Volkswagen are known for their high-quality, reliable vehicles and have been responsible for some very popular and highly sought-after models. Having had dicey beginnings, the brand has been built into a corporation that many people know and love all over the world. This, of course, has led them to being one of the biggest automotive manufacturers in the world and there’s no doubt that their success is down to their design, style and pricing of their cars. Find out a little bit more about the history behind this brand and what makes Volkswagen cars so unique.
A concise history of Volkswagen
Volkswagen began back in Germany in 1937, two years before the beginning of the Second World War. The company was founded as a state project and the goal was to create an affordable motor for the people of the country - the “volkswagen” in German or “the people’s car” in English. After the war, once the factory had been turned from producing military equipment and vehicles to everyday consumer vehicles, this saw the introduction of the iconic Beetle. Although manufacturing for these cars ceased in 2019, it remains a popular choice amongst drivers, even with competition like the Fiat 500 and the Mini Hatchback. After the Beetle, Volkswagen began producing the Transporter van in 1950 and the Karmann Ghia coupe in 1955, growing from strength to strength and building up their portfolio throughout the years.
The success of the Beetle marked the beginning of Germany stepping into the automotive industry - a difficult feat after the politics of the war. However, the world loved it and since then they have grown considerably into a manufacturer that is renowned for creating reliable and stylish vehicles that suit a whole range of budgets and lifestyles. Volkswagen have been responsible for some of the most iconic and best-selling cars of all time, including the Golf, the Polo and the Tiguan which have launched them into one of the most respected brands in the automotive industry.
Features of Volkswagen cars that make them stand out
German manufacturing is known to be some of the best in the world, so it’s no surprise that Volkswagen have been able to create icon after icon and still retain their reputation for high quality vehicles. The manufacturer has been known to include some top-quality features in each of their models for both safety and driver convenience, so let's take a look at what they entail and how they can help you:
Remote window opening and closing
Whilst this may seem like a strange feature, it actually makes perfect sense. Remote window opening and closing offers a convenience that allows you to open and close your windows with just your key fob - some models allow you to set this feature up in the settings of the car. Once you have set this up, the process is simple - whilst the car is locked, you press and hold the unlock button, which simultaneously unlocks the doors and rolls down the windows until you release the button. Conversely, if you press and hold the lock button, it will simultaneously lock the doors and roll the windows up. This feature can be extremely handy as the weather heats up, as you can roll down your windows to let the air blow through before you get back into the car.
Heated wing mirrors
In Britain, we’re used to the freezing cold and wet weather. Sometimes, it can be a huge inconvenience when we set off to drive to work and the wing mirrors are either frozen or covered in rain water. Heated mirrors can eliminate this issue once activated, by supplying heat to the mirror to melt the ice or clear the rain. As visibility is an important requirement when driving, removing the risk of not being able to see out your mirrors improves your safety and that of other drivers whilst you’re out on the road.
Auto locking doors
This is a very important feature for the safety of all occupants in the car when you first drive away - doors that lock automatically from the outside. Similar to the heated mirrors, this function can be set up within the car from the settings. Automatic locking doors are vital when you are out and about, especially in the towns and cities at night, to keep yourself and anyone else in the car with you safe from potential danger. These doors only lock from the outside once you reach 5mph and will unlock only when someone from inside of the car opens the door. This feature is particularly crucial if you are out and about alone or have young children in the car.
Blind spot monitor
Checking your blind spot can be something that a lot of drivers forget to do - and it is important you do so, because your wing mirrors don’t give you a full view of another vehicle that is trying to pass you when they are already very close to your car. Modern Volkswagen models are now built with a blind spot monitor that ensures you are made aware of potential hazards. The blind spot monitor entails a small light that appears in your wing mirror when it detects someone beside you. Whilst we would also recommend that you still check your blind spot, it is a highly convenient feature for those who may have limited mobility in their neck or back or just for quick manoeuvering.
Park assist
Navigating through towns and cities can be stressful enough, without then needing to find and try parking. Park assist is a fantastic feature that helps guide you into a tight parking space, whether in the car park or at the side of the road. It does this by automatically parking your car for you, whether parallel parking or 90-degree reverse parking. Whilst some drivers may not need this function, for those who struggle to park or would just like to save the embarrassment of multiple attempts at parallel parking, this feature is ideal. The system is easy to use and accurate, so parking troubles become a thing of the past.
Rear traffic alert
Sometimes it’s difficult to monitor what’s going on around you when you are trying to reverse out of a driveway or parking space. The Volkswagen’s Rear Cross Traffic alert system is able to detect oncoming traffic as you are reversing so that there’s no risk of hitting anything when you’re concentrating on lots of things at once. The system not only warns you of the traffic, but will apply the brakes automatically if it detects the likelihood of a collision. This is particularly handy if you’ve got kids or other people in the car and you’re trying to concentrate on the road.
Keyless entry and Remote Engine Start
Keyless entry is a great feature when you’re in a hurry - unlock and start your car without even needing to find your keys at the bottom of your bag! The key must be in the vicinity of the vehicle for it to open, so having it handy in your bag is crucial. You also have the option to add the Remote Engine Start to your key, which allows you to start your car and have it warm and ready to go before you need to leave.
Volkswagen’s Emergency Assist
Some Volkswagen models come with in a built in emergency assist which is designed to function if the driver has a medical episode behind the wheel whilst the car is in motion. If the driver’s hands leave the wheel at any time because of a medical emergency, the Emergency Assist detects this and begins the process of bringing the vehicle to a safe location. Firstly, auditory warnings sound to encourage the driver to put their hands back on the wheel. If they do not, the vehicle brakes to get the driver’s attention (some models will pull the seat belt as well) and then puts on the hazard lights to warn other drivers of an issue. The car then detects the traffic around it and is able to safely change lanes to come to a complete halt on the hard shoulder. Once the vehicle has stopped, the horn will blast to alert other drivers of a problem and will then unlock all doors, turn on interior lighting and call the emergency services. This system could save several lives if it prevents an accident during an unprovoked medical episode. It should be noted that the only vehicles that can carry this out are those that have IQ. DRIVE safety technology installed.
Find your next Volkswagen car with Swansway
Whilst the established Volkswagen models have paved the way for the brand to become one of the biggest in the world, the turn to electric is proving to offer more to an already perfect offering - with the ID. Buzz and ID.3, Volkswagen are proving that no matter what, they are determined to bring quality and style to whatever car they decide to manufacture next. We have a range of new and used Volkswagen vehicles ready to view and test drive. If you’re unsure what you're looking for or would like more information about one of the vehicles you see on our website, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our Volkswagen dealerships - we’re happy to help.