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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  Very Poor GPS System - 2010 Volkswagen Touareg
  By deh2 - December 23 - 3:39 am

  I have had problems with my GPS since I purchased the vehicle. It often will have you exit & do a U turn only to bring you down the same road,do this a few times in rush hour and see how you feel!! I reported it to the dealer I purchased it from in Georgetown,TX & was told there was no fix yet. I have since moved to Houston,TX took my Toureg in before the warranty went out. They told me that they have heard this numerous times before & could fix it for $200.00 new software. I called the Volkswagen customer service and was told the same thing. 50K vehicle and wont fix the problem that it came with, that way of doing business does not work for me folks!! Imagine a big problem, eh!

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  My Easter Basket - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By MissMix - December 23 - 2:00 am

  I cant decide if I love this car or hate it. Snow and tractor trailers are the enemy! Once the warranty expired, the problems started. MANY electrical problems and a coolant leak, so far. If Volkswagens are so reliable, why is the warranty so short? The back seat is roomy, but the front isnt. Try starting it without the wipers coming on! The interior panel material wear too quickly (door handles). With a 2.slOw, it barely gets out of its own way. Not the car to not someone off in! FAR too much wind noise on the highway. Easy parking and very easy to "transform". With the top down, it looks like an Easter basket!

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  Kick *ss FUN - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By tyster - December 23 - 2:00 am

  I trully love my 337. Ive never had a car that was fun to drive; this one is. Very fun to pick up a friend and jump on the road. Curves are the best. Did have one problem; an ignition coil went out. The AAA roadside service towed it 15 miles to Pasadena and I got a loaner for the day. They fixed it at no expense, so I was happy. They did say that there was a bad batch of ignition coils, so it might happen again.

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  Great Car - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By SeanW - December 23 - 2:00 am

  I have not had one iota of trouble in 3 1/2 years of owning this car. It is great to drive, looks fantastic, and has held its value.

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  1.8 T - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By fec29457 - December 23 - 2:00 am

  1.8 gls good mix of all the things I was looking for. sporty,reliable and good on gas.

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  Happy Bug - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By kjclow - December 23 - 2:00 am

  This is one of the funnest little cars to drive. It has good pep and excellent mileage. It will do about any speed but watch out for blue lights. The car is well made and has had very few problems. Fit and finish are pretty good.

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  Bad choice - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Missyv - December 22 - 5:23 pm

  I am not pleased with this car AT ALL! I bought it brand new in 2001 and for the first 3 or 4 yrs it was good besides the cheap plastic on the interior, broken knobs, broken armrest, door handle material peeling off. After this (warranty no more) all hell broke loose. My ac broke twice, my clutch messed up and now my strutters need to be replace. I have only 65,000 miles on this car and it is only 6 /2 yrs old. I am definitely not buying another VW ever again! Engine light coming on, I wish I had done a little more research on this make and model before I purchased.

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  New Jetta TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By G. Adams - December 22 - 9:06 am

  This is one of the best cars I have ever owned. I have had Jaguars, Mercedes, and everything in between. Hybrids will be extinct in five years. Look out for the diesels!

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  Will Not Buy Another One - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By WV VW - December 22 - 5:06 am

  I purchased my V6 4Motion new and had only minor issues for the first 2 years. Love to drive this car. It is hard on tires and brakes. I am now in my 5th year of ownership and spent nearly $3000 in repairs this year. The alternator went bad followed by a leak in the seam of the gas tank. This should have been addressed by VW as a recall. There is not even a service bulletin to found even though I know of other cases. On top of that when replacing the fuel tank, I found that VW changed the design to the fuel tank which meant that the fuel sending unit had to be replaced. When I contacted VW all they offered to do was send me a $1500 voucher for a new VW. Fat chance!!

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  Steer away - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By Tom - December 21 - 8:51 pm

  The electronics are designed to where you have to take it to the dealer for check light resets, the radios go out and are expensive to replace. I bought mine with 80,000 miles, the check engine light came on everytime I started it. The reset only lasted 2 weeks. I took it to the dealer, he told me they have the only computer that will reset it. He was right. If vw offers to buy it back, Ill sell it back and never buy another.