From the iconic Volkswagen Beetle to the Bus to the Karmann-Ghia to the VW-Porsche 914, the brand has been a beloved motoring innovator with a worldwide presence. Here are the 20 most popular Volkswagens ever made.
20. Volkswagen Atlas
The Volkswagen Atlas is a midsize SUV that was first manufactured in 2017 and continues to the present. It comes in front and all-wheel drive. It comes with either an inline-four 2.0 liter or a 2.5 or 3.6 VR6. These are paired with either an eight-speed automatic or a seven-speed DSG.
19. Volkswagen 181
Developed in 1968, marketed for civilian use in 1971, and making its debut as “The Thing” in the US and Canada in 1973-1974, the Type 181 is a two-wheel drive convertible featuring four removable doors. The 1974 “Acapulco” Thing was a beach-inspired limited-edition model with a canopy top. It’s rare, with only 400 produced.
18. Volkswagen Touareg
Named after the nomadic people of the Sahara, the Touareg was jointly developed in 2002 by Volkswagen Group, Audi, and Porsche. The aim was an off-road vehicle that handles like a sports car. The Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7 were far more popular than the Touareg. The US versions were pricey and were discontinued in 2017 but continue elsewhere.
17. Volkswagen Tiguan
The Volkswagen Tiguan is an attempt to mimic the success of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, and other small SUVs. This compact crossover was introduced in 2007 and continues at present. By 2020, 6 million units were sold worldwide, and it’s the best-selling SUV in Europe. Engines are 1.4 and 2.0-liter variants with a six or seven-speed transmission.
16. Volkswagen Routan
The Volkswagen Routan is the same vehicle as the Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Caravan minivan. They were built between 2008 and 2013 in a partnership with Chrysler to help Volkswagen grab a piece of the US market. Volkswagen only sold 18,000 of these. It seated seven, and the V6 engine sizes came in 3.6, 3.8, and 4.0-liter variants.
15. VW-Porsche 914
Long before VW acquired Porsche, the two collaborated on this two-seat roadster that was produced from 1970 to 1976. It featured a stylish Porsche body with a mid-engine flat-four or flat-six Volkswagen motor. In the US, it was sold as a Porsche, while sold as Volkswagen-Porsche elsewhere. It was named Motor Trend’s import car of the year in 1970.
14. Volkswagen Cabrio
The Volkswagen Cabrio is essentially a drop-top version of the Golf, specifically the Mk3 Golf Cabrio, which is an Mk4-style facelift. It was produced between 1979 and 2002. The vehicle was also popularized in a 1999 TV commercial featuring the late Nick Drake’s song “Pink Moon,” which pushed his album sales and popularized the vehicle.
13. Volkswagen Scirocco
The Volkswagen Scirocco was produced from 1974 to 1998 and became known as “the racing Volkswagen” in the US. This was due to its success in the Scirocco/Bilstein Cup series, where it later excelled in category 1 Trans-Am races. It also marked the transition from air-cooled engines to water-cooled. It made people think about VW as a sports brand.
12. Volkswagen Golf R
The Volkswagen Golf R differs from its GTI counterparts, offering more power with its newer 1,984 cc turbocharged in-line-four engine, producing 296 horsepower and 276 horsepower in “hot climate” markets such as the US. It reached 0-62 mph in 5.1 seconds and 4.9 seconds with the optional DSG gearbox. Its top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph.
11. Volkswagen Corrado
The Volkswagen Corrado is a stylish, Karmann-built vehicle, and although not a household name, it’s highly coveted among speed enthusiasts and collectors. The Corrado features a 2.8-liter VR6, which is a cross between a V6 and an inline 6. This beast delivered 178 horsepower. The Corrado was produced from 1989 to 1995.
10. Volkswagen Vanagon
The Volkswagen Vanagon was built for conversion, and some factory models were outfitted as campers, featuring a refrigerator, two-burner stove, stainless steel sink, cabinets, and heaters. They haven’t been sold in the US since the early 1990s. There’s also a Westfalia pop-up mesh top model. Multiple versions and parts can still be found on used vehicle sites.
9. Volkswagen Type 2 (Bus)
More popularly known as the Volkswagen Bus, the Type 2 was produced for the US from 1950 to 1979. Its kitchenette made it great for camping. The Westfalia package expanded its capabilities, offering a stove and pop tops. Other iterations had the bus serving as an ambulance, work van, and truck. Production of the bus continued in Brazil until 2013.
8. Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat debuted in 1973 and has been marketed under various names, including the Dasher, Santana, Quantum, Magotan, Corsar, and Carat. It comes in saloon, estate, and hatchback body styles. This four-door, full-size vehicle has thrived in the US market, with an assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A China presence helped drive sales of over 60 million units worldwide.
7. Volkswagen Golf GTI
When the Volkswagen Golf GTI emerged in 1982, the boxy and cramped, two-door hatchback sold so poorly in America that its assembly plant in Pennsylvania was shuttered. Motor Trend even named it its Car of the Year in 1985, but buyers preferred the Jetta. Nonetheless, the Golf GTI’s performance garnered the nickname “hot hatch” and made it legendary in Europe.
6. Volkswagen Jetta
First debuting in 1979, the Volkswagen Jetta was a de-hatched Golf. Since then, the Jetta has established a global following thanks to being a stable, affordable, and fun vehicle. It has sold 10 million units worldwide and remains in production. Volkswagen has also produced a limited run of electric versions since the early 1980s.
5. Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf was first introduced in the US as the Rabbit in 1974. It featured front-wheel drive powered by a fuel-injected 1.6-liter engine and a top speed of 110 mph. Since its introduction, the Golf became Volkswagen’s bestselling vehicle of all time, selling more than 30 million units. Production continues. A plug-in hybrid was first developed in 2008.
4. Volkswagen Polo
The Volkswagen Polo is a sporty subcompact built for Europe and elsewhere outside America. A half million units were produced in the first generation from 1975 until 1981. Instead, the US got the larger Golf, while the rest of the world purchased more than 12 million Polos. It comes in Hatchback, Saloon, and Estate variants, and production continues at present.
3. Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia
Its popularity lies in its sporty iconic design and fastback styling. The Type 14 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia was produced in Germany from 1955-1974 and Brazil from 1962-1975. Engine size ranged from a 1200 cc that delivered only 34 horsepower and a top speed of 75 mph to the 1600 cc flat-four, delivering 49 horsepower and a top speed of 93 mph.
2. Volkswagen New Beetle
A retro craze saw the “New Beetle” arrive in 1998 as a water-cooled, front-wheel drive, 2.0-liter four-cylinder delivering 115 horsepower and a 1.9-liter TDI diesel four. A turbocharged 150-HP came the next year that reached 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds. The warm and fuzzy nostalgia lasted until 2011 when VW retired the new beetle.
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1. Volkswagen Beetle (1950 to 1979)
The Volkswagen Beetle was produced in 1938 and first arrived in the US in 1949. By the 1950s, Bugs were selling 100,000 units a year in America. Engines and Beetles got larger. By 1977, the Bug was banned in America for failure to meet safety and emission standards. However, convertibles continued through 1979. Production moved to Mexico and Brazil.
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