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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  Great car, annoying problems - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jim D in VB - April 18 - 3:00 pm

  Great driving experience, great handling (w/17" wheels). Fuel economy is great as well. There a are NUMEROUS small problems and quality details, and most dealers as well as VW do little to back them up. Anything plastic on the inside you can count on deteriorating, or breaking at some point. Not enough to make me sorry for owning, but VW and their dealers should do more in the way of good will for their customers. Despite being a great car, their sales numbers are sliding because of the issues, although they are small.

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  the car that could - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By colton - April 18 - 12:33 pm

  this car is amazing. i love it! its so much fun to drive. the only complaint i have is the interior panels paint rubs off. but other than that theres nothing 2 complain about. i installed a cold air intake, awe turbo back exhaust, neuspeed suspension, and its GIAC chipped. this car is fast, sexy, verrrrryy fun to drive and most importantly comfortable to drive in. taking a long trip in this is more than bearable but enjoyable with a 7" dvd display head unit in. in the end i guarantee you will fall in love with this car and it will surpass all of your expectations.

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  Never again! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By 0osarahhh - April 18 - 9:34 am

  Ive had this car for about 5 months and already cannot afford the up keep! I paid $4000 for it, and have put about $2000 into it now. First I had to replace front brake hoses, right and left control arms, then the thermostat went, now I have oil leaking and a major electrical system problem. Never again will I buy another Volkswagen.

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  Solid and fun! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dana Lamb - April 18 - 2:06 am

  I bought my 2006 Passat with the V6 engine and it has been the best car I have ever owned. I had leased a Passat before with the 2.0 Turbo and my wife and I loved the roominess and easy ride. This Passat has a sports suspension (VW stiffened it up due to complaints about a "squishier" ride in older models) that she really disliked but appealed to my love of sports cars going back to the 60s. The V6 engine has been a blast, all the power I needed in tight situations and it doesnt burn oil like its Audi cousins. I just turned 100,000 miles on it and it is not only running strong but it averages 28 miles per gallon. I figured I would lose the mileage due to the larger engine but it sips gas even when I drive it hard. My only complaint is the breakdown of the headlight covers as they fog over time and some of the rubbery surfacing on the drivers side armrest and sections of the dashboard show wear with chips and peeling. The lines on the car and interior are dated now but still cool in a guy sort of way with a black exterior and interior. If you can find one with the V6 engine grab it and take it on a mountain road to fell teh power and cornering ability. sweet ride!

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  German Engineering and Performance! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Don Ho - April 17 - 9:13 am

  I purchased my Passat new in 1999. It is OK. The cup holders stink, but other than that, this is an impressive car. It has a solid build, outstanding performance from the V6, and the 5 speed just adds to the fun. Traction control really helps (this feature is tough to find with a manual transmission). Getting over 30 MPG highway is also nice. After 7 years, the only major problem was a bad water pump replaced under warranty. A couple of hard starts taught me not to leave the car sitting for more that a few days with a nearly empty fuel tank. Do-it-yourself mechanics like me will find major maintenance items a bit of a challenge, but routine stuff is no big deal (oil, filters, plugs, etc.).

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  Great car - 2015 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Geralt - April 17 - 6:50 am

  Great car for long trips, very comfortable and quiet ride, put it into Sport mode and zip around town, this car has a lot of power you can tap into. Comfortable seats and well laid out and classy looking interior. A good all round car, I like it.

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  phaeton - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Dieter Abt - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Best car on the road- incredible value for money compared to the boring BMW and Mercedes

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  This car was a dissapointment - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By SILVERADO1 - April 17 - 2:00 am

  I had this car for 2 1/2 years and 13 visits to the dealer. Everything that can go wrong with a car has gone wrong. From interior trimming coming apart, the built garage door opener breaking in pieces, electric locks replaced, throttle body replaced, electronic dash console, faulty seatbelts, 2 recalls, power window failed at last minute before trade in. This car was a nightmare, couldnt wait to get rid of it.

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  WOW - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Corsax - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Title says it all. If you dont have one, why NOT!!!

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  -tdi - pd jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lee Blanchard - April 17 - 2:00 am

  great car. performance and economy in one... and mean performance. tons of torque. great on the hills.