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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  4Motion Fun - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By 4Motion007 - November 15 - 8:20 pm

  No problems yet (13,000 miles). With a fully loaded car traveling over 1200 miles in one trip I averaged 29.7 mpg. Here in Denver on 91 gas with 60% stop and go highway and 40% city I get 25 mpg. In the snowy mountains the AWD and Pirelli all season tires handle better than my ford explorer. Interior is very comfortable, quiet, and nicely finished. The stock radio sounds great and satellite radio is a nice addition. The iPod adapter is nice, but does not work well with new iPods. HID lighting is great at night. Parking sensors are great when parking in tight spaces. Paddle shifters are great when controlling speeds down mountain roads or for just having a blast punching the throttle.

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  Excellent car, even for parents with 1 baby! - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By steveygti - November 15 - 11:47 am

  I love my 2001 VW GTI 1.8T GLS. I bought this car brand new and now I have about 171k miles. This car has been a phenomenal experience for me the past 11 years. In spite of what people say about electrical problems, etc. with VWs, this car had none whatsoever. The only things i had to replace since i bought this car were a new alternator (at 125k miles) and a new a/c compressor (at 168k miles). I regularly took this car in for an oil change and check up to VW. I am sad to let this car go and sell it so i can buy an suv since my family is growing into 4! Im thinking about getting VS again!

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  Great so far - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kristin124 - November 14 - 7:15 pm

  Ive only had my 2013 Jetta SEL for two months, but its been pretty great so far. I like that its got a sporty look inside and out, and I like the leather interior. The acceleration is pretty good for 170HP and the ride is smooth overall. My main complaints are some cheap aspects of the interior - for the price I paid and having the premium trim line, I cant believe it doesnt have power seat adjustment. Also, to tilt the chair back, you have to pump this plastic pedal up and down (tacky). Also, even when you move the front seats all the way back, there isnt enough leg room for tall people over 6 feet. Not much head room for tall people either. Could have designed that better!

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  Im in love with a German - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Justin - November 14 - 1:43 pm

  I have been fixated on an Audi A3 since I saw them in Europe, and when I found out that they were coming to the states I had to have one, that is until I drove the GTI. The A3 was a little too refined for my taste, granted it is luxurious but it seems like a car that is easy to forget. The GTI however has all the classic makings of the cult phenomenon seen in the previous model, sure its got a bit of wind noise (way less than previous gen), but if you had too much insulation you wouldnt be able to hear the growl of the exhaust... and if you have ever ridden in a tuned classic beetle you know its almost deafening but fun as hell. They made a great modern performance platform and kept the VW soul.

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  Poor choice - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By dbasler - November 14 - 5:44 am

  I realize we made a bad decision buying this car without having our mechanic look at it. We bought it with 135,000 miles and drove it for a year. It chugged oil with no visible leaks. In the 12 months we replaced the key/ignition $300, both headlights $20 each, transmission $2200, wheel bearing $300, tires $1000, 1 of the alignment control bars $150, dipstick tube $45, and AC compressor $900. It failed emissions after all this and then a lady ran a red light and totalled it for us. Thank you lady. Put the thing out of its misery.

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  Mixed Bag - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By TurboS04 - November 14 - 5:20 am

  This car is used for work purposes, and is covered in advertising. While I was nervous to purchase based on review it has turned out to be an okay car. Ive had issues with airbag and check engine lights but there is a ton of information on the internet to help out with those issues. The car is fast and fun to drive, and has a lot of nice features for the cost. Luckily, knock on wood, my issues have been small and hoping for a few more years of reliability.

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  Pain in the back - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By tac724 - November 14 - 12:56 am

  I have had more trouble with this car than I care to admit. I got more frustrated because I like the way the car drives but I have had to replace so many parts in this car from an oxygen sensor 3 times to the turbo engine at 40,000. That is ridiculous! The dealerships want to rake the consumer over the coals in price of repair!

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  Awesome Vehicle - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By GTIGermany - November 14 - 12:03 am

  This vehicle is awesome, I have driven it almost 60,000 miles and have had very few problems. I have had gas mileage up to 30 mpg, but average 20 mpg. I now live in Germany and this car is a blast to drive on the Autobahn. The only problem I have had was recent and that was the water pump going out. It wasnt bad to replace.

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  The Best SUV !!! Nothing Else Even Comes Close!! - 2011 Volkswagen Touareg
  By vision3 - November 13 - 5:15 pm

  I have owned my Sport TDI SUV since new. I have driven it for 28,000 miles and have not had one problem with it. Truly an outstanding SUV. Build quality is top notch. Feels very solid and safe. Steering is tight, suspension is firm yet soaks up road bumps. Handling on the most curvy roads is amazing. Diesel engine is very smooth, surprisingly quiet and very powerful. Accelerates like a rocket. 80mph feels like only driving 50, without any strain on engine, while getting 30mpg!! I set the speedo alarm at 80mph, and it routinely alerts me. A great feature on this SUV!! Seats are very comfortable, Nav. and voice commands easy to operate. Great sound system. VW hit a home run! Best SUV!!!

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  Have 65,000 miles on, awesome! - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By AWSOME - November 13 - 7:26 am

  I have over 65,000 miles on my v-8 touareg the most of anyone i know of. Best of the best in all, nice price and very quiet. I purchased some 26 inch spinning rims for it and it looks like a beast!