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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  Great Car! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lyndy - February 3 - 2:23 pm

  I bought this car in January and already have 13000 miles on it. The dealership has given me great deals on maintenance and I havent had any problems. I love how it drives and it is easy to handle. This is the first new car Ive ever bought and its great. So far its been a reliable, low maintenance car!

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  Best bang for the buck, but misses on MPG - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sallywagg - February 3 - 8:27 am

  I bought this car for one simple reason: CHEAP! You cant beat the price for the size and standard features that this car has! The only issue is that VW really missed the mark for fuel economy and the crappy tires really hurt its performance potential. However, this is the PERFECT car for a beginning driver or daily commuter!! It is truly the easiest car that I ever driven! Even though the engine is very underpowered for its size, the lack of power keeps you out of trouble from stand-stills and the stability/traction controls keep you in check once under motion As much as I love this car, I gave it low numbers because, to keep it cheap, VW sacrificed the quality of this car.

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  Really enjoyed this car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Christian Wade - February 2 - 11:33 pm

  I owned my 01 Jetta Wagon for years and really enjoyed it. It was pretty trouble free but there was some maintenance that had to be done to keep it that way. The gas milage was great and it was fun to drive. Lots of room in the back of the car and that was great since I have a very large dog. I thought that the rear seat was fine for kids but tall adults would have a tight fit. Some of the coating on the interior parts was weird. It was rubbery and would scratch off. I also found that the sunroof drains are a constant trouble. They arent hard to fix in the front but the rear are a pain. If you buy one of these cars know when the timing belt was done. Very important. I sold this car recently as I bought a Vanagon and didnt need two cars.

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  Couldnt Pass Up this Passat SE TDI! - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By partymarty - February 2 - 7:49 pm

  I have owned this car for four months and am just about to take her in for the (free) 10K service. I owned a 2011 Jetta TDI, and fell in love with the Passat when I saw her in the showroom while my Jetta was being serviced. The folks at my local VW dealership worked their fannies off to make this deal happen, as I am fanatic about shifting my own gears and will not ever own an automatic. There was only one 6-speed manual car available several hundred miles away, and the dealer had it trailered to me at no additional charge. So far, this vehicle has been an absolute pleasure to drive, and it actually exceeds the published mileage figures by about 2 mpg.

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  Versatile - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By John - February 2 - 6:00 pm

  Great acceleration, but must use a light foot, very easy to "burn rubber". I cannot understand why anyone would need the V6. Auto is solid; the interior controls are easy to use. It takes a while to get used to the narrow seats (I also have a Toyota Avalon), but they break in and are quite comfortable. I considered a Volvo C70, but could not justify the price when compared to the Eos.

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  Great car! - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Jackie - February 2 - 1:36 pm

  So far I love my car! I bought this after driving a 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser to 330,000 miles, but needed a more fuel efficient car for my commute @ 90 miles/day. This has been a great little car, I average 50.5mpg per 15 gal tank - highway and city driving combined. It has a decent amount of pick up and go and its a TON of fun to drive! The only real complaint I have is that it isnt completely sealed and it whistles > 45 mph, it doesnt leak water,just bothersome. The seats fold pretty flat and the cargo area can hold ~3 large bales of hay + 3 bags of feed with room to spare and the back seats are pretty comfortable even for people over 6. Id buy another for sure!

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  Before you buy - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By drad - February 2 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car 11 days ago. Took it back after 24 hrs w/ ignition coil issue (I was merging onto the highway and lost all power) Took it back again today and had all 4 spark plugs replaced. I have had check engine lights coming on and off everyday. The gas cap light keeps coming on as well. I really like the way the car looks and drives but Im nervous about the cost to own it. I did buy a power train warranty which unfortunatly does not cover electrical issues. I would recommend having a mechanic that knows VW look at the car very closely before you buy it. Lots of little problems equal one big headache.

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  2011 Golf 4 dr 2.5 - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By AJD - February 2 - 10:00 am

  I has this car for about 2 weeks and I and a very peticular about cars. This is the BEST car I have every owned. Its very fun to drive. Very good pick up and handles like its on rails. I opted for the 17 inch dlr installed alloy rims and bought the center armrest. Now car is complete. I shoppped the Mazda 3,Honda Civic,Toyota Corolla. The Golf beat them hands down. If you like to drive buy this car!!!! PS I getting about 25 MPG mixed driving...

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  I Love my VW but there are problems - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By KimBea - February 2 - 10:00 am

  I love my Volkswagen but there are problems. Its fun to drive, looks good. I love having a station wagon. People often think its a more expensive car. I did have to get my engine replaced after about 50,000 miles. Fortunately, It was under warranty and I had documents to prove that I had my oil changed properly. YOU MUST PUT SYNTHETIC OIL IN YOUR CAR AND GET IT CHANGED AT 3,000 miles. You have to baby it. I know have to make sure I check my oil and add some. I use a trusted mechanic rather than the dealer. I go to the dealer and buy the part I need (including bulbs) and have my mechanic install it. I save money and time. Im not sure I would buy another VW, but I love my car.

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  Fuel Injectors - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Tiguan - February 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car, needing a small SUV for work and had a lot of problems. Since January, its been in the dealership 6 times with fuel injector problems....all under warranty but its getting really frustrating. The last time it was in the dealership, all the fuel injectors were completely replaced and we were hoping that the problem would be solved. Earlier this week- it was the same, driving and the check engine light comes on, then it shakes and acts like its choking, then it dies and gets towed into the dealership.