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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  Very safe hardtop - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By Tristan - February 21 - 7:40 pm

  I have had this car for 4 months, nothing has gone wrong the build quality is amazing. I recently flipped the car on Thanksgiving day, and the hardtop is very safe, only caved by about an inch to maybe 1 1/2 inches. The anti-rollbars popped up and if I hadnt had the top up I believe I would be just as fine. Only got a couple cuts on my hands when getting out. I highly recommend it just for the safety features even though the interior is amazing along with the engine. I was hitting 36 mpg with premium on the freeway at an average of going 75 mph.

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  So far, so good - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
  By Mel Benva - February 21 - 4:27 pm

  Bought a 2014 in 2017 with under 37k miles, 2 year/ 24k VW extended warranty. Original list NEW was more than double what I paid 3 years later. Am happy with the car, so far. Am getting used to it as I had an 04 Envoy - truck based with no technology. Enjoying the turbo and the fast response. Great handling. Loving the electric motor in heavy traffic with my average mpgs 41.88. Could possibly get higher, if I didnt find myself going much faster than I should be. I expect to own the car another 150k miles, and hope to enjoy it for many years.

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  Pleasantly Surprised - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Octane - February 20 - 8:00 pm

  After parting ways with my Mazda6, I was looking for a refined, well-designed sedan with good gas mileage. Deciding that every Japanese sedan was boring, pudgy, or otherwise less refined, I decided to pick up a VW. Not only does this car feel like it is on another level, it has been exceeding the EPA gas mileage estimates! This car is solid!

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  So far, so good - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By clekezarke - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Thougth we were gonna get another Trailblazer, but test drove the Passat because of the Edmunds review. Wow. No comparison. The handling, pickup, and braking are far superior to the Blazer. As for room, there is plenty. This is a solid car. We got most of the bells and whistles on ours and are very happy thus far. Careful though, it can be a little too fun to drive as is evidenced by that little citation from a jealous traffic officer!

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  Poor Clutch Engineering - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By srwaal - February 20 - 10:00 am

  If you had asked me last week, I would have said the Beetle is a great car. But Fri, my 2000 1.8t GLX with 26K miles broke down - burned clutch. Clutch should last (with normal driving) until 50K. I did research today and found that the 1.8t clutch is expected to only last 20K-30K. That is POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. I can not afford to replace the clutch for $1600 (quote given) every 2 years. VWOA was no help. Ive had clutches last more than 80K in past (Ford).

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  2003 Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By trishat - February 20 - 10:00 am

  This car has pizazz! The comfort and style of this model rivals most luxury cars for a modest price. The car is full of saftey features that are not installed on other vehicles so you feel safe transporting your children. Bottom line........safe, reliable and FUN!!!!!!

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  Great car - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Joyce - February 19 - 9:00 pm

  Great gas mileage and plenty of power. Runs so quiet you would never know it was a diesel. Heated seats are comfortable for a small car. Im glad we settled with the VW TDI. We couldnt be happier with this car as of now. Love all the safety features built into the car. The auto-transmission gears down like no car I have ever driven. Fun to drive and responsive. Why would anyone buy a hybrid when you can drive the VW TDI.

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  Just about perfect! - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Eric - February 19 - 10:43 am

  In my family we own an 09 Rabbit and 08 Mazda 3. They are truly both fantastic cars. Both are equipped pretty much the same and they both cost the same (just about 17K). My wife drives the Mazda and she loves it however I am a good size guy and I find the Rabbits seat goes back further and has more thigh support (and overall room). The Mazda gets better gas mileage but the Rabbit has better acceleration so in my opinion the lower MPG is a fair trade. Both handle extremely well and are a lot of fun to drive however the Rabbit is a little more quiet overall. The Mazda has one of the nicest stearing wheels I have ever seen on any car.

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  Robust economical car - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By well - February 19 - 4:50 am

  This car has proved to be a sound reliable car with good quality amenities such as CD player, power windows, mirriors, doors, etc. Additionally, this car has good low end torque and it cruises and handles very well at high speeds. The car could use a little more horsepower to compliment the torque, but all in all, the car is really good.

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  Jetta VR6= (Road+Car+Driver)^(Connected) - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hola_dan - February 18 - 11:50 pm

  I have always wanted a VR6 and boy, I am so happy that I finally got one last year. I bought a used GLX 5-speed manual with all the options and only 26,000 miles. I have since improved the car by conditioning the leather and waxing it a couple of times - thats how much I like this car. It has many features you would not expect on a compact car - rear sunshade, automatic windshield wipers, excellent interior illumination (even with ambient LED lighting), fog lamps, REAL wood trim, excellent leather. However, the best thing of this car is the way you connect to it when you drive it. Around town it is amazingly fun to drive, and at high speeds, it is dead stable. Great European car!