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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  It feels old - 2015 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bender - February 24 - 5:00 am

  Transmission... shifts like: toom-toom. Diesel is good on gas? Think again: you got to buy solution to add to the fuel. Dealers cost $150 every 5,000-10,000 miles. It ruins all savings. Or a car wont start. I didnt like: cheap interior materials, old style, price is too high. Car feel like 10 y.o. already.

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  Dud Airbags - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jettaistoast - February 24 - 2:55 am

  I purchased this car thinking its safety features were outstanding. Not so much. Icy roads sent me into a guard rail head first then spun around and slammed into my drivers side... at 35-40mph. No steering wheel airbag deployment... No side airbag deployment. The metal in the car crumpled like tin foil and all of its plastic parts shattered like glass. Two weeks later I recieved a letter in the mail stating the transmission was being recalled and the winshield wiper plastic was cutting into the fuel lines causing them to leak. I purchased this car with cash... I should have gone on vacation instead.

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  Run dont walk from this car! - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Angry VW owner - February 24 - 12:00 am

  I purchased this car from a friend who had won it. So, I was considered a 2nd owner, so I got cheated out of a 50K mile warranty by VW, even though my friend never insured or drove the car. Beyond that the car is plain and simple--JUNK! The catalytic converter needed to be replaced at about 52K miles, VW wouldnt warranty it. They finally did up to 100k by that time I had over 100K. The check engine light has been on forever, and the transmission is sketchy. The interior is a mess. Cup holders broken, seat fabric is torn, rear view mirror is a joke, not to mention the interior light. Trunk release broken and the fuel release door broken. Dont buy this car unless your are a masochist

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  Did not like overall - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Daniel - February 23 - 5:13 am

  I was very dissapointed in the car, it was a demo when I bought it with less than 10,000 miles but still in perfect condition and the price was acceptable but right away it started over heating and had electronic & ignition problems, I was not getting the gas mileage I should have and it completely shut down one time and left me stranded while out of town. repairs were made but still had electronic issues to date, This was my first Volkswagen purchase and I was not impressed at all, I recently traded the car in at a loss just to get rid of this headache machine.

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  under rated TDI - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Huggybear - February 22 - 3:26 pm

  I consistently get 48-50 mph highway milage at a steady 70mph. It should be written about more as a superb vehicle, worth every penny!

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  Fun to drive when not in the shop - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sean - February 22 - 1:16 pm

  I purchased my Jetta with 5 miles and all options. After 5 years, it has about 30K miles (I dont drive much) and is often in the shop. If the engine light isnt on then its a recall. Its had electrical issues (interior dash lights no longer works), rear pillar rattling, suspension problems and the list goes on. Once off warranty, the repairs are very costly! Im not sure how some can rate this car with a 9 or 10 reliability. Perhaps I got the lemon. Its a fun car to drive but definitely my last VW.

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  Too Many Problems!!! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ransomdoll - February 22 - 10:00 am

  I dont recommend anyone to buy this car.The first week I had the car, my window fell!!! Ive been back for that same problem 4 more times since. Ive also had a brake sensor malfunction, so I couldnt get my car off of park and had to get it towed to the dealership. Ive had to replace the airconditioning module and fan and now have to replace the control module for the car. The inside is also peeling, the armrest broke and the seats collect fuzz like crazy. Its not worth it!! Save yourself the trouble. A 2001 model is still rather new to be having all these freaken problems.

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  WHAT A RUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MICHALE BERLIN - February 22 - 10:00 am

  GREAT CAR GREAT POWER NO PROBLEMS,I HAVE THE TOP OF THE LINE AND WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT ANY OTHER CAR.

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  The bug didnt bug me - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By bugboy - February 22 - 10:00 am

  Fun Car to drive 2.0 gas version feels sluggish ,however its styling won me over great looking car ,we plan to get ba convertable soon

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  Touareg--no compromise - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By xp - February 22 - 10:00 am

  I don’t think I could ever buy a vehicle without air suspension again. It’s really a no-compromise experience. Sticks to the road like nothing I have driven before. There is almost no perceptible body lean in aggressive maneuvering. No SUV handles better than this one. I’m pretty impressed with the v8 overall. When I do a throttle kick- down, I get good response without a noticeable delay. Tranmission shifts harder that I’d like. The controls are generally intuitive. It’s the little details that make the most difference here. The cockpit is quite amazing looking overall. Visibility is great. The rear folding seatbacks are finicky about locking back in.