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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  Dont miss the repair shop - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Robinowitz - November 19 - 10:00 am

  There was no greater fan of this car than me. I waited breathlessly for six years after seeing the prototype to buy it and loved it from the get go. Then all hell broke loose...literally. The whole A/C system had to be replaced at 2 years ($1200), the passenger seat lift lever broke off at 6 mos., the interior roofs compartment door broke off within 2 months, the locking fuel tank door broke around 2.5 yrs, the locking mechanism started doing a freakdance and a year after replacing the A/C system, it went out again. Had to dump it for the reliability of a good ol Nissan.

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  Perspective ... I hope this helps someon - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Asphalt - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car in February of 2000. A year or so later, the check engine light went on. Just this morning my car started smoking on the middle of the highway. I can understand the faulty sensor, but I believe I have a very big issue today. For a car to have such a problem in 2 1/2 yrs refelcts badly on VW. They have major reliability issues. Yes, this car has many good features, ie, handling, roof, heated seats, looks, stereo. Some bad ones, ie, gas mileage, high price, faulty sensors, and ??? (My car is in the dealership right now for it). From an economic perspective, there are much better choices. From a fun perspective, I believe it is above average

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  The Peoples car could be les pedestrian - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mighty Entropy - November 19 - 10:00 am

  the car is well made, but there are a lot of little things that annoy me about it... the rear tweeters keep rattling, the windows fall into the door..broken glove box, peeling interior and the worst part of all is the lousy service departments. The service department alone is enough to not want to buy this car. Sadly with all the things that go wrong there is no avoiding it.

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  All ready in shop, after first payment - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By teresabutler89 - November 18 - 2:23 am

  We researched and researched this car and felt like we were making the best decision due to its great gas mileage. I am very disappointed in our car already. We have just made our first payment and the car just broke down on us. We had to call VW roadside assistance to have it towed right from our garage. We were supposed to be given rental car to drive. I was expected to drive one hour from our home without a car to get this rental car. I would wait before buying the 2006 Jetta TDI to see if any more bugs show up in these cars. Also do not buy one if you have to sign a waiver taking away your rights to take the dealer to court. Lemon laws dont last long. There are already buy backs.

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  Good choice - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By injuryexpert - November 17 - 5:30 am

  My 08 Eos has had almost no problems in the first month. No leaks, no big wind noise, no build problems. Great power and the DSG is awesome. Of course, this car is about the top - real showoff moves. Its also practical because of this top, even in the midwest. If youre looking for fun with enough room for some friends or a golf bag in the back seat, the Eos is the best choice out there.

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  Not a bad car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SK18 - November 16 - 6:36 pm

  I bought this older car to get around town and to go back and forth from the train station mainly. Its cute and fun to drive, but just a couple of months after purchasing needed work, which the mechanics I took it to had trouble spotting. Getting it fixed has been a hassle, but thats often the case with any car.

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  Problems with my Cabrio GLX - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By Angela145 - November 12 - 2:00 am

  I have had my car for a year and a half and it has had already the water pump go and now there appears to be problems with the engine. The warranties on VW are awful and personnally I dont think i would by another one.

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  We love it.... - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By chezpi - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Last time I owned a VW diesel was a 1984 Rabbit diesel, what a difference in the 2003 TDI Golf! Had the car 2 weeks and we are amazed with the fuel economy & performance. Our dealer gave us a price less than Edmunds TMV. We have a Black exterior w/ black interior cloth and the car looks great. Also, I can fit three childrens car seats in the back for transporting around my son and his two cousins. My only concern is that it is currently in the shop due to a power failure that happened yesterday - though that could be a faulty battery that the dealer may or may not have failed to put in, so I hesitate to blame that on VW. Just cant beat the TDI!

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  Ok, but watch for back brakes - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By chordsnstrums - November 11 - 8:23 pm

  The Jetta is a good car, but...BEWARE of the rear disc brakes/pads. They become extremely noisy! Like a big rig with squeaky brakes. I just shelled out $256 on new brakes at 14K miles. VW corp offered no assistance (2,200 miles out of warranty). Their stance is that everyones brakes wear out at different rates. The CSR on the phone is the final say...there is no supervisor you can speak with. Ive never heard of them wearing out at 14K miles. The underlying cause: Parking brake out of adjustment. Now who would have thought to check the brake cable on a brand new car? Other than that, drives fine, looks good, handles great.

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  Best Beater - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tim249 - November 10 - 5:49 pm

  I average 48mpg in my TDI, bought this car for an even $1000 (etested & saftied). Came with some racing mods done (whatever). Had it for a year, replaced one $75 hose and one set of tires for $120 on sale. So in total Ive put $1195 in this car (I also only pay $89 a month to insure it as a young male driver). Also being 62" I still fit in it nicely enough. It has 456000kms on it and works great and Im still driving it as my daily driver and farm car. I work the heck out of this car and its cost me nothing, Ive easily paid this car several times over in fuel savings. Ill never buy a new car in my life if I can buy beaters like this.