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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  Unhappy with my Touareg - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By julesvw - July 2 - 10:00 am

  I have less than 1000 miles on this, and have had numerous problems. Its already had a CD player replaced, different warning lights come on, and stay on. Its had to be towed to the dealership because it wouldnt start. Overall I would NOT recommend this vehicle to anyone. I have always driven a Volkswagen, and this is my first unhappy experience. I am also very unhappy about my "default" settings in the computer of this vehicle. It keeps locking my doors at inappropraite times. The brakes are squishy, and the drive is erratic. Its also a bit sluggish even though its a V8.

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  2003 W8 - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jim Hubber - July 2 - 10:00 am

  After a year of ownership this W8 has lived up to my every expectation. I have had no problems with the vehicle. Quality, integrity, and performance are excellent. Fuel mileage is better than I expected.

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  Love this car! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dawnimer - July 2 - 10:00 am

  I had a 1999 Passat (1.8T) and traded it in for a 2004 AWD. The motor is actually zippier. I looked at the 6cyl but it was only 20 more horsepower for about $4,000 more. The 1.8T is plenty fast enough. I love this car. It is really fun to drive and sticks to the road like glue. It is confidence inspiring on wet roads. My favorite part is how cheap this car is. For what you get it is the biggest bargain on the market.

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  Expedition to Jetta and Im OK with that - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By WI_Commuter - July 2 - 10:00 am

  After 17000 miles Im very happy with the 04 Jetta wagon. Very comfortable on the highway (Im 62" and have an hour long commute, so this was a concern). Have hit 50+mpg on highway drives, average is closer to 40 though when commuting. Mine rattles between 35 and 40 mph, but cant complain cause I havent taken it in for a fix yet. I went from an 02 Eddie Bauer Expedition to the Jetta; I cant realistically tow my boat with it, but other than that Im happy with the change. I did install a class II hitch on it though and can pull a loaded 4x8 trailer easily (the low and torque is an obvious benefit here).

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  Fun to Frive - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By justin h - July 2 - 9:23 am

  Regardless of which VW you drive the suspension build is much greater than most car brands. There is no play in the steering wheel, no sway around corners, and plenty of power now that the 2.0 4 banger is gone as a base engine. After renting Pontiacs and Fords, and driving many other brands, driving a VW is how driving should feel.

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  A sweet shifting ride - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By jeffster - July 1 - 12:37 pm

  Bought this CC Sport with manual 36 months ago with 30K miles. Now up to 58K and still very pleased. Was looking for something fun and kind of distinctive to replace a 10 year old Maxima and wanted to keep a manual transmission. Was concerned about VW reputation for problems, but so far, its been okay. Had to replace water pump this last year for $900, and there were two other minor issues (under $250 to fix), so keeping fingers crossed. The transmission and engine are terrific and, so far, seem bulletproof. Plenty of power and love the turbo. A little lag, but that just makes it more fun when it spools up. Manual transmission is wonderful, smooth shifting, excellent ratios. Teaching my wife to drive stick and she likes it. I encourage everyone out there to seek out manual transmissions. They are disappearing and they shouldnt. It makes driving more fun and your maintenance costs will be lower -- there is a lot less to go wrong with a manual. And any complaints you hear about auto transmissions -- taking too long, software must need an upgrade, blah, blah, blah -- disappear with the manual. You decide when to shift, not the car, problems all solved. Okay, moving on, I am very pleased with this car. It looks great, nice lines, best view is from side. I have silver. When clean, it kind of looks like a spaceship. Tough to get out of, but that is the trade-off. Very comfortable once you are inside, cool red lights at night. All electronics still work. Bluetooth good. My only complaints are you cant get sunroof with the manual and I really, really miss that. Also, would really like a back up camera, because the sightlines on this very sleek car are really bad. For those reasons, and as I approach 60K miles, I started looking for a replacement, but after testing 13 G37, 15 Mazda 6 and 12 A4, I am actually more satisfied than ever with my CC. Think I will keep it longer and see what happens.

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  VW Experience - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Larry - July 1 - 8:16 am

  Compared to many others, the appearance caught my eye when shopping for a vehicle. Had planned to buy Toyota, but couldnt deal, and salesman was easy to talk to and arrange a deal when we bought both Touareg and Jetta for cash, no trade. Purchased both and drove home from Saskatoon to BC. Several recalls dealt with at Vernon VW, with staff there just the best! Hard on tires - 4th set at 112000 km! At 114000 both fuel pumps failed - go figure. Vernon VW replaced with goodwill partial warranty. Hope nothing else goes!

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  VERY IMPRESSED!!!!!!!! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By j sansone - July 1 - 6:00 am

  So far I seem to be very impressed with the build quality.

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  Happy 1st time VW owner - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Scott Erickson - June 30 - 11:03 pm

  I have owned the car for 2.5 months and overall, Im very satisfied. I also considered the Acura TL and Infiniti G35. Good blend of performance, fuel economy, and price for equipped features. The ride is firm, but not harsh. The interior is laid out nicely and is very comfortable. Lots of well-thought-out little touches, like the sun shades that are integrated into the rear doors and rear window. Some minor annoynances are the throttle lag, the satellite radio didnt work (after activating the service), the auto unlock sometimes doesnt work, and the car will creep forward with Hold active. There is also an annoying airflow/buffeting issue with sunroof open when speed is 35-45 mph.

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  Sweet Ride - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mr. Driver - June 30 - 6:36 pm

  I love this car. I just picked up my third Passat in six years. The turbo engine works best with a manual transmission. The ride is smooth and dignified. This is a car that likes to be driven in the same way you should drink a good wine. The 05 model has more body roll than in past years. The tradeoff is a more forgiving ride over bumpy roads, potholes, etc. As for long term problems like "oil sludge", I can only say that VWs are popular with people who like to modify their engines. They turn a 170 horsepower engine into a 240 horsepower engine, dont bother to change their oil at the suggested intervals, and then cry with outrage when their engine goes bye bye...