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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  volkswagen hit a homerun! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jmc detail - February 7 - 10:00 am

  This is the best vw for the money on the market right now.I love all the extra goodies you get with this package.This is my seventh vw and is the best one by far!I would strongly recomend to anyone in the market for a sports sedan.

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  jetta tdi - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hcrace - February 7 - 10:00 am

  very nice car great milage

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  Over the Moon - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By HarvestMoon Babe - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Recently, I purchased a Harvest Moon Beige VW Beetle Convertible. I must say that I am enjoying this car tremendously. It is so much fun to drive, so much so, that sometimes I am disappointed when I reach my destination. I have not had a problem with my car thus far. The exterior looks great, the interior is "slamming" and the sound system is fantastic. I love the interior lights and the CD player. I am totally satisfied with my purchase. Indeed, when driving this car, one gets lots of stares, smiles, and thumbs up!

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  No Regrets - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kaigoss69 - February 7 - 5:00 am

  I bought this car as a family car (2 adults, 2 young kids) to replace our Honda Pilot. I must say I was very leary about getting rid of the bigger Pilot, mainly because of the loss in cabin and trunk space, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of trunk space the Jetta offers, and interior space, especially in the back seat, is sufficient for our needs. The 2005 model offers a lot of "bells and whistles" standard that do not come standard in the 2006 model, and thats the main reason I went with an 05. The interior design and build quality are superb. The car is built like a rock. The ride is nice and sporty, acceleration is decent. Gas mileage is 20 C / 32 H after 700 miles.

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  Been Great - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By TheGoodDriver - February 6 - 9:06 pm

  This is a follow-up from my previous review a yr ago. So far, everythings been great about this vehicle and it now has 15,500 miles, with no electrical/mechanical issues. The Routans interior is the nicest of all minivans Ive test-driven. Best of all, the ride comfort and quietness give me and my family a peace of mind, and I learned how very important it is to be able to carry a normal conversation on a long trip, which you cannot do if youre in other popular (for no real reason) minivans that produce wind/road noise. Chryslers done an awesome job for the Routan and the VWs suspensions just ingenious— makes it a luxury minivan, not an average utility vehicle for a family.

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  A Very Well Rounded Car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ryanw183 - February 6 - 6:10 pm

  This car is awsome. Simple as that. I spent a few months researching new cars. I wanted something that was comfortable to drive with good power and decent fuel economy. I looked at the Mercury Milan (nice car, but lacking in features) and even the Dodge Charger (awsome car, but too big and pricey). I finally settled on the new VW Jetta. It was pretty much love at first test drive. Even with the "base" 2.5L 5-cyl. motor, it was supprisingly peppy with decent fuel economy. I got the loaded Pacakge #2 model so it pretty much has just about every option you can get except for the navigation ($2,000 option). This car has everything I need and then some.

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  No More VWs for Me! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ellyn - February 6 - 4:53 pm

  My Passat has had so many malfunctions and about 15 trips to the service dept. The ignition coil melted, which put my car out of commission for over a week. The low tire pressure light comes on often. After I filled all 4 tires with the recommended 33PSI,the light went out for 1 day and came back, I called the dealership, they told me they like to see 40 PSI, so I did. Still light trouble. I continued to call and they told me maybe the sensor has not yet registered and to drive my car for a few days to see if it goes out. Nope and then I was stranded on the road because the tire blew to pieces! Short story,the tire pressure regulator was defective. VW did not want to be responsible. VW rude!

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  Fun GTI - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By martint - February 6 - 7:49 am

  I changed from a Mini Clubman S to the GTI. The mini was fun but got tired of the torque steer. The GTI is a great balance of handling and speed. As a person who prefers a stick to an auto the DSG transmission in this car is excellent, as I use all 3 modes, the manual mode being the best for spirited driving. The interior is exremely welcoming and comfortable. I am always disappointed when I arrive at my destination. I look forward to many miles of happy motoring, and hope not to many tickets.

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  A little German car feeling - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Manuel L. - February 6 - 2:20 am

  I purchased this 2012 as a CPO with 30k miles on it and have 57k now after one year of primarily interstate driving. So far I have only had oil changes every 10k miles and a broken drive belt replaced under warranty. The car required a set of new tires at 52k and brakes are still like new. The interior has a cheap feeling for a German car but thats OK for the price of a Korean car. Leatherette is very durable and comfortable. I chose the 2.5 engine with 6 speed auto transmission because this combination appears to be very reliable. I dont see why people buy the TDI with diesel being more expensive than gas in the United States. In Europe it is the other way around. I wish I had a Jetta with a hatch but actually the sedan is very roomy inside out. Can highly recommend this car so far and plan to drive it up to 100k or until problems appear. MPG is not as good as all the 4 cylinders around but it does feel more like a 6 cylinder.

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  I should have bought a Honda - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Goldman - February 5 - 3:16 pm

  I bought this car because I was following my heart and ignoring my head, what a costly mistake. I am currently in discussions with an attorney on lemon lawing the car. The car would not start the first day I had it. Towed to dealer, was told it was a software glitch. Two days later car left me and a client stranded out at lunch. Again, the dealer says software glitch. Last night the wipers would not work in a storm. I sat on the side of the road burning up my cell phone minutes instead. I have come to find out that the zone rep is not believable and that VW could care less. Ive gone as far as speaking with a VP of Customer Care. He said in so many words, you have a warranty.