Volkswagen Reviews & Ratings

2009 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI Review

By Justin Berkowitz
August 15, 2008 - 21,293 views

In the past five years, Volkswagen has had its pants around its ankles. Gas tripled in price, Al Gore invented the environment and the brand once known for frugality didn't have U.S. products that could compete on fuel economy. Volkswagen’s diesel-powered Jetta and Passat weren't even legal in VW-friendly California, NY and Massachusetts. After miles of regulatory legwork, VW brought one of its new generation European diesels up to fifty-state compliance. The Jetta 2.0 TDI hits dealers this fall. So is it The One?

2009 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI Review continued »

2009 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Volkswagen | 136 comments

2008 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI Review

By Jonny Lieberman
June 20, 2008 - 1,176 views

The VW Phaeton was the answer to a question no one asked: who wants to buy a $70k Volkswagen? Marketing mishegos aside, "Piech's folly" is a superb car: relatively quick, preposterously quiet and completely comfortable. Lest we forget, VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech is something of a master engineer. He was directly responsible for Porsche's 917; a race car so dominant they canceled the entire race series. Piech also willed the Bugatti Veyron into existence. The Touareg V10 TDI was born from the same world-crushing crucible as the Phaeton and the Veyron. So, how does the uber-oil burner measure up?

2008 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI Review continued »

2008 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Volkswagen | 77 comments

Volkswagen Jetta Review

By Tony Sterbenc
October 12, 2007 - 91,532 views

My name is Tony and I’m an ex-VW owner. Like most exes, it’s taken me a couple of decades to overcome my bitterness to the point where I can render objective judgment on the German automaker’s products. As a test drive reveals nothing about long-term reliability, I will mention it no more and judge the facts at hand. One of which is Volkswagen automobiles are still beset with mechanical and electrical gremlins. Damn! So, the Jetta. Nice looking car, eh?

Volkswagen Jetta Review continued »

Volkswagen Jetta rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Volkswagen | 101 comments

Volkswagen R32 Review

By Robert Farago
October 8, 2007 - 73,118 views

When the Volkswagen R32 first arrived stateside, enthusiasts gave the hot hatch a hero’s welcome. The all wheel-drive, VR6-powered Alpha rabbit made its pre-GTI siblings look like a bunch of ectomorphic accountants at a supermodel slumber party. The R32 was rare, fast, agile, sharp-looking and tighter than the Osmond family at Thanksgiving dinner. The latest version is all that, again, with the notable addition of the world’s best gearbox. And yet the R32’s suddenly become a deeply unloved (if not unlovable) automobile. So who shot JR? 

Volkswagen R32 Review continued »

Volkswagen R32 rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Volkswagen | 75 comments

Volkswagen Polo Review

By Martin Schwoerer
September 7, 2007 - 61,004 views

At the tail end of the last century, the European built, Eurozone-only Volkswagen Polo was the "Mercedes of small cars.” While the Golf/Rabbits MKIII and MKIV suffered from iffy quality, the smaller, staid Polo was known for being reliably unbreakable. Then, something happened. Just as Mercedes' quality nosedived, the VW Polo lost its rep for bullet-proof build. Since 2005 quality has (reportedly) markedly improved, which has put the car back on the list of frugal consumers looking to buy something “classically VW." But is it ready for a U.S. debut?

Volkswagen Polo Review continued »

Volkswagen Polo rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Volkswagen | 54 comments

Triple White New Beetle Convertible Review

By Megan Benoit
July 6, 2007 - 64,654 views

There are only two reasons why anyone would buy a New Beetle convertible: a craving for cute or a need for nostalgia. Once you rule out these emotional drivers (so to speak), you're far better off in any number of more economical and practical machines. But that's OK, isn't it? Acquiring a Ferrari isn't exactly a rational decision. So analyzing the New Beetle's desirability comes down to this: does it suck enough to put off the retro- fashionistas?

Triple White New Beetle Convertible Review continued »

Triple White New Beetle Convertible rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Volkswagen | 77 comments

Volkswagen Passat Review

By Walter Pabst
April 9, 2007 - 88,932 views

Slide into the snug, over-bolstered leather seat. Push the chunky key fob into a slot labeled “start/stop.” Tune an ear to combustion as smooth as a baby’s backside. Grab hold of the three-spoke leather-wrapped helm. Engage first gear. Mash the throttle and drop the clutch. Brace for wheel hop, snick through the gears to triple digit speeds, then slam on the brakes. Escape through the heavy driver’s door and slam it shut. Glance back at the Volkswagen Passat 2.0T.

Volkswagen Passat Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Volkswagen | 46 comments

VW Rabbit Review

By Walter Pabst
October 11, 2006 - 104,805 views

Rabbits are renowned for their reproductive skills. Clever ads for Volkswagen’s long anticipated A-platform hatch show city-dwelling Rabbits multiplying by the dozens. Ironically, the tiny population of US-bound Volkswabbits is hardly bound to satisfy demand, never mind dominate the landscape. A prospective buyer is lucky to sample Wolfsburg’s new bunny prior to placing an order, and then faces a wait of around 60 days. VW dealers couldn’t care less; nurturing understandably impatient leads is hardly worth the pennies of revenue it generates. So, with lukewarm fanfare, scarce availability and laughable profit, the Rabbit is back.

VW Rabbit Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Volkswagen | 61 comments

Volkswagen Touareg TDI Review

By Walter Pabst
September 12, 2006 - 58,222 views

Every day, VW sales consultants encounter “diesel ups.” (For those unfamiliar with car lot lingo, an “up” is a browsing customer, bound for service by a revolving pool of salesman.) For the last three years, California-based “diesel ups” have been a shortcut to nowhere. Since 2003, the Golden State’s rigid emissions laws have outlawed diesel-powered Vee Dubs. Meanwhile, hybrid owners, cheapskates and other mileage-crazed customers pester commission-hungry staff about TDI’s that get 50 mpg on spent French fry oil. So, after three years of consumer anticipation and wasted ups, CA has finally given the A-OK to a diesel VW: the Touareg TDI. It’s a great landing at the wrong airport.

Volkswagen Touareg TDI Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Volkswagen | 35 comments

Volkswagen Eos Review

By Jay Shoemaker
August 16, 2006 - 101,148 views

There is no way to overstate the appeal of the new Volkswagen Eos’ folding hardtop. I sat inside the car for ten minutes, opening and closing the lid, marveling at the mechanism’s precision and design. What kind of mind can develop something that folds and unfolds with such infinite grace? If you like to visit high speed factories spitting out hundreds of widgets per minute, filling them with liquids and shrink wrapping them in three swift motions, then you will never tire of lowering and raising the Eos’ five-piece hardtop. As for the rest of Vee Dub’s CSC (coupe-sunroof-convertible), it’s danger, boredom ahead.

Volkswagen Eos Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Volkswagen | 103 comments