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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  Disaster - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By frank forintos - May 5 - 12:46 pm

  I grew up in Europe and all i heard while growing up that German cars are great. May be they were 20 years ago, but not nowadays. I lost all my confidence. I had problems with my ignition coils 4 times. They replaced them 4 times. Finally VW did a recall on it. I had several other issues with the car. Now my car is 6 years old, and i had it with this car. I am purchasing a Japanese car a Nissan Altima this week. Germans are not building cars the way they used to!!! What can i say i am very disappointed. I spent 3000 dollars on repair this year already.

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  This car is NO GOOD - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By One Time Owner - May 5 - 9:26 am

  This is my first - and last - Volkswagen. My 2002 Jetta had constant issues after 15,000 miles. So far the power windows have stuck down, I have had the radio replaced twice, the brake switch out (that was fun - driving with no brake lights for who knows how long), it has had constant battery issues since I bought the car (I have replaced it three times already and still have to keep a jump starter in my car for the inevitable 2-3 times per month that I need it), the seat heater shorted out - be careful - it will burn you, the center console is broken, and the passenger seat has coughed up two springs so far (my dealer says its no big deal). The inside looks nice - but Im constantly having little plastic pieces breaking off - and Im pretty careful with my car. Avoid this car.

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  My Sweet New High Mileage Girl - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By wayneq - May 5 - 1:31 am

  After shopping the top-rated mid-sized sedans to transport my growing family and drive on rather long bi-monthly business trips, I settled on the Passat TDI SE. Since my driving does not often take me where there is a lot of stop and go traffic, I opted for the six speed manual transmission. Both times I test drove the car, it made a reverberating impression on my sense of quality and design like no other car in its class could. Its lines are elegant and sublime. It looks and drives like a much more expensive car than it is. Ive had her for less than a month but it feels like a marriage made in heaven so far. (Update to follow)

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  Fahrenheit is Awesome!!! - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Tony Scavo - May 4 - 10:53 pm

  Always wanted a GTI since the MK1 in 1983, finally got one almost 25 years later and I got the special edition. Wahooo, power/Torque is incredible for a 4 cyl turbo hatchback, reliability is perfect (currently have 27,000 miles on it after 10 months of ownership and the only issue i have had is figuring out where Im going to drive next - best car i have ever owned, dead serious. I have driven it through death valley and into the yosemite valley, from Vegas to Denver and even up a dirt mountain driveway ( with snow chains ) and it has never failed me. The exhaust note is great and I added a K&N Intake which makes it sound even better. Suspension is stiff and sporty but pliable for long trips.

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  Great car - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By vitriol - May 4 - 10:33 pm

  Love it. Test drove lots of others (Civic Si, Mazdaspeed3, 350z), and none come close to having this cars combo of speed, handling, practicality, fuel economy and build quality. The interior is driver-focused and fit-and-finish is Audi-esque. Handling is near perfect (although I budgeted for them, suspension upgrades may not be necessary at all). Most importantly, its the impression of speed that is so great in this car: it feels faster than other cars, even if it isnt actually. For the performance, styling, fit-and-finish and the all- important fun-to-drive factor, this car is arguably perfect. Great fuel econ and massive cargo space make it a great all-around value

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  Good Travel Buddy - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steelpanwoman - May 4 - 8:26 pm

  I have put almost 12,000 miles on this car and have enjoyed it with one exception. . They actually found out that this car, being one of the first manual TDI wagons, was running too clean and choking itself. It behaved much better after the EGR valve replacement. Fussy clutch in 1st until it was broken in. It likes to hiccup after startup during the first minute the engine is warm.(Part of EGR software issue) A software upgrade was performed last week, but still have the problem. I drive aggressively and get 32 MPG around town,36 HWY. Drove 525.5 miles on one tank road trip and got 41.2 MPG . A great highway cruiser and fun to drive.

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  Ill Buy Another VW - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By k schlueter - May 4 - 7:50 pm

  I bought the Jetta when I was driving 120 miles a day round trip to work. I needed reliability and fuel economy and a degree of cool was important, too. I am a very happy customer with over 162,000 miles and expecting another 100,000. I love my little red practically perfect VW Jetta. Now I only drive six miles round trip each day. My Jetta is still perfectly wonderful for my purposes. Plus, no car payments! I will strive to keep this car a very long time, But when I finally do buy my next new car, it will be a VW- maybe a Passat next time.

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  Initial Build Quality Issues - 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Matthew Crawford - May 4 - 5:21 pm

  I bought a 2018 Tiguan SEL Premium Plus. I was very excited about the styling and the quality of the drive. The model that was delivered to me in the color combinations I wanted (Silk blue with stone interior) had several issues immediately. The rearview mirror, for example, wasnt attached correctly. The lane-keeping aids only rarely showed green, rather than orange/yellow. Most irritating was a clicking sound that came from the B pillar(?) next to the driver window. The While the dealer was able to fix the rear-view mirror (after waiting a week for the appropriate adhesive) and then another week when they decided to replace the windshield entirely, the other issues were never addressed. In fact, they had an Engineer from VW personally go through the car. The lead mechanic wasnt able to get the rear hatch to open with the foot swipe gesture reliably. Even though they said the car was solid and checked out, a quick trip around the block demonstrated that the clicking/torquing noise from the B-pillar was still there.

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  Not totally impressed - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Todd Herzog - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I am very impressed with the overall appearance and handling of this car. My concern is the electrical and the transmission. After owning for 3 days the tiptronic will not engage and the fuel gauge quit working. Maybe mine is a fluke and is an easy repair but it has left me with a sour feeling at this point.

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  excellent - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vw lover - May 4 - 10:00 am

  with over 40 standard feathures the car sells its self...its well built...strong..fun..and sturdy...and turns very well