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:

• 

  "Milly" The Turbo Beetle - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Paul Hadley - April 27 - 2:00 am

  "Milly" has been a solid performer. Reliability has been good. The car is FUN to drive. Nice power to weight ratio. Service became a headache when I moved to Tucson, Az where there is just one Dealer and they know it. Even this is improved now that they have a new service manager. I have just traded "Milly" for another new Turbo Beetle...still searching for her name.

• 

  Problem car - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Upset - April 27 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car new, and from 5000 miles on have had nothing but problems. Its been in the shop about 6 times for problems, not general auto service. Ive had electrical problems galore with this car, to the point where they have replaced 4 sensors, and now finally the entire electrical cluster. The A/C broke. The power windows, and ABS system have malfunctioned. P.S. I only have 30,000 on the car.

• 

  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By MAnish - April 27 - 2:00 am

  Its a Great Feeling

• 

  GLS TDI - Awesome - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JayMiz - April 27 - 2:00 am

  Who would ever think that car has only 90HP?!? Incredible technology and a hell of a car too! Great handle, incredible gas mileage, and a great price tag for what I got!

• 

  Would be better in Germany - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lefuulei - April 26 - 10:08 pm

  I bought my Jetta Brand New of the lot. Everything on this car is decent to good but not stellar. Its a nice, sporty vehicle, great sound system, handles well and I loved it while I leased it. But even during that time frame there were recalls on the vehicle for small things like Light adjustments. Another recall was for the sunroof but they charge you $150 to fix it. Third recall was for fixing the wiper blades which threaten to cut the fuel line. The spedometer is off and the clock runs fast. But be warned: If the EPC light comes on you wont have any idea WHAT it is! Recently just spent $400 to repair the speed sensor. As with any foreign car: Expect expensive parts and limited service.

• 

  Great 1st car for my daughter - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By lfbmdpc - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Bought 04 Golf 4Dr GL w/AT @ $14,232 + tax/tags after $2K dealer rebate making this an extraordinary buy given safety features (head/side/door & curtain airbags). Car is fun to drive, fast (but not too fast for a 16yo driver), well equipped and appointed even in the base model. Negatives = history of poor reliability (altho improving as of 2003 per consumer reports ratings), dash switchwork seems a bit flimsy. However car comes with 4y/50K bumper-to-bumper warranty and "free" roadside service. Ive owned audis, BMWs, porsches & MBs and this cars germanic roots shine thru even when compared to its more expensive brethren. I bought this for my daughter, but I drive it every chance I can.

• 

  Good All Around Car - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Gee-man - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Overall this car has been good to me. There were some unexpected repairs, but Id gladly sacrifice 100% reliability for styling and fun. Not to say this car ever left me stranded or broke down during rush hour. Its great in the snow and rain and the fuel economy is still over 30 mpg on average. With over 80k miles Im still on my first set of breaks and clutch. The major problem is that it burns 1 qt of oil every 1000+ miles, which is a hassle for some, but overall its nothing that I have trouble living with. Let me mention that this car has sat in traffic for 1000s of hours - the kind of wear that breaks down a car the most - and still very few problems.

• 

  dont buy this car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DCM - April 25 - 10:00 am

  After purchasing this car and having NOTHING but major problems with it, I started doing research on Volkswagen and found these are probably the most unreliable cars on the market. Almost every review ive seen has nothing but negative things to say about them, yet Edmunds and CR recommends them?? WHATS GOING ON?!?!?!?! Not only are they made in Mexico, but the have one of the worst warranties on the market and follow up service is a JOKE. Good luck getting VW of America to listen also, they really dont care. PLEASE do your research and use your brain!!! these cars are all lemons and thats a fact. Dont take the chance like I did, you WILL be sorry

• 

  Diesel Slug Bug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By flthc - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Averageing 40 mpg @ 40% highway 60% city driving with the 1.9 TDI 6A. Its pretty peppy to boot. Better gas milage than the hybrids at a fraction of the cost. NO SMOKE or SMELL and great mileage, why would anyone not get the TDI?? I paid 17,200 plus tax and I got a price quote from deales from this web site in my area. Very pleased!

• 

  1999 Volkswagen New Beetle - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By zoomzoom06 - April 25 - 7:40 am

  Ok, so I loved this car when I first got it. Fun to drive, envy of friends, etc. Well, then the problems started. This car eats fluids like crazy, the oil and anitfreeze especially. The fuse for the brakelights blew. The check engine and ABS lights stay on for no reason. I have heard these are common problems, but come on, youd think they would have fixed them. Also, I hate pumping it with gas. If the pumps nozzle is not in just the right position, the stupid thing stops because the sensor says the tank is full although it is not. There are so many more problems I could list, but there is not enough room to put them all down! Reconsider whether or not to purchase, and dont do it!