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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  Still gets a big smile - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Andi S. - July 31 - 10:00 pm

  Weve had the car for about 18 mos, a little over 22k miles. Not a single bug (no pun intended) with it in all these miles. Fuel economy is outstanding at 45 mpg overall (as low as 39mpg in NYC traffic, 52mpg highway). I can fit adults in the back seat for short trips (like taking client to lunch last week). Great fun to drive, and definitely does NOT fit the profile of the traditional diesel. If youve never driven one, you should try one out.

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  not as good as 14 years ago - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
  By uttley - July 30 - 7:58 pm

  We have a 2000 jetta tdi that we purchased new, and put over 400k on in the following 14 years...AWESOME car. This new jetta is a bit of a disappointment. It drives and performs fine, although the MPG isnt quite as good as with our previous car (bigger car and bigger engine though). My disappointments come from areas where they have cheapened the build. For example; our 2000 has hidden trunk hinges so you can utilize ALL the trunk space, the new one has big cheap hinge arms that rotate down into the trunk and prevent you from utilizing the entire space. 2000 jetta had a flip down sun visor above the rear view mirror, 2014 does not. 2000 has gas struts to hold up the engine hood,not on new

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  Wise choice? - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By fwypilot - July 29 - 11:43 pm

  My wife and I have owned this car for about 3 weeks now. We wanted a car that is fun to drive but also gets good gas mileage. I traded my Toyota truck for this car. Some would say that was a risky move but we were looking for better economy. I think we succeeded there so far. Were averaging 25 mpg so far. This is our first VW and we like the experience so far. The VW is very well equipped for the price. We also considered the Camry, Accord, Civic and Corolla. Each have their pros and cons but none are equipped as well as the Jetta for the same price. I think the VW has the most bang for the buck.

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  144,000 miles and counting - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By txsaggie1 - July 29 - 5:13 pm

  I bought this car as it looks cool inside and outdoor with super comfy seats. Overall, I have been pleased and I plan on driving it until it dies. Get the V6 engine! Much more reliable than V4. (Ive also never used Premium gas. 87 octane works fine.) Interior and exterior has worn well. Seats are comfy. Ride is quite and comfortable. Paint looks great. But Ive had electrical issues similar to others: Headlights burn out often, dashboard and panel lights go out. Repairs are expensive, and some maintenance can only be done at dealerships. If you are buying a used one, make sure you are aware of the VW timing belt/water pump replacement at 105,000 mile-- its $1300.

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  The SIngle Best Car You Never Knew About - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Kyle - July 29 - 1:16 pm

  My current Deep Blue Pearl 2004 R32, is actually my SECOND. In between, I drove a 2005 Audi S4 with a 344hp V-8 under its hood. I missed my 250hp (yes it DID HAVE 250 stock) uber-hatch. What can a person POSSIBLY FIND to complain about with this car, except perhaps the limited rear-seat legroom? Its faster (w simple tuning) than the Audi, has an Audi engine, Audi AWD, will stop faster than 99.9% of ALL CARS, will handle until YOU QUIT and comes with nearly all the luxury features the S4 did ( & some extra), plus its the only VW to be built by Porsche in Slovakia. 5,000 autobahn-intended machines imported at American journalists behest for the U.S. ONLY. FAST, FUN, PRACTICAL... GERMAN.

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  Volkswagen Passat 2006 - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Itzel Galindo - July 29 - 9:33 am

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  Love it so Far - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TDIinMD - July 29 - 5:40 am

  Just bought the car a week ago but I am really falling in love with it already. Only used one tank of gas but Im averaging 47MPG on mostly highway driving. Got the base TDI with no options except the Southern kit which is pretty much just extra floor mats and a trunk divider. Traded in a 06 Mazda3 and while the TDI is not as nimble on the road, it is much more compliant and comfortable for my commute. Amazing set of features for a "base" car: Touch screen satellite radio, ten airbags, heated seats and mirrors, and much more. Also like the VW 3 years/36,000 mile recommended services that are included. If the car turns out to be reliable it will be the perfect vehicle.

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  Looks cool, shoddily built - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Robbie VW - July 29 - 2:00 am

  Ive had troble after trouble with this car from the day I bought it. And the service and parts are so expensive. I should have bought a Honda Accord.

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  Looks Cool, Is a piece of Junk - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Disillusioned - July 29 - 2:00 am

  Ive had so many problems with this car I cannot even remember them all. The tailpipe fell right off the car while I was driving once. The electrical system went out. The ignition switch had to be replaced, the door strips came off three times, the handles have broken off the glove compartment, the lights have gone out in the console. I have taken excellent care of this car from day one and it has caused me nothing but grief. NOP NOT BUY ONE OF THESE. My girlfriends 12 year old Honda Accord with 115k miles on it is twice as reliable as this Jetta was, even when it was new. I will NEVER buy a Volkswagen again.

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  Great Car!!! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jlarm3 - July 29 - 2:00 am

  We have 121,000 miles on 2000 TDI automatic. The car has truly held up well for us and we plan to continue driving at this pace for years to come. Only a few complaints. Front door windows fell inside doors (replaced under warranty). Was surprised about the need to change timing belt so often (40,000 miles w/auto trans). Front bumper cover too low-will pull off if you park too close to curb. Also a little crowded in back seat. Will buy another one!!!