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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  good stuff - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By aaron8986 - July 7 - 10:00 am

  great car. Stealthy sleeper look but unheralded performance. Great interior, great ergonomics. One of the reasons i like german cars so much. Turbo...who could argue with it?

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  at the garage al the time - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By gabor - July 7 - 10:00 am

  We loved the design and many other things. However, this car is at the garage all the time. The warning message comes up all the time , falsely stating that the tires are flat, or we shud check tire pressure. The break lights failed, then the radio/ nav system failed (they put in a new one, now we cant get certain chanels), then the hazard switch could not be turned off and neede replacing etc. We did 10000 miles and already need new tires. Tomorrow is the fifth time within 10 days that I am going to the garage...

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  Underwhelmed - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Frakleahustalasta - July 7 - 10:00 am

  Have owned this car for 14 months now and still not pleased with it. Turbo is overly touchy, handling is poor, lacks extra power at highway speeds and transmission is not overly smooth. Have had minor problems - drivers side window fell off track, mirror adjustment knob broke-off and seal around headlight took on moisture (all 3 items were covered under waranty). Monsoon Sound System is not spectacular (but probably better than a No his, no lows must be Bose system). The car can take a good hit though. Recently was T-boned on the passenger side (11k worth of damage) and the car protected me well.

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  Dependable Winter Car with handles. - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By TDotten - July 7 - 6:40 am

  I have only owned the car for about 8 months, but I absolutely love it. I bought the car from a guy who was meticulous in his maintenance and it has been extremely reliable. The guy also upgraded the suspension with Kuni springs and Eibach struts (plus UHP tires), so it handles ridiculously well. It is more fun to drive than any car I have ever owned and its a station wagon! We also have a 100 Lb lab/Great dane, and he fits well in the back due to the largest trunk in its class. I couldnt be happier with the car and it is an absolute pleasure to drive.

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  Service to Death! - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Marj - July 6 - 7:23 pm

  Let me start by saying I love my Passat, but my husband hates it (hes a loyal Toyota fan). I dig the performance drive. I can overlook little things, but the number of times I have taken this car to the shop is insane! Repairs range between $300 and $1,500 each, even the little things. I never use anything but synthetic for oil changes, which are $50. Last week the power door lock on the drivers door stopped working, its a $400 repair. I also need tie rods and an alignment. I am considering ditching this fun to drive wagon for a vanilla vehicle. Can VW say low maintenance?

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  Reliable, Comfortable - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Hozer - July 6 - 3:40 pm

  Bought the car new in 2003 and am about to turn 100,000 miles. Still getting 32mpg on the highway. Very comfortable car for the size. Only problems are the plastic water pump (replaced at 70k) and a touchy check engine light.

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  Pleasantly Surprised! - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Riteon - July 5 - 7:00 pm

  I religiously research cars so I cross shopped the Audi Q5, VW CC, etc. and was sold on the CC. I never considered to research the Tiguan because I just thought it was too small. I was there to get the CC when I saw this White Gold SEL fully loaded. Took it for a spin and was sold. Bought it right there. Had it for a few days now and still finding things I love about it. I put the car in reverse and was surprised to see the backup camera. I didnt even know it was there till after I bought it. The ride is so smooth and responsive. The interior on the SEL is outstanding. Its nicer than the Audi Q5. I highly recommend this car.

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  Scap Metal on Wheels - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By scrapMetalWithEngine - July 4 - 3:50 am

  I loved my Jetta when I bought it, until one day the air conditioning blew hot and would cost $1,300 to fix due to compressor failure, the windows motors went out before that, so now my car is a portable sauna. It has an oil leek, the automatic transmission automatically drops itself into neutral. The silver paint is oxidizing and rusting (this shouldnt happen), and the dip stick broken and inaccurate. I also agree that the recline twist handle is midevil torture. The timing belt rotated and caused my engine to turn off and not start. This happened while driving...scary and costly. All in all, Id rather burn my money than buy a 99 Jetta Wolfsburg. Oh yeah and my seat magically came unbolted. The speedometer works once a week if Im lucky

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  Great car, needs to be better built - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By dts - July 4 - 2:00 am

  Like the title says, I absolutely love the car, but there have just been too many reliability issues. It fits my needs perfectly -- its sporty, practical, and luxurious all at once. In the GLX level, it feels like an Audi hatchback would feel if they sold one in the U.S. But in the two years I have owned it, I have had to have the drivers side airbag replaced, the airbag wiring harness replaced, the drivers side door realigned twice, a speaker replaced twice, the drivers side window regulator replaced twice, and the engine mass air flow sensor replaced.

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  Fun to drive, defective parts - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By gtidriver301 - July 4 - 2:00 am

  Love to drive this car. But has one recall for brake wires that catch on fire. Window motors are defective, but vw will not replace them till they dont work (hope it does not rain), and the ignition coils are defective.