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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  2006 WV Passat VE - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By laqbn - February 15 - 10:33 am

  Great car! Fells like a quality Euorpean sedan. One test drive and you will realize how much better this VW is compared to the Camry/Accord Japaneese cars. Not to mention the 2.0T/Tiptronic powertrain that absolutely knocks you back in your seat.

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  VW Knew about the Window problems - 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
  By bink11 - February 15 - 4:08 am

  VW knew about the window problems, because the Convertible Bug had been plagued with them the entire run of the line. I traded in my 2004 Convertible Beetle for the new one because it seemed like the only way to fix the window problem once and for all. Now, here I am day one and I dont have my new car because it is back at the Dealership being "fixed". Im lucky apparently because the Dealership I use has a great staff who really do their best to solve problems, but when the problem is the manufacturer... All I can say is avoid VWs. If anyone stops to ask me about the car, it isnt going to go well for the company.

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  Be forewarned - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Former owner - February 13 - 6:40 pm

  If you are reading this you are probably thinking about purchasing a used Passat. If you do, chances are good you will regret it. I owned one for 4 years and never got any satisfaction, and got a lot of mediocre to poor service from VW. My Passat had brake issues. First replaced at 10k (all), then 17k (rear) 25k (rear) 29k (front) and when I ditched it at 33k, the rear needed replacing again, VW said was normal. I had a hesitation problem which I pointed out to them from 7000 miles, and every other time that I brought it in, they could never replicate the problem, but it was dangerous- not normal turbo lag. Lots of other issues and little satisfaction. Look up engine sludge issues on internet.

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  Is it Mexican or German? - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By JD@NYC - February 13 - 2:00 am

  2002 VW Passats overall fit and finish is beautiful in and out. The 1.8t, is horrible. Turbo lag galore. This is not the engine for this car. Increase liters, horsepower, and torque, drop turbo and add smaller 6. I too had the starter coil replaced after only 2k. Are VWs really made in Germany or Mexico. Mechanical problems are not relegated to the Passat but other VW models as well. I lease a 99 Jetta VR6 with new body style and didnt have a problem with it. I found out it was made in Wolfsburg. Please tell us where are they made now and why reliability has gone south. Im stuck with this engine for 3 1/2 more years.

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  Decent value for the money & a fun drive - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By recruiterone - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Happy that I chose the 2.8 6 cylinder engine. Unless you use a performance chip in the 4 cylinder turbo, this is the right engine to go with. The styling and ergonomics of this car are great. Plus, its fun to drive. The German engineering stands out over Japanese cars Ive owned in the past. However, I only have 30k miles and I treat my cars like gold. Ive had annoying problems with the electrical system and the trunk. These should not be reasons to make trips to the dealer in a car with so few miles.

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  45000 miles and still turbos like new - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By SouthJerseyVWFan - February 13 - 2:00 am

  At 45,000 miles I have had zero problems with the car. The car came with zero defects. I have the car serviced per VW spec (cost is not unreasonable). The fit and finish is superb (inside and out). Looks great and drives great. The engine is smooth, powerful and economical. The ride is awesome. The five speed transmission is a blast (would be 20% more fun if it had a six speed).

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  Jetta 1.8T - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JKandJR - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Just a lot of fun, we liked that we got more features then on most cars in this price range. Also the tiptronic is great, he gets the feel of a stick shift, I get the ease of an automatic.

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  Jettas are the best - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bob the builder - February 13 - 2:00 am

  It is a wonderful car and i love it very much

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  love my car - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By kvarias - February 13 - 2:00 am

  enjoying any time w/my beetle

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  my 13th VW - the best ever - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Allan - February 12 - 11:03 pm

  Comfortable to drive, Turbo gives great kick. Gas mileage 33-34. Since Apr 04 never been back to the dealer for problem. The trunk handles almost everything with back seats down. Fit and finish is superb.