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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  The turbo is worth it. - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By blueone - August 28 - 2:00 am

  This car is really great to drive- especially when passing people. The turbo makes the car fun, but the interior layout (the back seats fold down flat to double trunk space) makes it practical. The back seat doesnt have a lot of leg room, but for a semi-compact car its not bad. Ive heard several people complain of the cloth seats pilling, but I havent really had any problems. My dealership dealt w/the problems Ive had (a radio that made the alarm randomly go off & a bad heated mirror) quickly & w/o any hassles. The factory cd changer is ridiculous. Its much cheaper & as simple to buy from somewhere else & either do it yourself, or get it installed.

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  poor decision - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gsutton - August 28 - 2:00 am

  great car to look at, replaced 2 O2 sensors, brakes,bumper pulls off if parked too close to curb, chronic, unresolvable rattle in gear shift, console latch broke, mirror control fell off, cloth interior impossible to clean looks like %&*@ all the time. Never again!

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  What is the matter with Volkswagen - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Another Jetta Owner - August 28 - 2:00 am

  We purchased our 2002 Jetta due our past experience with owning several prior to this. The car has given good gas mileage, but has recently started to burn oil. We have had to have front windows repaired and the passagers seat repaired. Volkswagen feels that burning a quart of oil per 1,000 miles is acceptable. We are going to get rid of this car as soon as possible, before anything else goes wrong. Transmition started to jump on cold mornings. Dealer says transmition is compensating. What ever!! Alot of rattles. Too bad, we really wanted to like this car.

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  lovin it!! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By shwagen - August 28 - 2:00 am

  I just got my Jetta one month ago. I absolutly LOVE IT!! I love the interior lights, the styling, and the features (especially heated seats). It gets attention and I just cant drive it enough! Love it!!

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  Great Overall Car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By avusblue - August 28 - 2:00 am

  Solid, "Euro" feeling ride and handling. The Jetta feels like a miniature Audi. Great quality interior. Very comfortable ergonomics, and the seats themselves are top notch. Styling is more classy than the competition. Nice details abound, like the beautifully crafted headlights. Again, fit and finish make me think Audi. I especially like the nicely illuminated gauges and switches at night. My average over 5,500 miles has been 28.1 mpg with the 2.0 and 5 speed. Its peppy in normal everyday driving and has a fat torque curve - enough power for my needs. Those that want more can choose the Turbo. I havent had a single problem with the car.

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  Solid Performance, Superior Styling - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By tim in princeton - August 27 - 6:36 am

  I formerly owned a Honda CRV, but I wanted something more comfortable, more stylish and more upscale for the commute to work. I test drove all of the available models, with price being basically no object, and this was by far the best bet in balancing price and comfort. Its truly high-end on the interior, with great exterior styling, too.

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  Awesome Car - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Partyin247 - August 26 - 8:46 pm

  Best features for price.

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  Underated Vehichle of the Year - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By keith - August 26 - 8:16 pm

  The car drives like a dream. The interior quality is far above standard. I purchased the fully loaded 3.6 4Motion with Sport Pkg 2 with all the fixins. It is a low key car that surprises all who dare to doubt. The car competes aggresively with the G35s performance and luxury of the Acura RL.

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  Miss My Smaller Cars - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By appraiser - August 25 - 9:10 pm

  I bought the VW Passat 4-Motion because I drive 35,000 - 45,000 miles per year, at times in poor weather conditions. The 1.8T engine has adequate power, and accelerates well after a brief turbo lag. The ride is relatively sedate. The car does not repsond quickly in turns, and is less fun than expected on twisty roads. In a recent ice storm that paralyzed Raleigh the 4-Motion worked perfectly. I was even able to stop and start on a steep, ice-covered street without incident. It performs as intended-a comfortable work car that is safe and gets 27 mpg combined. Other vehicles that I considered were the Volkswagen GTI or Acura RSX. I chose the bigger car for the better ride quality. I should have gotten a car that is more fun to drive.

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  Only 4 cylinders????? - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By labdad - August 25 - 1:23 am

  When I first test drove the Passat, I was sold. However, I continued to look at a couple other models, Audi A4 and the Saab 9.3. The Audi was nice, the Saab was ok, but I kept coming back to the Passat. The acceleration is fantastic. The ride is quiet, transmission is smooth, and the seats are very accommodating.