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 Prince of Darkness is German - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Pete Montero - July 11 - 10:00 am

  Aversion to warning lamps? Avoid this car. Latest: "Emissions Workshop" lamp triggered by failed airflow mass sensor, causing engine to run rich, emitting too much unburnt fuel in exhaust. VW claims not covered by 8yr./80k mile emissions warranty; EPA would be interested in cause if not coverage of warranty, Im sure. This is 2nd failure of engine electronics; not a good track record. Also, body creaks/groans dont live up to teutonic image of car. Embarrassed that I fell under spell of features list and sound of V6; VTEC 4 cylinder next for me.

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  Worst car ever - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Beetle Driver - July 7 - 11:36 pm

  This car has been in the dealership 12 times in 6 months for stupid things like spark plug wires and everytime it costs at least $400, if you want a car that is cute and reliable get a Japanese car like Honda/Toyota, steer clear of German cars, they are expensive and so is the upkeep. When you average out the costs its about $100-200 a month for repairs alone.

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  Dont get any Volkswagen - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By No more Volkswagen - July 5 - 10:00 am

  I got this Golf because I liked its interior and exterior style and some fancy features. I had real fun for the first year. But everything turned bad in the second year. The motor of my driver side window broke one day. I could not roll my window up. The window even fell down completly after half hour of the incident. When I turned to car to the dealer, they knew the problem and fixed both sides. But why dont they recall all cars to fix the problem. The same problem also finds in my friends AUDI A4 and GTI. Within a months, I got two recall letters from dealer regarding fuel coil problem and the child seat thing. Too many little problems.

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  Dont go there... - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lorog1992 - July 5 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned Hondas for years and decided to take a chance on a VW...bad move. I cant believe the number of time this thing has been in the shop. VW must have figured out what terrible cars they were building because they bumped the 2yr warranty up to 4 years now. A lot of good that did me. VW credit and VW customer service were horrible as well. This is by far the worst experience Ive had with a car.

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  Bought the wrong Vehicle - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By bleyaert - July 3 - 1:20 pm

  I picked the VW over the Acura MDX and Lexus. I thought it was cooler and more sporty. Had I known how unreliable it would be I never would have leased it. The automatic climate control would stop functioning after about two hours of driving. On long road trips, I freeze when it is cold and roast when it is hot. Just what I wanted from a $38,000 vehicle. VW cant find the problem. The front tires are showing excessive wear on the inside edge. VW service admits to seing the problem on other Touaregs, but doesnt know the cause. The "check headlight range control" warning light required three trips to the dealer to get fixed.

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  My poor Beetle - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Brian - June 27 - 11:46 am

  I bought my TDI brand new back in 1998. loved the car but boy it did not take long to start sinking shop time and money into it. from headlights to window motors, to dash lights. I have had this car to the shop so many times they told me that all these beetles were doing the same thing. I have done a mass air flow sensor, I sill have the engine light on. timing belt and by the way its like 1100.00 for that at the VW dealership. they have to change all the parts on the front of the motor so they will stand behind there work. 2 cd players 2nd one is still not working. I paid 17,500.00 for this car and prob will have 8,000.00 in repairs soon. great idea for a car but a money pit......

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  Not Impressed - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Greg - June 24 - 11:03 pm

  My Passat got looks...but Ive had a series of problems with it, including a broken pin in the power window, a recall for the fuel pump, and heated seats. The trunk latch failed after 50,000 miles. The chrome trim is falling off the gear shift. The drip pan fell off while driving. The engine is leaking oil. It is fast and fun, but I got a speeding ticket on the interstate...so whats the point of having a turbo?

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  terrible rotors! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By derrcik - June 23 - 2:00 am

  Nice looking car alright ride! Had this car for 2 yrs. had to replace the rotors 4 times! Dealer can/could not find no reason why rotors are becoming warped every 5-10,000 mile is rediculous! Had a 95 Passat GLX that was not this hard brakes, if this is new technology I dont want no part of it! Also terrible in snow!

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  horrible car...dont buy - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By david - June 22 - 12:30 am

  never owned a worse car in my life!! Leaks oil, coolant, and transmission fluid. Buying American made cars from now on!!

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  Fun for a while... - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By carrdrivr - June 20 - 3:47 am

  Fun with utility thanks to its hatchback nature, but it does fall short in a few ways that may be a deal breaker for some. Road noise - It may be the result of being a small hatch or the fact that there seems to be no sound insulation, but the interior of this car is loud. When I say loud, I mean very loud. Driving over concrete or rough pavement will make you plead for mercy. Quality: The soft materials are nice but the construction is lacking. Interior rattles abundant, loud engine noises, suspension squeaks and creaks, thin paint (chips constantly). Comfort: Nice sport seats but uncomfortable on long drives. Deal Breaker: 25mpg (hwy+city) in a small car (VW can do better).