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 car, fun, reliable - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By dg11394 - March 28 - 7:26 am

  The 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0L provides great acceleration with good gas mileage via the turbo engine. I like the handling -it is fun to drive. The seats and positioning are very comfortable. It has a huge trunk - plus folding seats in the back give me wagon capabilities without actually driving a wagon.

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  my vw is a lemon - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By McJJrod - March 28 - 2:00 am

  I only had my passat for 6 months, where 60 days from this time the car was in service. For this time Iv driven the entire fleet of cars from local rental shop. Did I buy a new car or a waranty- lifetime rental?

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  VR6, great engine. - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By Nick Euro - March 28 - 2:00 am

  The VR6 is the reference in Europe for sporty small cars. VR6 is a fantastic engine, leather seats are great, many bells and whistle. Problems are window regulators braking, noise in the sunroof rails, suspension too soft, clutch too rubbery. Overall a good buy.

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  Almost there - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By BryanH - March 28 - 2:00 am

  The GTI is close to being very good...it mainly needs a suspension that can live up to expectations. It is too mushy to be any fun. The only other thing would be a 4 door GTI. The downside to VW is the dealerships and VWoA. The simple truth is they dont stand behind there cars and unless its a warranty repair you would be very well served to find a competant local shop and NEVER go to the dealerships. 2001 to 2003 models have severe coil pack failures and my car is one of 14 at the dealership with a failed ignition coil and it will be several weeks before I get a replacement. Pathetic!

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  Great car - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Brooke02 - March 28 - 2:00 am

  At first I thought this car was ugly but my husband kept taking me back to the dealer as this was the only car that his 6ft4 frame could fit into without his head hitting the roof even though it would be my car. After 4 years of driving this car I have had no mechanical problems.

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  WHAT A DISSAPOINTMENT - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By dr.l - March 28 - 2:00 am

  With only 14K miles this car has already had five (5) items that needed repair. Breather hose, vacuum hose,temperature sensor,ignition coil, entire dashboard gauge assembly. It seems to have been poorly assembled and the dealer cant get parts. 1 to 3 weeks wait. I worry every time I take the car out of town. Its like the old clunkers I had in school. I am terrified of what will happen when the warranty expires.

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  BugabooX2 - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By - March 28 - 2:00 am

  This is the second beetle that I have owned in a year (lost the first one to an accident) and I love it!! Its very safe and fun to drive! I love my heated leather seats...its nice in Vermont! The only complaint I have is the front cup holders in the standard! I cant even fit a water bottle in it!! Other than that I love it! Looking forward to the convertible model!!

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  My new love - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jaybee - March 28 - 2:00 am

  This is one great car; how can you argue with 45-50 mpg? It is comfortable, fun to drive and gets me where I want to go with no problems. The dash lights at night are a nice little bonus. The only problem is with the cup holder; it does block some of the audio controls, but on the other hand if the AC is on it keeps your drinks cold. The seats move enough to keep both the shortest and tallest drivers happy. I love the car but would not go to the same dealer again; he charged me about 5K more than he should have.

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  My new love - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JayBee - March 28 - 2:00 am

  This is one great car; how can you argue with 45-50 mpg? It is comfortable, fun to drive and gets me where I want to go with no problems. The dash lights at night are a nice little bonus. The only problem is with the cup holder; it does block some of the audio controls, but on the other hand if the AC is on it keeps your drinks cold. The seats move enough to keep both the shortest and tallest drivers happy. I love the car but would not go to the same dealer again; he charged me about 5K more than he should have.

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  Terrible Car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Max Allen - March 28 - 2:00 am

  It’s loud. It vibrates. The dash rattles, The windows squeak. There is no back seat. No usable cup holder. According to dealer, it’s all within mfg. Specs. My worst driving experience ever. Stay away from VW.