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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  Awesome Car! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By savxms - March 25 - 6:03 pm

  Ive had the rabbit for just about a year and it has been awesome. Everything about the car is great. Have not had any problems and made a trip a long road trip and the ride was very comfortable and smooth. definitely prefer this car.

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  Expensive to own - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By sains66 - March 25 - 5:36 pm

  I bought this car for 4,500 and i have only owned it for 8 months and i have spent over 1,700 just repairing it. Check engine light comes on, it sputters after i fill it up, and not the ABS control module has gone out. I like this car but i hate how it always breaks down...

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  Electrical Junk - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Dave - March 24 - 11:13 pm

  I wish VW would buy this junk car back. I should not be on a first name basis with the dealer service staff with only 6500 miles on the car. The vehicle has more electrical problems than I can stand, rewire the drivers seat, numerous tire PSI computers, and R/C key antenna issues (I could stand next to the vehicle and it refused to lock). Heck, I didnt even make it home from the dealer on the day we bought it before I had to turn around and bring it back for a problem! This is not what I expect from a high end SUV. Shame on you VW!

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  A grown up car - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By John Collins - March 24 - 11:58 am

  Let me start by saying I traded in my midlife crisis Mustang for this car. I am not disappointed in my decision. I needed a sedan that would allow me to shuttle customers/coworkers/suppliers. The backseat is the largest in its class, the trunk holds plenty of luggage, and the style is subtle but refined. Mechanically the car is a dream. Strong excelleration, breaking and handling. The transmission is a lot of fun. Using either the paddle shifters or the the sport shifter, the response is instant. My only complaint is the slow system bootup of the electronics, my wifes Nissan comes online instantly while the Passat takes as much as a full minute. Im hoping the upgrade in the 2016 resolves the glitch. Update: After another 10,000 miles I still enjoy the car. I admit I have shopped a bit recently but cannot find another vehicle that goes toe to toe with the V6 Passat in this price range. The closest thing I have found are a Mercedes E350 and a Lexus GS350 both of which are too much money for moving up a single Peggy on the board.

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  Loaded Beetle w sun sound nav - 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
  By chowchow - March 24 - 3:47 am

  Like the first generation CCs- this car was not designed to resemble a bar of soap and so the design immediately captured my interest and that of wife and well the interior was as nice as our CC and it had a hatch like our old SAAB and a turbo as well so out went the SAAB 2.0 4 cylinder turbo and in went the premium feeling VW Beetle - some would say 28K for the care was a lot loaded - but my 1999 SAAB 9-3 was 27K and was argubaly a much less refined ride with an interior and sound system that did not compare. The Fender sound system in the Beetle really rocks - wish I had it the 2012 R Line CC. The seats in the Beetle are very upright like chairs and very comfortable like those in SAABs.

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  Only car Ive bought two of back/back - 2013 Volkswagen GTI
  By b211 - March 24 - 1:08 am

  With over 2 dozen cars in my personal history, the 4-door GTI is the only one Ive bought two of in a row. I usually like to "try the field", but found my level of perfection with GTI. Bought a CPO 07 in 10, and had no hesitation with replacing it with a top-of-the-line Autobahn model in 2013. $30k does put you in a different altitude for car choices, but a 4-door GTI is unique and perfect. Fits 4 adults, fun, useful, and respected by those who are higher up the food chain. I get several compliments from BMW and Porsche owners on mine. The DSG transmission really "makes the car". Sure, manual is probably best for the purist. But the DSG is simply fantastic.

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  Better than Dodge or Chrysler - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By jbanger - March 24 - 12:53 am

  I know this is a Chrysler product but Routan does perform better. I compared to Town & Country rental. Routan is more responsive and comfortable. The exhaust is raspy and I fear the sliding doors will be a future pain. I think the brakes are not enough for this large vehicle. The 2nd row seats are a little sticky to move. Warranty is great.

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  Could of Been So Good! - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lorale - March 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car with 20,000 miles on it. Love the room and drive. Had way too many problems with the door handles that all had to be replaced! (at $343 each!) The interior door handles peeled, the engine light and ABS light came on and off. Had them checked, and dealer said, "No problem found". I found the car to have a ridged ride. Would of loved to have a glove compartment. This car could of been GREAT!! I wouldnt buy another one, because of the many small, but costly problems!

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  Can I Have a Do OVER! - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By Frank & Irene - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car to replace my infated 1996 Plymouth Neon due to mechanical problems thinking that I would not have the amount of problems with a new VW since we are previous owners of a 97 Golf K2. First year had the car serviced 12 time and with 3 problems took it in 2x to fix. Took the vehicle over to the BBB but VW did not want to buy it back. Will not buy another VW.

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  Pretty Good Car - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By roscoegas - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Very reliable car. Performance is fair, but gas mileage is only mediocre.