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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  Save your money - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Fun to Ride - April 11 - 2:00 am

  When I purchased this car, I bought into all the hype of how great the Passat was. I am still kicking myself for buying it. I am not a large man (59) but I felt I was really cramped up in the drivers seat. My larger friends had a heck of a time getting comfortable in the back. The 1.8 turbo is fun and this car win get out of the gate quickly, but the 13 gallon tank will make you think twice about getting on it. Options on this care are nice but VW will make you pay big time for it.

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  VX Passat - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By mark1212 - April 11 - 2:00 am

  this is an excellent car. it handles like a dream i love my car.

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  b a vw bug - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By debra e - April 11 - 2:00 am

  4 words...I love my bug...If you like attention...buy this car. I am stopped at least once a day by someone telling my how cute it is.

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  Das Auto!!!!! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By carrao33 - April 11 - 12:50 am

  My wife and I have owned a couple big ole piece of chevys, and this is our first VW, we absolutely love it! For a small car it has enough power to make the car fun to drive, the handling is good, the tan leatherette interior makes the car feel luxurious. We also love being a part of the VW family, and find ourselves unconsiously parking next to other V-dubs in parking lots. I will probably never own another american car now.

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  Fun and Powerful car - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By dyma82 - April 10 - 5:56 am

  I used to own a Mercedes 300D. I was amazed with what 40 years have done with diesel technology. Compared to my old Mercedes my new Passat does not vibrate at all, and the noiseÂ…what noiseÂ…I couldnÂ’t believe it was a diesel. Amazing how this car takes off with this little power plan. My old Mercedes took for ever to pickup speed from standing still. However, my new PassatÂ…oh manÂ…it will easily skid itÂ’s from wheels with three people inside if you push it to hard. In fact, the Passat TDI serves as a fresh reminder of this: After driving torque-rich diesels awhile, gas engines, even very powerful ones, seem anemic, as if theres a hole in their power curves. Diesels, thus, are addicting. Watch out!

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  Volkswagen Phaeton V8 - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By pharm108 - April 9 - 3:00 pm

  My Volkswagen Phaeton V8 is a great car. I considered a BMW and Mercedes but this car was love at first sight. Its uniqueness and rarity adds to the special feeling experienced driving it.

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  LEMON! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By snowcoe - April 9 - 12:28 am

  Purchased a Certified Pre-Owned car with 36k miles and have had nothing but problems from the get go! Ive brought my car in at least 7 times (3 of them occurring within the first 3 months) and I havent even owned it for a year! The warranty has covered everything so far, but having to take it into the dealer every other month is such a pain; especially since theyre not open on the weekends. It seems like as soon as one thing is fixed another breaks, not to mention the endless part recalls. The most recent issue is excessive oil consumption (adding 3 quarts in between 5k oil changes) and will have to submit a claim to VW to have it fixed. Ridiculous! Pretty car, but regret buying it!

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  Average Annual Maintenance Costs = $1500 - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By CONNIE - April 8 - 11:40 pm

  I purchased my Passat new 10 years ago. I was seduced by the style, tiptronic and cool commercials during that time. Im a sucker for Nick Drake. I now have 122k miles on the car and have gotten to know my various mechanics very well over the years. The passenger window slipped into the door - twice. That repair cost me $200+. Simple maintenance like battery changes cant be done outside of the dealership. Removing and replacing the battery disables the cars computer console which can only be reset at the dealership = cost of battery + reset fee $70. Silly things like this are common. Other replacements: tie rods, broken sunroof (within the first year) replacement cost $700; oil leaks +++

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  I love my Jetta! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Stefanie - April 8 - 12:16 pm

  I absolutely love my Jetta. It has so many upscale features and is a great value and fun to drive. For a fairly small car, its incredibly well designed, making optimal space in the backseat and a large trunk. When my lease runs out I plan to get another one! Why would I buy any other car?

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  Terrible Car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SH in AZ - April 6 - 9:03 pm

  First brand new car. Thought VW had an outstanding reputation. I have been in and out of service since I bought the car. Coolant fan kept draining the battery, check engine light on several times, and right before I dumped it, calipers and struts were bad and three of four new tires were cupping. Black looks great in the showroom but is impossible to keep looking nice. Black interior caught every piece of lint and dust creating a constant mess that a professional car detail service could not clean. Interior peels, cup holders are a joke, absolutely no leg room in the back seat, and the trunk latch broke three times. This is just to name a few. No love lost when I traded it 3 days ago.