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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  VW TDI is a good choice - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By yellowdr - May 17 - 2:00 am

  The TDI is a great option for those looking for some fun, fuel economy, interior comfort, and style. The diesel is a little different than the gas engine and might take getting used to but the turbo diesel pick up makes a difference. This car is hard to keep under 70 on the highway. The front plastic piece is TOO close to the ground and often scrapes when pulling out of parking lots.

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  exactly what i expected - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ucjrh1989 - May 17 - 2:00 am

  it took me quite awhile to find one of these things at the right price but i have thoroughly enjoyed the experience thus far. i kind of prepared myself for the inevitable freak repair but in my case it was simply the stereo going dead at the 10000 mile mark. if you know how to drive a manual, definitely go that route with this car. this was a great trade-up from my jetta and i look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

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  sub audi - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Bartosz - May 17 - 2:00 am

  The Passat is as well built as his richer brother Audi, and the GLX on which everything is "standard" is a bargain whereas BMW or Audi would cost me 40k with same options. No brainer.

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  buy another car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By floridajetta - May 17 - 2:00 am

  very small inside not comfortable. Drink holder blocks radio. Rear view mirror fell off week after we bought it...grill fell off.

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  Reliably Fun! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lisa Willett - May 17 - 2:00 am

  Its one thing to have a fun car, but to have a car that is also reliable, NOW THATS FUN you can RELY ON! This is my 4th VW...The 1.8T is by far my favorite...Could I afford a more expensive car, Yup! But I went back to a VW. Why? Its the perfect blend of performance, function and practicality- Overall, its a GREAT RIDE!

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  Great car - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By NS - May 16 - 6:06 pm

  I bought my Passat at 120k, Im up to 155 now with no major problems. Only repairs Ive had to make were a faulty coolant sensor, serp belt, and a control arm - all less than $300, and pretty routine maintenance. Car gets good mpgs, I typically get around 28-30 on the interstate.

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  Dieses Auto ist groß - 2012 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By etaggart - May 16 - 11:28 am

  Ive had my TDI Sportwagen for about 3 months now. I went from a large SUV (Durango) to this wagon. I LOVE IT. I have owned SAABs in the past and appreciate the european feel to the interior. The Panoramic sunroof is AWESOME. Love the torque and power of the TDI and the DSG transmission is great. The DSG does take a bit to get used to and I can understand why the previous reviewer complained. The DSG "downshifts" when you are coming to a light much like you might in a manual. The "bucking" can be experienced when the engine is cold (1-2 min) and you hover your throttle between giving it fuel and not.. However, once you realize what the deal is you can avoid that situation totally!

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  AWESOME!!!!!!! (as expected) - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By sammyc78 - May 16 - 9:19 am

  Absolutely the best engineered, designed and built vehicle ever!!

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  GARBAGE! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By xtr3medriver - May 15 - 11:30 am

  I bought my July of 2006. It ran wonderful in the summer but as soon as winter came around it started dying on me. I started to notice every time the temp outside went under 30 degrees, my car wouldnt run. We took it to the mechanics and had the alternator, battery, plugs & wires all replaced. It still would die. Then we took it in and had the whole wire harness replaced, it seemed to work for a few days then started dying again. Weve taken it to the dealership and they cant even figure out what the problem is.

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  My VW Nightmare since 2005 - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By I Hate VW - May 15 - 3:13 am

  I have been experiencing constant issues with Volkswagen since I purchased it in 2005. I think it is the company at a whole not the dealership alone. My car is always serviced by the inexperienced mechanic. I seriously had parts broken and fall of after a service from a VW dealership. I can understand if I was going on the corner to have my car repaired then I would be accountable. I just want VW to be accountable for once. Always a service engine light, PCV value, manifold issue, brakes or whatever else that occurs.I am not stopping here. I refuse be treated in this manner. The consumers need to stand up and demand that we are valued. Alert the media and Congress. Someone will listen