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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  03 VW Passat GLX - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By A-Mac - March 28 - 2:00 am

  I have enjoyed my 03 Passat that I bought 4 months ago. There are some things that I would change about it, tho. It requires premium unleaded gasoline which can quickly add up over time. Plus, it really uses quite a bit of gas. The tires that came on it (Continental Conti-Touring) are really bad tires. They ride very rough. I cant wait until I have to buy a new set so I can get some Michelins. All in all, its a really great car and if youre considering this class of vehicle, you shouldnt buy without driving the Passat.

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  A contradiction - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Barry - March 28 - 2:00 am

  I fell in love with the Jetta 1.8T when I first drove it. After owning one for several months now, I am no longer in love. While the Jetta performs well and is still fun to drive, the quality of the car is just awful. There are creaks and rattles galore. The front rotors needed to be re-machined after 1000 miles. The stereo was wired incorrectly and one of the speakers was blown. One of the air conditioner vents fell off. After driving a problem-free Nissan, this just makes me mad. Dont be fooled by the test drive: this is not a high quality car. Search some discussion boards and VW enthusiast sites and youll see what I mean.

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  Worst Car Ever - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By All Max - March 28 - 2:00 am

  The VW Jetta TDI gets great mileage, but that is where the greatness ends. On the highway the ride is tolerable but around town it sounds and feels like I’m driving a “Big-Rig”.It gets louder the more I drive it. Not only is the motor loud, but when I’m stopped I can feel my entire body vibrate. At speeds from 0-40 there are rattles in the dash and all the windows squeak constantly. The dealer says this is all within the manufacturer’s specifications. Essentially no back seat. Cup holder location is ridiculous. Unless you live for 40-mpg stay away from this poorly engineered, poorly constructed automobile.

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  car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By billythekid1234 - March 28 - 2:00 am

  the best car in the world if I had one car for the rest of my life this would be it.

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  my review - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By billwaring - March 28 - 2:00 am

  the jetta is the best car

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  Best Kept Secret in the Used Car Market - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Steve - March 28 - 1:10 am

  I purchased a used, certified model with 60,000 miles from a VW dealer. The superb materials and build quality make it seem hardly used. The buttons, carpets, leather surfaces, chrome, liners, etc all look new. The paint deserves special mention. My silver reflex paint scheme is beautiful. The car is comfortable, with ample room inside, especially the back seat area. The air suspension is sublime. This is the car to have on long trips. This car is truly exclusive, as less than 3,500 Phaetons were imported into the US. Thankfully the Phaeton remains in production, and obtaining parts is not a problem. Servicing by VW is a must. Recommend purchasing an extended warranty.

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  Jettas run over 200,000K If treated well - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By carguyexpert - March 26 - 11:44 am

  I have owned 2 Jettas 1999 and a 1995. One Got into an accident and had a little over 175,000 miles and the other is still running till this day at 206,000. Jettas are great reliable cars. If somone has a complaint about jettas they either got the very few bad ones out of the bunch or the previous owner just mistreated it before it came to you. My aunt has one that is over 250,000 miles and running. If these cars are well maintained they run like champs for a very very long time.

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  Best Car Ive Ever Owned! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Brian - March 26 - 2:13 am

  What can I say? I am now forever a loyal VW buyer. This car is absolutely amazing. I have the 2.0 with a 5 speed manual. Plenty of power even when fully loaded. I can set the cruise at 70 with people and gear in the car and pull the Grape Vine without losing speed. Awesome. The torque is also amazing. At 1800 rpm in top gear, it will accelerate. Not bad.

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  Skip the Nav - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Bob - March 26 - 1:46 am

  I have a special edition Touareg with 19" wheels, DVD Navigation and other goodies. The car is very competent in traffic, freeway, tight roads, and rough roads. Its fuel economy is not good, but we knew that when we bought it. In 3,000 miles, the only two complaints we have is that the radio or CD player comes on with the backup camera, even if it was off when the car was parked. The other problem is the navigation system is useless. Though not difficult to use it is cumbersome, slow, and usually does not have an address in the database. We still use our $500 Garmin GPS if we need navigation help.

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  Jury still out - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By msul - March 25 - 5:51 am

  I love (d) this car until it stranded me on a highway in France for no reason at all. 15,000 miles on the car and after driving 900 miles in two days it just stopped on a bridge 10 minutes from our destination. Now, the French VW dealership has had my car for 3 days and has no idea what the issue is. Who knows what the outcome will be, but service from VW is definitely lacking. Doesnt help that the French work 9-5 with a two hour break in the middle of the day either. Now I have spent most of my vacation on the phone trying to get this resolved before Friday comes since they dont work on weekends.