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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  Relibable Little Car - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By reignevryd - June 27 - 2:20 pm

  I have to say that my first experience back with a Jetta wasnt a good one. It was a piece of junk. It was a 1995 GL, however it could have been a good car at one time. Now, I have the 97 GLS, bought used, and it has been a very reliable car. It feels good knowing that every morning when I go to work, it will fire right up. My car has had a few minor issues with the electrical system, such as the door locks and sunroof, but otherwise it is a great ride. I like the dash setup, and as a parent, this is crucial in order to control the locks, windows, and lighting with one hand.

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  Great car! - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Andrew S - June 27 - 2:56 am

  My overall experience with my first VW is great. I travel for my job which means Im in my car for 3-5 hours everyday. Being 62", the electric leather seats with memory is a wonderful feature and very comfortable. The pickup and fuel economy mix is perfect as I like to take the corners quick and use the cruise control for the highways. Good looks and solid VW engineering. Purchased in Dec 08 and this review written in Sept 09 its been great.

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  2005 Jetta - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By John - June 26 - 7:53 pm

  Not much power from the 5-cylinder motor when compared against comporably priced cars, but a more sophisticated and expensive looking and feeling interior. It is annoying that the car forces both driver and passenger to put a seatbelt on or it keeps beeping.

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  the hot hatch lives again - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By volsfan0911 - June 26 - 1:46 pm

  Had for 1 week now. Although VW has a bad rap for reliability, so far, so good. Build quality is outstanding both inside and out. 2.0L turbo 4 banger is a beautiful motor - torque band starts right off idle practically and pulls cleanly to 6K. Shifter, clutch, steering, seats, real handbrake (a lever, not a stupid foot pedal) - all the drivers controls are excellent. No torque steer, XDS genuinely helpful. Not as fast as a MS3 but much more composed and refined. My only car and is a GREAT commuter IMHO. Reasonable mileage, comfy enough for road trips yet an absolute blast to hit backroads on. Feels much quicker than the numbers suggest. And its FAST - 100 mph comes up quickly!

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  So far so good - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Happy MPG - June 26 - 7:50 am

  Traded in a mini van for this car. I am a true car nut (also drive a 2007 BMW m5) and I really enjoy driving this car. It has an amazing combination of low end power and fuel economy with great features. Fuel consumption is good but not great. I do about 40% city and 60% hwy and have yet to break 34 mpg. I am hoping down the road it improves.

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  Thinking of Buying a Passat, DONT - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By lhand - June 25 - 11:23 pm

  The car was purchased as a certified unit from a local dealer. It is the first VW that I have ever owned. My first complaint was liquid appearing in my driveway. No oil leak was found but the dealer replaced hose none the less. Next the dash lights went out. This was fixed under warranty. Since the 24,000 mile / 24 month warranty went out I have replaced both tie rod ends, the ign control module, side mirror switch and a leaking transmission output shaft seal. My dealer states that the leak was different from the one earlier when the car was under warranty. My car has 69,000 miles on it. The books that come with the car state to take it to the dealer for air filter, plugs, wires or anything else. Never again will I buy a German car. this is my first and last VW.

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  Best Value for Base Model Out in the Market - 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Tom Rasmussen - June 25 - 8:28 pm

  This car is for my daughter for use at college and to get home on holidays. We checked out all the standard SUVs and test drove: Honda CRV, RAV4, Mazada CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, and Kia Sportage. Our selection criteria was all wheel drive, good acceleration, elevated seating view, heated car seats and decent gas mileage. Each of the cars tested had it pros and cons. We finally selected the 2017 Tiguan despite its aged design; 2018 will have a major update. This review is based on the first two thousand miles. Pros: all wheel drive, high quality leatherette, heated seats, XM radio, Apple Car Play, rain sensing wipers, acceleration (turbo), and lots of standard features in base model. Cons: uses premium fuel, gas mileage not as good as competitors, and limited cargo space (although decent with seats down). Sticker price was around $28K and you should easily get one for at least $3K off.

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  Great, except for the transmission - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By jxenon - June 25 - 12:45 pm

  This is a great car, however, the programming of the automatic transmission is horrible! To achieve high MPG, the transmission shifts to 6th gear around 35 or 40 mph! The result is very low RPM and engine noise. This happens in D mode. Going to S mode is not a solution since then, the shifting point is around 3000 RPM which is then too high. So hopefully VW of North America addresses this and does a reprogramming of the transmission.

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  Fun to drive! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tony - June 24 - 9:13 am

  I was hesitating when I purchased this 2007 Passat because of the bad reliability reviews on the previous models. But I was really impressed by its performance while test driving, besides, 90% part of 2007 Passat were made in Germany, so I assumed the manufacturer made some progress on it. So far I have been driving my Passat for 5 months and I love it very much. I dont regret that I chose Passat over Accord EX at the same price range, and I hope I dont regret my choice after several years. Now I am giving high rating for it. If there is anything happen in the future, I will follow up in Edmunds.

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  First VW - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Hector - June 23 - 9:10 pm

  Did my research on Edmunds customer reviews and the Passat had consistent stellar reviews. Considered Honda, Subaru, Volvo but kept going back to the Passat. Wanted something sporty, family friendly, and decent gas mileage and Passat won me over. The Passat is quick and a blast to drive! We have a SUV for family trips and a luxury Japanese sedan but we seem to always take out the VW! A little expensive than other brands but a little negotiating can put you at the same price range for a better car.