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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  Best of the Eurpean - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By EleanorRigby - February 9 - 2:00 am

  I like a nice car... power, comfort, and features. However, I like a standard transmission, its a must for me. This forces me into the European market. Try to find a luxury or near luxury car with a manual transmission! The Americans and Japanese just dont make them. They seem to think that just because you enjoy driving and want control over your vehicle you want an economy car. I traded in a BMW, that was my dream car, until it turned into a maintenance nightmare. This Passat has all the quality and engineering of a European car at a reasonable price.

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  Bigger - pocket rocket!! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By speedricer - February 9 - 2:00 am

  Own a 2003 GLS 1.8T for 3 weeks now. Love the drive. Even more standard features. Just remember its a compact car, not a luxury car. No complains while I still have the new car warranty.

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  Dont miss my BMW - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By marmil - February 8 - 9:40 pm

  I recently traded in my 2001 BMW 525i for a Jetta GTI. Yes you do give up some drivetrain smoothness with the diesel, however the gas mileage is amazing. The interior of the VW has better ergonomics than the BMW and the quality of materials is surprisingly good. I hope the reliability of the VW will be better than the BMW. It seems that problems begin to develop in BMWs after 40,000 miles.

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  Fun and Stylish Driving - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By dfhl923 - February 8 - 7:50 pm

  Having owned a Nissan Pathfinder and a Toyota 4Runner, this SUV topped them all. It is well built and has great handing, stylish, luxurious, fashinable, and just down right fun. Two draw backs: no automatic seats (and the crank turn is difficult) and try not to pour or get anything on the console or gear shift area. I had an air freshner attached to my AC vent. It leaked and it took the finish off the mentioned areas. It doesnt look very good. Otherwise, this is a fabulous car.

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  Best Car for the Money - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By TEXAS486 - February 8 - 12:20 pm

  I really enjoy the handling and sophisticated feel of the car. Combined with excellent mileage and top notch safety, it is the best car for the money. I average 27.4 MPG and it is fast, too.

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  Best Bang for your Buck! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Adam - February 8 - 3:00 am

  Ive had my VW Wolfsburg Passat for almost a week, and it is incredible! I just graduated from college, and I wanted to get rid of my 2002 Mazda Protege5. I wanted something more sophisticated, but still sporty enough to drive. At 63, its difficult for me to fit into sport sedans. I couldnt fit into a Lexus IS, and getting a BMW 328i wouldnt be economical as I just got my first job. I got a great deal on this Passat, and I was hesitant at first about it. After researching the car on Edmunds and other auto sites, I see that this car has it all. The turbo is plenty powerful, and I barely feel the need to go into sport mode.

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  after 14 months of ownership ~ 30K miles - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By botanybob - February 7 - 10:08 pm

  We drive the manual (stick shift) model and do a mix of country and city driving. The last tank, filled after 720 miles, we averaged almost 48 mpg, and it has been about that all summer. We had one tank go for 780 miles before the low fuel light came on. In addition, the car is very comfortable, handles beautiful, has plenty of power, and holds four people plus a large trunkful of supplies easily and with room to spare.

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  Nice Car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lapdog - February 7 - 10:00 am

  In Returning from Europe I was searching for a new dependable fuel saving small car. First choice was the 80 MPG VW Lupo, not available in the US! Not many choices to choose from in the U.S. when it comes to fuel saving cars. I looked at cheaper makes, bragging in their adverts of getting 30 MPG. I donÂ’t consider this very good for a 4 cyl. I settled for the Jetta TDI. This is a nice car I still avg 48 MPG. Hwy 65 MPH its around 55 MPG. I have had 3 problems; 1st the pass. window came un attached. 2nd & 3rd the Turbo and Mass air flow had to be replaced. All fixed by warrenty. Current 70000 mi.

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  Great Car!! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By JasonS1012 - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Best car Ive ever owned. The only problem is I cant get it away from my wife.

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  Swing and a miss - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By DF4811 - February 7 - 10:00 am

  I use my 03 Passat 1.8T as a commuter car, amassing 36k miles per year. Everything was working great until about 44,000 miles - when the "low oil pressure" warning light came on. I stopped the car immediately and had it towed to the dealer, who told me that I needed a new engine due to engine oil sludge build- up(!) Thankfully, I took it to an independant shop for a second opinion. They changed the oil pump and saved me $6,000. Aparently, this small turbo-charged engine heats the oil excessively causing it to "sludge", clog the oil pump and burn up the engine. Ive read in other VW forums that this is a common problem. Avoid the 1.8T and go with the V6.