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 design for the price - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Edwin - March 1 - 5:43 am

  Traded in 06 Accord Coupe EX 5-Speed. Great value for 6-Speed sport. Little details with regards to interior and exterior styling make it feel like a luxury vehicle. Also considered Accord EX-L, Subaru Legacy, Mazda6, Malibu, Fusion, & Acura TSX. This was the best value based on 4-Door Sedan, 6-Speed Manual Transmission, styling, leather seats, etc.

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  Great Car - If you can afford it - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Vee-Dub - February 28 - 7:20 am

  Ill just add my voice to the many other reviews saying the same thing. Its a wonderful vehicle--its just prohibitively expensive to maintain. My story: between October 2007 and May 2008, Ive repaired/replaced the alternator, A/C hoses & drier, CV boot, brakes, timing belt and water pump, major tune-up, and several other items. In total: about $5300. The primary reason for this cost is labor, in fact, about 55-60% of every repair is labor. I believe this exorbitant cost stems primarily from the fact that they have to practically dismantle the front of the car to access anything. In short, this car is for you if you dont mind pouring truckloads of money into it to keep it running.

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  A Return to Basics - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By magicxtian - February 27 - 11:40 pm

  After ten years in the world of trucks, I returned to VW, choosing the Beetle, 20+ years from my first such vehicle. This car is incredibly well built and solid considering its compact size. Its Interior features are on the high end, making the modern day drive quite easy. The gas mileage on the TDI is over two-and-a-half times improved over my guzzling trucks of yore. It handles great in wintery conditions, accelerates like a charm, and is a real pleasure to drive, even for 6+ hour hauls. If you live in cold climates, Id recommend the cold weather package as heated seats make a world of difference. Summertime begs for the sun/moon roof, a standard on my model.

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  Amazing value! - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Sin - February 27 - 7:56 pm

  You really get a lot for your money with the 2010 Golf. The VW is a bit pricier than its competition, but you get what you pay for, because unlike its competitors its no tin can! Everything about this car is top notch. It handles well with very tight, and responsive steering. The Golf is well isolated from road noise, suspension soaks up bumps, and wind noise is so subdued its almost nonexistent. The overall fit and finish is a cut above previous generations and feels more 3-series than corolla. After all, it didnt win "World Car of the Year" award for nothing. Lets be honest, the Golf is the only car in its class that you wouldnt be ashamed to take your date in to a 5-star restaurant.

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  New Owner - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By excalibur4 - February 27 - 7:35 pm

  Just took delivery of a new Jetta 2.0 6 speed auto. Almost canceled the booking after doing my research and reading all the negative reviews on this car! Was concerned especially on the power output of only 115bhp compared to the Civic or even the City. But since using it for almost 2 weeks, the power delivery is good and unbelievable for an "outdated engine model". I reckon the engineers at VW did a good job. Bottom line, read the reviews from the end user who use it day to day instead of the pros who may test drive it for a couple of hours and form an opinion!

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  Good Car, Bad Electronics - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ncskibum - February 27 - 6:16 pm

  I love the way the Volkswagen Beetle handles. The seats are infinitely adjustable and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes. Everyone can find a comfortable position. Add to all that, the 45 mpg around town that it gets and there should be no more to say. However, VW electronics are trash. Everything links into one central processing unit so if there is a problem with a door lock, the car may decide not to go! I typically spend $500 on non-routine maintainence items a year. Routine maintainence adds another $400 - 600. I am starting to do more of my own service as an effort to save money and keep my Bug rolling down the highway.

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  New Jetta is a keeper - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Q - February 27 - 5:30 pm

  Just got a new Jetta and the ride and performance of the car are in my opinion better than the Volvo S40. The interior is well designed and spacious for a small car. I love that 6 speed automatic with triptronic and sport shift.

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  30+ MPG at 70 MPH - 2010 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Dean - February 27 - 10:00 am

  Bought the Touareg for work related driving. Smooth, powerfull, and fun to drive. Handles very well for an SUV. Routinely getting 29-31 mpg with the diesel. Tows our sailboat effortlessly. No problems the first 20k miles

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  Lemon of 2008 - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By danny - February 27 - 10:00 am

  My wife has an 2008 EOS and has had nothing but trouble with the car. We have taken it to two different dealerships to fix the problem and no one wants to do their job and fix it; it has been burning oil, the turbo is problematic, the brakes are squealing, and the top leaks whenever it rains. The mechanics at a VW dealer said bring it back every 500 miles to do oil comsuption test.The car is burning all the oil in less than 500 miles.These problems existed before the warrenty was up and the dealership said it was fixed, but they didnt fix the problems and now the warranty is expired. In my opinion I would never buy a VW again, unless you want to be stuck with a car that doesnt run & no help

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  A great car, but needs TLC - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Passat 1.8T wagon - February 27 - 10:00 am

  We bought it brand new off the boat from Germany, and we still love the car at 75,000 miles. These cars do require a little extra appreciation of the engineering and sophistication of the 1.8 turbo four with its low speed torque and light weight. Previously, we owned 3 Toyota Camrys, which also required more repairs as they got older. VW and both local dealers have been good about recall notices and anticipating problems. I started using synthetic oil changes at 5000 miles when VW offered the 80,000 mile warranty, and I think it protects during cold starts and gives a little better mileage, despite the extra cost.