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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  Loving my Passat - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By boobootg - January 11 - 5:56 pm

  It provides a very comfortable, quiet, smooth ride while also having wonderful performance. Its acceleration is good for a sedan of its size. The built in XM and interior lighting get compliments from everyone.

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  Bullet Proof!!!! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By 2000vw - January 11 - 12:08 pm

  i purchased my vw 2 years ago with 133,000 miles on it and have had no problems with it ...took it to florida on spring break doing 85 mph all the way made it from indiana on 1 tank getting 52.3 mpg love it:) its got 204,000 on it now bout time for water pump and timing belt replacement just normal wear...i love my car:)

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  Fantastic multi-purpose vehicle - 2001 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By smallwisdom - January 10 - 9:50 am

  We bought our 2001 Eurovan used in 2006 with 70k miles. Now, in 2014, it has about 130k without any major mishap. That said, expect to spend about $1500/year on maintenance AND they are notorious for having the transmission die ($6K repair) between 40k-70k miles. 9 years later, our van has taken us on multiple camping trips and has gone to Burning Man several times. The engine runs a little rougher than it use to but it is still a very nice, drivable car for a large van. Sadly, I dont think our van will survive for very many more years because various bits are starting to fall apart, but it has not had a gentle life (we park it outside, take it camping, have kids, etc.).

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  Jetta not so good - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By basketball - January 9 - 6:43 pm

  Bought this Jetta for my daughter in 1999 from a private party and have had nothing but problems with it. There are too many problems to list but here are a few. First the clutch failed at 25,000. Oxygen sensor failed at 32,250. The key switch switch was replaced at 51,000. The electrical system and heater controls work when they want to. The starter failed twice. The power steering pump was replaced. The wheels can not be removed without beating on them with a sledge hammer. The list goes on and on. I had the car to 2 separate dealers who have told me to trade the car in because of the problems. 1 dealer suggested that I not bring the car back for servicing. This car is a nightmare.

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  My Little Jetta - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Vicki C - January 9 - 6:30 am

  I have had my Jetta for barely over a year and love it! I enjoy driving my little car, but its not fun to pay for when something breaks down. My catalytic converter came lose and thankfully I can weld the shield back on, but to get a new one would cost around $800 bucks!! I keep having to get oil leaks fixed, but for 125,000 miles, the car is still in great condition! I havent had this much fun driving a car in quite a while! Speakers are almost gone as well, but the car had a FULL SIZE tire in the back when one of mine went flat! Perfect!! Also, the brake light wouldnt turn off after the car was off, but if you take it to VW dealership, its defective and is replaced for free.

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  2014 TDI R-Line - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By mkcoach1 - January 9 - 6:27 am

  I bought my 2014 Touareg R-Line in November and have driven it 3,600 miles of mixed highway and city driving. It is a great vehicle and has exceeded my expectations. The interior is very similar to my 2010 Porsche Cayenne that I drove for 3 years and very close to my wifes 2012 Audi Q7 S-Line. I am getting 26 miles to the gallon combined and the R-Line sport suspension is great fun to drive. Very comfortable seating for an old athlete that is 65" and it has very easy controls for navigation etc.

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  Not built any better than other cars. - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By klausenheimer - January 9 - 2:00 am

  If you are willing to spend lots of time at the dealership after your purchase for repairs, then this is the car for you. I havent had the car a year yet and as I speak the car is sitting in my garage undrivable because it barely runs, and the engine malfunction light is flashing. Also, about 6 months after I bought the car, all of the chrome side molding pieces turned an ugly white hazy color. Also, the manual seat adjustments are horrible and hard to use and the console storage is essentially useless. I also have a really nice rattle in the dashboard, a tell tale sign of lousy build quality.

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  My Dream Come True - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sprawler - January 9 - 2:00 am

  As far as I can remember, VW has always been a part of my life. I grew up with a 77 Bug. At 16 years old, my first car was an 82 Rabbit convertible, and now, at 23, I drive a 2002 Jetta GLI. This is my realistic dream car - affordable, yet undeniably awesome! It is everything I could want - power, looks, comfort - all neatly packaged on 4 17" wheels. If you are planning to purchase a new sedan, you owe it to yourself to test drive a Jetta GLI first.

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  2003 GLS Convertible is a winner! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By MNBeetleOwner - January 9 - 2:00 am

  VW has done a fantastic job with this new model! Great handling, fun to drive. The rag top roof is a feature I have waited for since the New Beetle introduction. Cant wait for the first Spring day to pull back the roof and let the sun-shine-in.

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  Not the VW of years past - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By Doug - January 6 - 8:00 pm

  I bought my Passat TDI for the fuel economy, reliability and longevity of the diesel engine. Ive never had a more unreliable vehicle than this one including a few couple hundred dollar vehicles when i was a kid. The turbocharger failed. The fuel pump failed. The exhaust flap failed. Then the new turbo was damaged by the dealer. Then the clutch broke. The transmission synchros broke. Then the heater core plugged. Now the oil cooler is plugged. Almost every major component has failed and lead to enormous repair bills.