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 Pleased - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Burgstrom03 - September 5 - 10:00 am

  A great car that drives great and is fun.

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  Cheap design all throughout - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Judson Miller - September 5 - 10:00 am

  I found the Jetta to have a sharp look. But looks arent everything. The Jetta seems to be made of cheap plastic parts all throughout. Everything seems to be falling apart. I had the car for all of 3 weeks before the engine had a catostrophic failure. Total bill: $4,000. One word...Cheap.

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  A Fun Ride - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By JDW - September 5 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the vehicle since January 04 and love to drive it. I have the V8 with nav and adjustable suspension. Great acceleration, great styling. Tows my 18 foot Ranger boat with no problem. Drawbacks are gas mileage (I get 13 city tops, and 17 or 18 highway), higher wind noise with sun roof open than I am used to, and a tendency to be abrupt when accelerating.

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  Low-Key and Classy - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Chazworth - September 5 - 8:10 am

  The interior is unbelievably luxurious and has many thoughtful features. The acceleration and handling are top notch. It has taken me several weeks to adjust to driving such a fine car (versus my old 95 Jetta). The interior and exterior design is very conservative and classy. This is a great car.

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  Why buy an A3 - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TampaJES - September 4 - 5:59 pm

  First VW. Switched from owning Mazdas for many years. This car is beautiful with many compliments (red). Fast and fun to drive. Originally going for GTI after renting one, had to have one. But they seemed expensive for what you get and the seats were too tight. Stumbled upon the GLI...sold! My friend just bought an A3. Seems cheap and doesnt drive or handle as good as the GLI. He paid like 10k more!! I have more options. He has real leather versus vtex. Getting 38 on the highway (two road trips). Only complaint is the piano black trim everywhere. Scratches easy as does the instrument cluster glass.

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  fun hatch back,not cheap to tune! - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By hardd - September 4 - 12:50 pm

  I bought my vw gti with dsg last year used with 11,000 miles.I spent most of the first year going from dealer to dealer because the car would almost die taking off from a stop.After weeks in the shop they found the pcv and crank case vent have failed.After the fix my gti runs great I get about 34mpg hwy/22mpg city.I love the 18inch huffs and i have the car lowered with a cold air intake.If you are looking to customize this car parts are not cheap because of the audi built motor. My gti Handles great and runs with car that have a 100hp more. I love the plaid seats and the exter doesnt look to bad for a hatch back.

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  Too Cute Not to Love! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By R. P. - September 4 - 6:10 am

  I fell in love with the New Beetle when they first came out and I have wanted one ever since. Owning one has been a dream come true! I love my Bug!

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  Cant even think of ALL the repairs! - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By aliz - September 4 - 2:56 am

  I bought this car over 2 years ago and have found nothing but problems! The heater core valve, the shifter broke, brakes, recalls, and many other problems. The knob for my mirror fell off, the power locks no longer work correctly. Every time I have needed to get something fixed, it has cost me over $1,000. Future VW buyers, BEWARE! Tried to start my car this a.m. and it wont even turn over now! This car (since I have owned it) has been well maintained, all oil changes, tune ups etc, and this car still wont run properly. After reading all of these reviews, I am EXTREMELY worried about what the current problem is. I cant wait to get rid of this money pit!

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  Bummer - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jsmcars - September 3 - 11:26 pm

  This car loks good on paper. Turbo, BBS, sporty suspension atc. I have had NUMEROUS electrical problems. Currently my turn signals dont work, moon roof doesnt work, check engine light goes on and off even thought there isnt anything wrong with the engine, all this started happening the same day. All in all, I have had fun with the car as far as the drivability goes but satisfaction is in the details. I am in the car business and now know that VWs arent worth much on trade due to all the predicted problems and I wouldnt drive/buy another VW. Acura TL will be my next car and I will trade this car in and get KILLED on the trade.

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  Follow Up - from May 2006 Review - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By christianhoy - September 3 - 10:30 am

  Well, its been 14 years. Bought it new in June of 99 because it was the "futuristic looking concept car that you could drive". The silver beetle really took the cake, spurred on with the commercial "Reverse engineered from U.F.O.s." Now 14 years later, it runs and looks like the day I bought it. I wanted all manual - so I got the GL. Its hauled all kinds of cargo - kayaks, canoes, fish aquariums, metal house roofing, it even tows a small sailboat. Get the factory roof rack. Have it serviced by a knowledgeable dealer every year, and keep up on the maintenance schedule in the owners manual. No Problems, No Issues, just miles and miles of adventure and fun.