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:

• 

  This Car Saved My Life - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kellylong - February 26 - 3:20 am

  I totaled my Jetta in a head on collision with a guard rail after a tire blew, and walked away with minor bruises. I then turned around and bought the same exact car. People can say what they will about cup holders breaking and plastic peeling, but I say quit complaining. You either are a VW person or your not, and I am 100%. I had to replace my battery, timing belt @ 120,000k (which was a choice to avoid problems), brakes, and my battery, but these are all things that should be fixed on any vehicle with over 100,000 miles. I am a VW believer all the way.

• 

  Dont hesitatte, This is the one!!! - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wolfsburgdino - February 25 - 9:20 am

  DSG, black on gray interior. Very solid build, improvement noticeable even over 2007 model (wife has 2007 wolfsburg). Great response and performance from engine and transmission both. Nice sounding engine. 2.0t is much quieter than 2.5 unless you like to hear it growl...it can be somewhat tricky to find right driver seat position, knees tend to hit center console, but i have been able to adjust the seat to minimize the discomfort. find it very hard to stay off the accelerator. can be driving 100 and not notice it. car is very solid and you can feel it. Was able to get a very good price for it. not quite a GLI without all the extra stuff but for 7000 less, you cant beat it.

• 

  What a great little car! - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By mbloof - February 24 - 11:29 pm

  I was shopping Mini Coopers and other small economical hatch backs when I decided to try out the Golf TDI. It handles like a go-cart, feels like a mid-size, nice and quiet inside, rarely sounds like a diesel, plenty of power - you REALLY have to watch as its easy to speed in this car. Mine came with: DSG Auto, HID headlights and touch screen sound. I really was not looking for flappers on the steering or 3 way shifting tranny (auto, sport auto and manual/auto) however Im very pleased with the DSG even leaving it in "D" %99 of the time. It shifts smoothly without jerkyness. The TDI is a bit surprising - most of the time feels like a gas engine - other times some turbo lag.

• 

  Jetta TDI - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By marku - February 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought the Jetta TDI about a year ago, and have not been sorry. In terms of reliability and ergonomics, it was and is the hands down winner in its class. I get about 39MPG in mostly highway driving, which is slighly less milage then the advertised 41 highway. Bottom line: spend the extra $$$ and get the Jetta!

• 

  Good when it works - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Colin - February 22 - 2:00 am

  Puchased 1/08 w/ 79k & it now has 140k. I bought it randomly at a car auction and loved it for the first 20k. From then on I have spent $2k on stuff breaking and $1k on routine maintenance like the timing belt. From 100k to 130k I have replaced a lot of sensors, tie rod ends, bearings etc.... Ive gotten 10k trouble free miles since then, yeah! With this car you have to be vigilant about oil changes and dont skimp. It is a great highway cruiser and I average 30mpg. The drivers seat is still firm and most of the interior is holding up except for some paint peeling. All in all its an ok car, the reliability is the deal breaker for me. Ill be buying a Japanese car next.

• 

  You gotta drive this car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By love the v dub - February 22 - 2:00 am

  being 42 yr old driver I have had several new and used cars in my lifetime to this point. By far this car is a blast to drive handles like my old 280 zx but gets 40+ miles to the gallon. acceleration,cornering and all around performance is top notch . Interior is well laid out the seat could be a slight touch larger but are comfortable more sporty than plush. All in all if the expected reliability is what its supposed to be I can see myself still driving this car in 7 years from now. And what I save a month on gasoline from not driving my pick up it is just about 3/4 of my car payment

• 

  Great car, saved my life - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bludvigsen - February 21 - 12:35 pm

  This car saved my life from being broadsided at 40 mph by a much heavier car, so the structural build quality and safety features (b-pillar, side curtain airbags, engine cut-off, etc.) are impressive. Great engine/drivetrain with enough torque to beat most cars off the line and pass on the highway while doing 80+ MPH without downshifting from 5th. Thats with the 5-cyl motor and 5-spd manual Interior very well designed with high quality materials, switches, seats, etc. Very comfortable, firm seats felt great after 10 hour trips. Reliability was great for the 69K miles I owned it. No problems, only sched. maint. & oil changes.

• 

  Love my Passat - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By Love my VW - February 17 - 8:13 am

  I bought my 97 GLX Passat (manual trans.) new and have taken great care of it. I LOVE this car. Ive had few minor issues, and infrequently need service. I call it my Poor Mans BMW, as I liked it MUCH better than the used BMWs I test drove at the time. Its spacious, fun to drive, reliable, and has held up incredibly well. The only consistently poorly built item is the cup holder, of which I went through three before I gave up. Mileage could be better, and it is fairly noisy on the highway. Very spacious, huge trunk space w/ folding rear seats, and the leather has held up quite well. I highly recommend this car, if its been taken care of properly. Im at 120,000 miles and going!

• 

  Fine car with Bluetooth issues... - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Geddiesel - February 16 - 7:23 pm

  I finally reached the tipping point with filling my pig of an Audi with fuel every week and had read many positive reviews of VWs 2.0 TDI engine. I have owned several Audis and VWs so I am well aware of their iffy reliability and expensive maintenance, but Ive got a good warranty and free maintenance for 3 years. The engine and DSG transmission are perfectly matched. The powertrain is peppy, smooth and relatively quiet, considering it is a diesel. Beware of the Bluetooth option as the wagons have a crude and different module than the TDI sedan that seriously limits the functions. You can only receive incoming calls with the wagon; no downloading of phone contacts or voice control, etc.

• 

  First Impression - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TennC - February 15 - 9:56 pm

  I am still breaking in the car with only 120 miles driven. I am impressed by the engine and DSG transmission. Very smooth shifts while accelerating, and seems to find the correct gear for each situation. However,at very low speeds there is too much engine braking due to no fluid coupling so some small amount of lurching is sensed. The interior is very attractive and seems well made. The only complaint thus far is the front seats which are too hard. I hear this is a German car trait, but this doesnt impress my behind.