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:

• 

  A lot of car for the money - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tom Swennes - January 3 - 10:00 am

  We were so impressed with our 2000 Passat GLS sedan that when it came time to purchase a new car for my wife, the 03 Passat was at the top of our consideration list. After looking at a range of vehicles, including a number of SUVs, she decided on the 2003 Passat GLX V6. This vehicle offers an impressive list of luxury and convenience items, solid construction, and a high level of safety features. If you want the practicality of a wagon, but do not need the bulk of an SUV or minivan, you should look at the Passat.

• 

  Disappointment - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By diggum - January 3 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for 3 weeks & it has been in the shop for more than 7 days of that 3 weeks. Ive written VW about it & they called the service center & ticked them off while my car is still in the shop! I had trouble before it had 1000 miles on it. Some kind of malfunctioning sensor in the steering column. They tore the entire dash out of the car to get to it. Theyve had it for 5 consecutive days now and act like I shouldnt be upset. I really would be happy if I could just drive my new car.

• 

  Easy drive - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Carol Lane - January 3 - 10:00 am

  Love this car, never worry about falling behind. enjoy the driving.

• 

  My Alaska Green turned Lemon - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Syracuse - January 3 - 10:00 am

  Out of the two weeks that I have owned car, one week has been spent in the shop, and the car is still there. Problems with the computer and sensory stuff. "CPU" and dash console have been replaced...car only has 200 miles on it. Id now rather be owning my loaner than my new jetta. So sad, discouraging. While the car will be fixed, I have no assurance this wont happen again. I have lost all trust in my new car. The jetta I was so excited to own and drive is now my heart ache.

• 

  What Did I do? - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Osprey - January 3 - 2:00 am

  For the most part a great car but .... The gas mileage is the worst I have ever experienced with a V-6 engine. The transmission is very slow / or would not shift out of 1st gear until the car warmed upped or I went from auto to manual shifting. It has an verocious hunger for headlight bulbs. It seems that I have a burn-out on an average of once every three months (at $60 per pop).

• 

  very disappointed - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By jalowega - January 3 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS MY 2ND VW AND BOTH WERE LEMONS THE DEALER HAS DONE NOTHING TO INSTILL FURTHER CONFIDENCE IN VW. RATTLES AND CLUNKING FROM DAY ONE FROM A CAR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE WELL BUILT.DONT BE INFLUENCED OVER GOOD LOOKS

• 

  Buggy about my bug - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Rich Palatini - January 3 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Turbo New Beetle because I considered it to be a great fun drive when I test drove it. And 3 years of driving it hasnt disappointed me. The ride, power and handling continue to impress me even to this day. I love driving a rolling piece of sculpture. Especially something that looks unlike anything else on rhe road. About the only problem I encountered was a short that appeared as a warning light in the instrument cluster. It seems that 3 times in the first two years the air bag indicator light came on. Each time my dealer indicated that it was an electrical short and replaced the cluster under warranty with no charge to me.

• 

  VW LEMONED ALL 3 I BOUGHT!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VWSilverBullet - January 3 - 2:00 am

  The car was a nice idea but VW did not work out the bugs & know it. I had 3 1.8t Jettas--each one was a replacement provided for me. My probs consisted of the car dying w/hard braking, the battery being dead for no reason at random times, carbon build up in the engine, cracked turbo coils, ignition coil problems, etc. The dealer treated me as though I had NO idea what I was talking about & I didnt know how a car should run. Being a mechanical engineer and my senior project was to DESIGN & BUILD a car I felt I knew enough. 87 trips to the dealership over 1.3 years they bought the 3rd car back. STAY AWAY.

• 

  go bug go - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By hotmomma - January 3 - 2:00 am

  kids love it ...easy to get in and out of the car.

• 

  Only 5,000 made - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Alan Parker - January 3 - 2:00 am

  On the fence between BMI 330i. Choose the W8 for horsepower, safety, style, comfort and price.