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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  worry about quality - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By yanhua - April 1 - 1:18 pm

  Unfortunately, my 2009 Tiguan has big problems. At 36000miles, water pump was broken. At 40000 miles, oil is leaky. It cost me about $2000 to fix the problems.

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  What a Nightmare - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By A nightmare - April 1 - 6:06 am

  everything that has happened to all the reviews posted here has happened to ours. the engine finally gave out leaving my daughter stranded with two kids while the son is in Iraq. this has been the worst car i have ever bought in 30 years. The Worst!!!! they really need to do a recall on the whole car. thanks for nothing VW

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  Best Car Ever! - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By My favorite! - March 31 - 10:13 pm

  I was a little worried getting into this car because of the reviews about the not so sporty steering, I disagree a whole lot! Its so much more fun then then the chrysler sebring hardtop or Pontiac G6 hartop! My favorite features are the great sound system and the HUGE sunroof with pop up wind blocker. For the money its worth it! I live in Michigan and i must say it turns heads, i love seeing the people in awe when i bold off the line! Also i get 25 mpg in mixed driving! The other day i had the sunroof open and i was doing 100 on the highway and it felt and sounded like 65! If you can live without 5 seats and a smaller trunk this car is perfect for You.

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  Not the worst car on the road - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By weezy23 - March 31 - 12:02 am

  I was skeptical at first when I test drove the Passat TDI. BMW/Audi/Mercedes all offer diesels, but not one of them will mate it to a manual transmission (at least here in the colonies). That is a key selling point to me, so VW won my bid. I do get people telling me to check on my engine, because it sounds a little rough, then I tell them its a diesel, its supposed to sound like that, then they go in for a closer inspection and see the stick and generally get surprised. The cabin does tend to get a little loud on the freeway, the bluetooth is iffy, at best and I cant have a sunroof with a manual trans. Small price to pay for that gas milage, so I dont really complain much

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  Why I regret buying the 2005 Volkswagon New Beetle - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By javidiaz - March 30 - 9:21 am

  I made the huge mistake of purchasing a 2005 Volkswagon New Beetle last year. This was a used car meant to be a small retirement gift to myself, and a year later, after 4 visits to the mechanic, $2500.00 dollars in repairs and a looming transmission problem, I am now faced with having to trade this blue nightmare in for a more reliable car. Any smile I had on my face was wiped off by the pure unreliable nature of this vehicle and what this year of driving what I consider the worst vehicle ever made has been to me. I have owned Ford, Dodge, Honda, and never experienced a poorly engineered vehicle until I drove the 2005 VW New Beetle. Heed my review and stay away from these cars.

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  Whoa! - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By NewnanR32 - March 30 - 9:16 am

  I have had my R32 for 4 days now. I had previously owned a 1995 Jetta VR6. I knew what to expect with the power and performance. However I had no idea how smooth and precise the DSG was until my First Road Trip - from Detroit to Atlanta (750 miles). I learned that "S" means See Ya later! I was comfortable and enjoy the drive. Unbelievable handling and acceleration! This vehicle is low key and stays under the "Radar" with police. I look forward to adding a Cool Air Intake in the coming weeks to help with gas mileage and possibly more.

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  Just a fun little car! - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cailin - March 30 - 2:00 am

  This 98 Jetta is my first ever car. As I purchased this vehicle "late in life", and did not drive at all until a year ago, I dont have anything to compare this car to. BUT, it is fun to drive and definitely has a lot of pep. Not the best on gas mileage, but then I dont drive to work, and mine does have 6 cylinders (Vroom-vroom!). Parts can be pricy, so its good that VWs have a good reliability rating. I bought this car used and had I done more research, would have preferred a new (w/warranty) car. A good, solid (and well-sealed) car.

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  1999 Passat GLS V-6 - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By sstepa - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Mine was built on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon. 2 failed fuel sending units, leaking rear shock, cam seal blew, power steering leak (twice) CV boot cracked, rear hatch lock repaired, squeek in drivers door, broken bottom engine cover. Bought new and its not driven hard and only put on 12K per year. Im jealous of all the other positive reviews. Cant say the same for mine.

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  03 Golf - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By pete63 - March 30 - 2:00 am

  After coming out of an 01 Honda Civic I must say that the Golf is a much better value. I had always liked VWs but never owned one. I test drove the Golf and Jetta. Both were awesome cars. For the price VW loads the options on. The only thing that VW could improve is the gas mileage.

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  What a nightmare - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By SoCalGirl - March 30 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car brand new and it started giving me problems before the 6 month mark. At one point the dealership had my car for 3 weeks. Is currently at dealer again and will cost $780 this time for a chip. Electronics choose not to work from time to time and close to impossible to maintain on your own.