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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  "Farfegnugen" - 2007 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Pamela - December 27 - 7:43 pm

  I love my new Touareg! I dont think that Ive ever said that about any other car Ive owned. My last two new cars were Volvos that I had both under a year (ouch)! The Touareg has every little gadget and more. It has all the features that my husbands 06 BMW 750Li, not to mention that the Touareg has a backup camera and his doesnt! The V8 Touareg is fun to drive especially going up our curvy mountain road in Sports Mode! This SUV is not only fun to drive but has great curb appeal! I have had quite a few people stop and ask me about my Touareg and love telling them about. I hope that when I turn it at the end of the lease that VW will continue to make the Touareg as good or better!

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  Great car after 1 year - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jeff - December 27 - 4:06 pm

  No problems to report after 1 year of ownership. Highly recommend this vehicle, particularly if you want to get combination of good fuel economy and performance.

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  An other week without my Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Looking to Sell Toua - December 27 - 8:36 am

  I would not take this vehicle further than 10 miles from home because of reliability problems. Number of ignition coils, air bag, tire pressure, faulty gas cap, door locking problems, just to name a few. Last VW I will ever own!!

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  2012 Lux Plus - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By ron1945 - December 26 - 11:19 pm

  Dont pay attention to the reviews claiming a hard ride. The shocks smooth out around 1500 miles in this car and its smoother than the BMW 550 and Infinity M. Friends have both and Ive been in them on the same bad roads. I have 6000 miles now and it keeps getting smoother. Ive experienced that in other good cars too. Very good build quality. The seats are very comfortable and adjustable. Power is adequate, gas mileage averages 27 mpg with half on the freeway. The 19" wheels and tires improve handling and steering and are worth the extra money in my opinion. Youll be happy with this car.

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  Another GREAT GTI - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By StephanGTI - December 26 - 11:16 pm

  Having owned/bought 19 new cars, and being many different brands, the last 3 were GTIs (1995 VR6, 1999.5 VR6, and 2006.5) and for a good reason. Not much compares with the GTIs as far as being true "drivers cars" and when condidering the price of Audi, BMW, & Mercedes, nothing compares. The new GTI is another great evolution over the last. I thought I could never go without the VR6, but the new 2.0 proved me wrong; it has more / great power & torque, better gas mileage & a cool exhaust note. Im getting 29+ mpg (combined 85+mph California freeways & stop & go). The stereo sounds great and the leather/Top Sport Seats are the most comfortable seats Ive ever sat in.

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  LOVE IT - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JASMINE - December 26 - 6:53 pm

  GREAT CAR!

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  It sacrificed its life for my sons - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By tednugent - December 26 - 4:13 pm

  On May 6 my 2000 VW Golf GLS ended its life suddenly in a 60 mph headon crash with a guardrail. On a positive note, my son and his prom date were uninjured. I had bought that car in 2000 because it was one of the few small cars that had top crash test ratings and all the features of larger cars, such as ABS, sunroof, adjustable steering wheel, fully adjustable seats, etc. So what did I think of the car? Overall, very good. Will I buy another Golf? Maybe. Either that or a Civic. I like the Golf better in most ways, but since I want to buy a used car the reliability history of the Civic may trump. I fear getting one of those few Golfs-from-hell that seem to have all the problems.

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  awesome first car - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By ianm1997 - December 25 - 2:40 pm

  i purchased this used this year as my first car. before this i as driving my moms 2011 toyota highlander. the reason i bought this is because my best friends mom owns one and she let me test drive it. it is defiantly a head turner. it goes fast, is pretty good on gas, and so much fun to drive. my only complaint is that it doesnt have a touch screen radio.

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  Great Little Car - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By zappa - December 25 - 1:26 pm

  I just picked my GTI up and I love everything about it! I drove a few cars before deciding in this one, including the Honda Civic Si, Mazda3, Scion tC, and Subaru WRX. Each one had things that I liked, but the GTI had it all. It has great acceleration and handling and lots of room for your stuff. I love the stereo. It comes with tons of standard features. The other cars felt kinda cheap in comparison.

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  Not what I expected - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By maciosaig - December 25 - 3:20 am

  I bought this car for my wife and after buying an 07 Passat and being extremely satisfied with that car I figured Id be just as pleased with the bug. Was I in for a shock Ive owned convs in the past so I was away of frame/body flex but this car takes it to new extremes. The handling sucks, power is poor and comfort is great for the driver and front passenger, and my small 3 year just about fits in the back seat. Now there is a rattle in the front end somewhere and the thing is noisy on the highway. For the money they charge these cars should be much more powerful and handle better. Im not sure how the fit and finish will stand up over the next few years, but Im not confident