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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  This car is on Steroids - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Nick - October 25 - 8:23 pm

  Amazing, this car drives realy great, looks great, very very fast, front seats are comfortable, rear seats I give them 50%, gear shift is so smooth easy. I love it,

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  This is the One - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By My Name is Fast - October 25 - 7:40 am

  I am one of those types of people who can not settle on a car. I have owned twelve other cars in my lifetime and this one tops them all by far. I traded in my Passat TDI for the GTI because diesel prices were out of control and I dont regret it a bit. This car is faster and handles better than my wifes Audi TT. I challenge anyone to find a car that handles better in the curves and can function as a daily driver as well. This may be the car or at least the brand/style of car that I finally stick with. I finally know what fast looks and feels like and this is it. Theres only one word to describe this vehicle: Fahrvergnügen.

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  Poor choice - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By jlub - October 24 - 5:23 pm

  Enjoyed the car when first purchased, Great performance and fun to drive. Then the problems started at about 12,500 miles and haven;t stopped. Have spent more than 8,000 in maintenance and repairs with no help in correcting poor reliability. Biggest problems have been replacing 8 coils (even 2 after recall). Engine light has been on for over a year and they can not find the problem. Just spent 500 on electrical issues which are not repaired. Some of the problems: 1) 8 coils replaced. 2) Triptronic transmission doesnt work in manual. Never fixed as it is over $2000 by VW dealer. 3) AC went out, not getting power. 4) Oil light comes on regularly...waiting for the sludge problem. Bad Choice!

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  This VW likes to spend time in the shop. - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Oldguy10 - October 24 - 5:13 pm

  I always wanted one of these Passats having heard much about their value. The value must be with the way the dealership keeps their hand in your pocket for repairs. Things started out fine till the first repair of the transmission slipping. Then it started leaking oil from a gasket. At first maintenance, found out the air filter was missing. Normally these bugs are corrected in earlier models, but I was more than nickeled and dimed to death with the heavy repair bills that werent covered under warranty. It sat for a week at a airport and the battery ran down, but it was winter and battery was dead so the doors wouldnt even unlock with the fob.

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  I just got hit by someone doing 50 mph.. - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Scarlett - October 24 - 3:16 pm

  I have had this car for just under a year and just got hit today by a unattentive driver doing 50 mph. I and my car are going to survive. How many small cars can you say that about? I love this car - people complain about engine noise but its not bad and the stereo system has a function to get louder (subtlely) as the speed increases so I never notice it. It is safe, stylish, fun to drive, and reliable. I havent had any problems and after today when my car was being towed away to the body shop I realized that I love it even more now that I know it really does keep me safe. I would recommend this car to anyone and I love that VW took the initiative to make safety standard.

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  Damn, its fast! - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By VW gal - October 24 - 10:00 am

  The whole process of getting the car was a breeze. The dealership was very very friendly, not pushy at all, like the Nissan and Toyota dealerships here in the Pasadena area. Now, back to the car... this little hatchback is fast! I can barely notice the turbo lag. It comes with a lot of standard features: ABS, side and curtain airbags, full spare. The quality is superb. I know you have probably heard about how VWs are unreliable, but they have had all the problems worked out on the 04 models. Ive had this car for almost 3 months now, and I am still very much in love with it. Get it, you wont regret it.

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  GLX...With tons of problems - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By EME - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2000 Jetta VR6 GLX in 2002. It has been in the shop all the time. It stalls spiratically, and no dealership or independent shop knows how to fix it. Engine Workshop Light and Emission Workshop lights always go on; I take it to the shop, and the code the car gives is wrong. The window fell one day and had to be replaced, along with the underside of my bumper. Regardless of all the machanical problems, it is a fun car to drive when it runs. Great interior.

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  Touareg is a lemon - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By foxtrot - October 24 - 10:00 am

  The first week I had the SUV the electronic instruments went out. It took VW a week to get the new computer in. Since then they had to replace the stepper motor to control the 4 wheel drive. The stepper motor had to be ordered and that took a week. All tires had to be replace because of alignment problems. Door handles had to be replaced. The horn had to be replaces. The rear window wipers did not work.

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  first VW - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Brent460 - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I am very impresed about this car. me and my wife have been looking at cars for about 2 months. the car that we were sold on buying was the 325I BMW. than one day we passed the VW dealer so we pulled in. next thang I know we were driving it home. I have been more impreded with this car than I could have ever imagined. I have ownd cars from $15,000 to $45,000 and todate this has been the best car we have owned.

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  7 years and counting - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By walter67 - October 24 - 5:08 am

  1st owner of my 2005 Jetta Diesel, have station wagon auto trans. Travel from North East to Florida each year, so it has avoided winter salty roads. Ive replace the timing belt at 85,000 miles to be on safe side. Will need new rubber on my struts both normal ware. Still have original brake pads at 90,000 miles at every oil change I expect to be told its time to change so far not yet. Fuel economy.... average 34 to 39 miles per gallon I can get 42 miles on a gallon if I drive at my RPM sweet spot which is 38 to 41 miles an hour, at that speed you will get the 42 per gallon. Would I buy this vehicle again YOU BETCHA I would. Paid $21,5000 in Jan of 20005