- auto--corn silk interior - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By garry8 - April 6 - 5:13 am

  just turned 2k miles goes like a scalded dog-- have avg 39.6 miles over all and have achieved 53.4 driving home from my lake cabin in nw wis. with a tailwind to the twin-cities--avg. normally about 47-- i am 6-1 inch and 220 pounds fits like a glove -- looked at Outback wagon but i aldready have 2 other 4 wheel drives a Trooper & 2010 hemi ram pickup--it replaced a 2006 JEEP wrangler which held its value like none other i figured that this TDI will also hold its value

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  Quirky but I love it - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By pegnick - April 5 - 5:20 pm

  I bought this car new at the end of its production run. It has 38k now. My previous car was a 2003 Passat. This Passat is bigger and more luxurious than the old design. It is quiet, smooth riding and powerful. It is commanding on the highway. Great for my long legs. Sorry they left off the automatic window closing feature. The quirk is the electronic transmission. It clunks and lurches into first gear. I hated it for a long time. But I love everything else so much that I have come to accept this weird behavior. Mileage is 31 to 33mpg on the highway. Transmission feels european if you like that. I plan to stay with the car a long time.

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  Unapologelic Owner - 2016 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Dakar 09/10/11 - April 5 - 12:03 am

  So let me say this is the third Touareg I have owned. I traded my 2002 for a 2011. Totaled the 2011 and decided to buy a 2015 but there wasnt one available in the color I wanted. So I got a 2016 TDI one month before "Dieselgate" kicked off. When I pulled off the lot I was in sport mode and I was thrilled.Im at 4500 miles and it is has been great not seeing many other cars like my own on the road. I do get harasses by friends and my wife who thinks my employer will move me to California where Ill be forced to sell. This Executive edition VW TDI is one of the few that got off the boat prior to being pulled off the market in the US. Thats to bad for those who may have wanted a great diesel at not such a bad price.

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  Love my VDub - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By italianbrunette311 - April 4 - 6:43 am

  Great car, very safe in the snow. Coming from a sports car to this wasnt very hard because it has so much pep. Bought this car March 2008 and 2 years later I have not had one problem with it.