A Glossary of Volkswagen Cars in USA Through the Decades

1950s:

Beetle: Also known as the Type 1, this compact car became synonymous with Volkswagen in America. It was introduced in the US in 1950 and remained in production until 1979.

1960s:

  • Karmann Ghia: A sporty coupe based on the Beetle chassis, the Karmann Ghia was introduced in the US in 1961 and remained in production until 1974.
  • Type 2: Also known as the Bus or Microbus, this iconic van was introduced in the US in 1950 and remained in production until 2013.

1970s:

  • Super Beetle: A slightly larger and more powerful version of the Beetle, the Super Beetle was introduced in the US in 1971 and remained in production until 1979.
  • Type 3: Also known as the Squareback, Fastback, or Notchback, this compact car was introduced in the US in 1961 and remained in production until 1973.

1980s:

  • Rabbit: A front-wheel-drive hatchback that replaced the Beetle as Volkswagen’s mainstay in the US, the Rabbit was introduced in 1975 and remained in production until 2009.
  • Scirocco: A sporty hatchback based on the Rabbit platform, the Scirocco was introduced in the US in 1975 and remained in production until 1989.

1990s:

  • Golf: The successor to the Rabbit, the Golf was introduced in the US in 1985 and has been in production ever since.
  • Jetta: A sedan version of the Golf, the Jetta was introduced in the US in 1980 and has been in production ever since.
  • Passat: A mid-size sedan that was introduced in the US in 1990 and has been in production ever since.

2000s:

  • New Beetle: A modern interpretation of the classic Beetle, the New Beetle was introduced in the US in 1998 and remained in production until 2011.
  • Touareg: Volkswagen’s first SUV, the Touareg was introduced in the US in 2004 and remained in production until 2018.
  • Phaeton: A luxury sedan that was introduced in the US in 2003 and remained in production until 2006.

2010s:

  • Golf R: A high-performance version of the Golf, the Golf R was introduced in the US in 2012 and has been in production ever since.
  • Tiguan: Volkswagen’s compact SUV, the Tiguan was introduced in the US in 2009 and has been in production ever since.
  • Atlas: Volkswagen’s largest SUV, the Atlas was introduced in the US in 2017 and has been in production ever since.

2020s:

  • ID.4: A fully electric compact SUV that was introduced in the US in 2021. It has a range of up to 250 miles on a single charge and offers advanced technology features.
  • Arteon: A mid-size sedan that was introduced in the US in 2019 as a replacement for the CC. It features a sleek, sporty design and a range of advanced driver assistance features.
  • Taos: A compact SUV that was introduced in the US in 2021. It offers a spacious interior, a range of advanced technology features, and a choice of either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
  • Golf GTI: The latest version of the iconic hot hatch, the Golf GTI was introduced in the US in 2022. It features a more powerful engine, a sport-tuned suspension, and a range of advanced technology features.
  • Atlas Cross Sport: A mid-size SUV that was introduced in the US in 2020. It is a sleeker, more stylish version of the Atlas with a coupe-like roofline and a range of advanced technology features.