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:

• 

  VW 4 dr Jetta GLS Review - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jstich - January 17 - 7:13 pm

  I hear occasional creaking from the door and under the dash area when driving (mostly when making fast turns or going over bumps). This is my only problem with the car, aside from its seemingly lower gas mileage for a car of its size. I was told at a VW dealership that the body was re- enforced by 50% on the new body style, so that is definitely something to consider.

• 

  2002 Gold TDI - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By DieselFan - January 17 - 10:23 am

  This is a fun to drive, very economical and reliable car. Its hatchback style converts the trunk into a huge cargo area relative to the size of the vehicle.

• 

  Excellent Ride! - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Victor Cortez - January 17 - 10:00 am

  I love driving this car!

• 

  VW PASSAT - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By boomer6400 - January 17 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Passat with slightly less than 60000 miles. I have had it for a half a year with only one problem. The ignition coils needed to be replaced. It is a V6 and I thought only the 1.8T had problems with this. The only other problem I have had is keeping my girlfriend from borrowing it. This is a great car for someone who wants to step up from a boring Camry or Accord.

• 

  Dont buy me because I suck - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By hatesthebug - January 17 - 10:00 am

  From this experience I will never buy another Volkswagen again, and thats sad because I own 3 older ones. Starting from the broken CD on through the broken sunroof, just about anything mechanical that can fall apart did. We have had our Beetle into the dealer 5 times for various issues which included a recalled oxygen sensor to sputtering performance. And ironically, everytime we took it in our moron mechanics failed to report it. I will never buy a car from Continental of Joplin again, and Volkswagen has lost my familys business forever for shoddy workmanship and terrible dealer service. I rate this car the worst ever purchased.

• 

  OH NO!!! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jonathan38 - January 17 - 10:00 am

  My Jetta only has 368 miles on it and (already) the power windows, the map lights and the power locks stopped working! I read the reviews about the 2002 models and the horror stories about the windows falling into the doors never to return. I figured by now the manufacturer would have its &^%$ together. Come on VW...Stop drinking on the assembly line!!!

• 

  Do Not Buy....:( - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By inthaps - January 17 - 10:00 am

  There are serval issues that will come along with a owning a Jetta. The car is one of the most unreliable car I have ever owned. Malfunctions-power windows, transmission, water pump, sound system, engine coil. I hope this review will help you choose your vehicle wisely. I wish that I would have done more research. Do not be fool to believe that all VW owners are truly happy. Ask the opinion of those that are near the service department of the dealer you may choose to visit. They will speak the truth and not steer you in the wrong direction, since they have first hand experience.

• 

  Golf TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Golf
  By robert koepp - January 17 - 7:03 am

  This is a great little car. Im glad that I bought it when I did. It seems they are hard to come by. I keep very careful record of my gas mileage and the overall average is approxiately 43 miles/gallon. It is a great little car that seems to be well built.

• 

  Solid Performer - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By socalduck - January 17 - 5:13 am

  We purchased new in 2000. Interior quality and excellent handling were the two major selling points. Despite some concerns regarding VW quality, this car has been reliable and virtually problem-free. The one major mechanical issue was an oil seal failure back in 2005, which was covered by VW even though the car was out of warranty; it pays to keep all of your service records! Biggest beef has been the need to use premium fuel, but otherwise this has proven to be a great family car that offers European handling and performance at a reasonable price.

• 

  NO PROBLEMS AT ALL - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dana Ostrom - January 17 - 3:15 am

  Our beautiful blue Jetta has 31000 miles on it. The whole time we have owned it, weve had only one recall, and it was fixed promptly. We had the light switch in the trunk go out and Fowler VW fixed it within 2 hours. This car rides so smooth on the freeway with no engine noise coming into the cab. As a matter of fact, we were going up Raton pass to Denver last year and didnt even realize we were doing 125 mph. Still no engine or road noise inside. The one thing in this car that sold the car was the lumbar support. The car was for my wife so she had to be satisfied. We drove the Jetta, a Corrolla, a Sonata and a Mini. The only requirement I had was 4 doors. The only thing I would say that needs to be changed on the VWs made in Mexico is the turn signals in back. This is supposed to be a world-class car. The turn signals should be amber as they are when made in Germany. Mexican VWs have red turn signals.