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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  Value Packed - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By holenone797 - September 29 - 10:00 am

  We compared the Camry, Accord, and Passat. The VW had it all. Safety, performance, comfort, fit and finish,great looks, and in more recent years reliability. Keep the options to a minimum to maximize value. Couple the 1.8 turbo with the manual tranny for real fun. I feel like Im driving a luxury car-with the others I didnt. one negative-wind and road noise above 80mph.

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  Close to Ideal Convertible - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By theorn - September 29 - 10:00 am

  The Cabrio is a well designed contertible. Specifically, the GLS covers all the features that you need to get the most use out of your convertible (see below). There are some problems: The radio is dated - there is no in-dash CD player available - and Ive noticed an occasional buzz that doesnt appear to be speaker related. The lock system has given me troubles in the city. The key- fob is designed terribly, its easy to set off the alarm. You can feel the frame flex in a way that a car shouldnt. The car is great at its current price point. I sure wish VW had given it the redesign that should have happened years ago. Now it looks like the Bug will replace it as VWs Cabrio.

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  Disappointed - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By K.Pyle - September 29 - 10:00 am

  Currently, I have reported to NHSTA,BBB Autoline and the AZ Attorney Generals Office on the poor relaibility and defects of my 2001 (new) Cabrio G LX. This car has been in service over 37 days..fuel pumps, cruise control,ground defaults, wheel lugs, oil pan leak, rear brake problems. There has been continous major problems with this car...and other consumers in the service dept. waiting room,also have not experienced the dependalbility one is to expect when purchasing a new car.

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  Great Car - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Larry4motion - September 29 - 10:00 am

  I bought the Passat almost 2 years ago and now have 33000 trouble-free miles on it. Its a great value, essentially an Audi for thousands less. My wife wont admit it, but I think she likes driving it better than her BMW 528I.

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  Great car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Nicole H - September 29 - 10:00 am

  This is Jetta #3. The I have had some major problems with the eletrical system with the first two Jettas I owned. I have heard they had improved with the eletrical system so I decided to buy a 2001 Jetta. I have been very happy with this car and I have not had any problems yet. The car is great on gas and its fun and comfortable to drive.

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  Cabrio Fooled Me - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By Meliz - September 29 - 7:40 am

  Dont be folled by its cute appearance. There is a reason why VW no longer makes these. It is strange how all the problems started to occur on mine right after the 25,000 mile factory warranty was up. I have never had a car before that has needed a new exhaust system at 25,000 miles, not to mention new brakes immediately after that. In addition, be warned that you can only get engine coolant for this car at a VW or Audi dealer service departments, which can also lead to expensive repairs and a long wait to even get an appointment. For those of you who are winter drivers, the Cabrio for sure is not the car you want to deal with snow and slush in.

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  Good so far - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By carnut - September 28 - 2:03 pm

  Have 13k miles on it and so far no problems. Its our first VW and was a little hesitant with other bad reviews of corky problems with VWs. Early on had the tire pressure light come on with no tire pressure problems. Also, started it one cold morning and ran really rough, turned it off, let it sit 10 min and no problems since. Did a lot of shopping and this was the best lease out there. $406/mo - zero dollars down out the door, 10k mi/yr 15K dollar residual 36mo lease. Looking back I would go with the sport package (different seats, climate, wheels & brakes).

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  Fantastic car and very nice lease! - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Salesguy07 - September 28 - 1:33 pm

  This is an overall very nice vehicle. The black on black is a sleak color choice and the standard cloth seats are wonderful. The heated seats are nice as well, and I rarely have mine turned off. nice standard features as well including the heated side mirrors! However I got the base model, and to my surprise...no floor mats??!! Yes, if you get the S model be prepared to accept delivery without floor mats. Youll have to order them seperatly which will run you about $120 for the cloth, 70 for the heavy duty rubber mats. I got the 5 speed manual and it is fun to drive. The standard stereo system sounds good for what it is and overall Im happy with my lease!

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  Please do not make a mistake of buying a VW - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By mandydj - September 28 - 8:01 am

  Worst car experience ever. Bought a 2004 passat wagon 1/1/2010. Had 60K miles. Every month or two, I had to put it in the shop. Brakes, belts, engine coils, thermostat, both front axels, airflow sensor, a/c unit, etc... all had to be replaced over the 10 months I owned it. Thank goodness I was able to get rid of it before the other well known things go wrong. I got rid of it at 74K miles... heard about the turbos in these cars going out, timing belt, etc.... never again.

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  Camry? Why? - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Macaroon - September 28 - 5:43 am

  Ive always loved Passats, and owned 2 1993 VR6/GLX, a wagon for my wife and a sedan for me. I went to my dealer to check out the GTI 5-door (Ive been saying for years they needed one), but ended up driving off in this black beauty. Same engine/trans as the GTI make it nearly as fun to drive, but I got a proper grown-up car with a huge back seat for $5K less! I used to sell Toyotas, and there is no contest between this and a Camry (except, perhaps, in the long-term cost of ownership -- but with a 3 yr lease, who cares?) Hands down, the Passat hammers the stuffing out of the Camry! This car is simply WAY more: comfortable, feature-rich, fun to drive, fuel efficient and attractive.