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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  Roomy, Solid Car for the Money - 2015 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MarvinH - April 21 - 12:12 am

  The interior room of the Jetta is pushing the size of a mid-size car, especially the rear seats. Im 64" and my 511 son can sit behind me comfortably without nagging me to move the seat up. The car handles confidently at high speeds; I can tell this was built for the Autobahn. It seems to be more sure-footed the faster you go. The acceleration of the 1.8 turbo is exceptional. Granted, a good-sized V6 would be able to pull away, but Ive gotten out of some tight spots because my car had the yank to put me ahead of cars and trucks whose drivers were probably playing Bubble Witch on their phones. To be honest, I am a bit concerned about the long-term reliability though. Compared to a Honda or Toyota, I have a feeling it might be more costly in the long run. Time will tell. Some people seem to have really good experiences; others, not so much. For now, it seems to be very solid. No rattles or squeaks. Its more fun to drive than a Corolla or a Civic, and its much roomier, so Im happy for now. Im going to take the advice of other VW owners--stay on top of maintenance. German cars dont seem to handle neglect well.

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  Worst Car Ive ever owned - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Sylvan - April 20 - 10:43 pm

  Im the second owner of this car and have had it a little over a year. It has no gaps in the service history, and has always been dealer-serviced. So far, the fuse box, both electric fans, and the transmission have failed (bearing). Total cost not covered under warranty? $4,000. My Ford Maverick was more reliable than this car! My Subaru has 130,000 miles on it and has never had a part fail!! Save yourself, and dont buy this or any other VW. For Gods sake its the 21st Century and they cant make a transmission last 65,000 miles!!!

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  They Leak - Severe Mold/Mildew Issues - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By John Gillis - April 13 - 1:10 pm

  OK, the Tiguan is a beautiful vehicle. Performance, handling and finish are best in class. However I have had a serious problem develop in mine, that is related to poor build quality. Mine leaks. Water was entering through back doors and seemingly the front fire wall. This precipitated and extremely bad mildew infestation and the car become undrivable. It is currently with the dealer, after 4 weeks, and they still cannot get rid of the mildew odor. Carpet, underlay, cushions, the works has been infected with this smell (spores). So if you are buying this car be very careful. Car has not been fixed. I have requested it be replaced as it is a very serious health issue.

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  Money pit - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By money pit - April 12 - 4:53 pm

  When everything works the car is great to drive. Unfortunately thats not very often. My car has 129,000 miles on it. I am on my 4th catalytic converter. Ive always done my scheduled services at a VW dealer. The car has never made it the entire 5,000 miles without an extra visit for service. This car is such a disappointment. Ill NEVER get another one!

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  Change your timing belt early! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By SandeeB - April 10 - 10:00 am

  I loved driving my VW Passat. It looked great & was fun to drive; the only problem was with reliability. The final straw was when the timing belt broke at 84,000 miles and caused so much damage I had to get a new engine. VW schedules replacement of the timing belt at 105,000 miles. If you love your Passat, change the timing belt early and save yourself $5,000.

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  LOVE THIS LITTLE CAR - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By classyirish - April 9 - 7:13 pm

  I am a PROUD new owner of a used 2004 VW New Beetle convertable. I LOVE IT! So far so good. I have dressed her up with lashes and lipstick, she is fast, smooth, comfortable, roomy, and so very nice to look at. I have read the reviews about this cute car, and I see that a few have had issues, maybe the issues have been taken care of before I bought it, I did have to take her in as the check engine light was on, they fixed it, and she is running smooth. there also was a severed wire under the driver seat, fixed that and now the airbag light is off. I hope to keep her a good 10 to 15 years, and trade her up for another.

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  First Time Volkswagen Owner - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Andy Jordan - April 8 - 11:20 am

  1st time owner of a VW product and I am satisfied so far. The first 2 noticeable advantages I have experienced have been the excellent handling on the road and the precise braking. The visibility from this car is great - I feel I am sitting in an SUV instead of a compact car.

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  A Car Gone Bad - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Daniel - April 7 - 10:23 am

  I bought this car with 10,500 miles on it in May of 2006. I have had it for ten months, and the AC compressor, air bag wiring harness, oil pump, front grill, equalizer buttons, and ash tray have all had to be replaced. Not only is this the worst car I have ever owned, I will never buy a VW again. That is the bottom line. Its a piece of junk. Do not buy one.

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  VW - Service is Horrid - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Zagreb - April 7 - 2:00 am

  Fun car to drive, 5 spd, Diesel - real miser on the fuel - HOWEVER, once your warranties expire, nobody will help you. You become a leper. Electric window broke twice to $300 a pop. Electric trunk lock $180, Glove compartment $180. Cheap Mexican trash. I bought a Santa Fe - It Rules.

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  Obsessed with my car - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By npsgti - April 6 - 8:00 am

  Got this car CPO with 9k miles on it a month and a half ago and have put about a thousand miles on it since. This car is incredible. I was in a Mazda3 for a while before this car and this car just blows it away on every level. Interior is high quality on par with Audi etc. Excellent touch screen stereo and iPod interface with a very high attention to detail from the leather wrapped flat bottom steering wheel to the subtle red stitching throughout. Very comfortable seats etc. The engine (2liter turbo) coupled with 6 speed manual (how could you get the DSG??) is a dream. Seemingly bottomless torque and plenty of power when I need it with a nice exhaust sound. Excellent exterior design. Grade A