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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  Frustration! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By 4 Paws - February 5 - 12:46 pm

  Bought the TDI Sportswagen manual trans because it was a good looking little car with nice styling and good fuel mileage. Car cant stay out of the shop! In the first 25 days of owning it has been back twice for multi-day stays in the dealership service dept. Dealer is trying hard but the car has mechanical problems. VW just isnt building reliable cars. Spent good money and didnt get good quality.

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  Nice Car but Under Powered - 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By gregw01 - February 5 - 8:04 am

  Ive had my 2013 Tiguan for 2 months now and the new car shine is wearing off. The car is under powered and lacks any pep. Conversely, to another reviewers comments about the weird shifting being improved. It must have been really bad in the past because my Tiguan really shifts weird, especially on hills. The Tiguan suffers from an issue in the 4Motion control in that it cannot distinguish between a steep hill and unsafe driving conditions. The car slows down dramatically taking away acceleration control up/down on steep hills. Not a car for the mountains!

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  Made in the USA - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By plodnik - February 5 - 12:15 am

  After having this car for several weeks, all I can say is Im completely pleased. Hats off to the VW engineers on putting all the right features into an American made VW and to the people in TN for putting it all together! Ive averaged 37.6 MPG on mix of highway/street driving. The diesel torque combined with the well mannered turbo are more than sufficient for a fun ride. Who needs hybrids! Interior is cavernous for the rear passengers. Only complaint I can lodge is that the distance between the brack and gas pedal is narrow.

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  Amazin car i love it - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By James Farese - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Amazin Handling i love this car

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  this car stinks - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By jend - February 4 - 10:00 am

  this car has had more repairs than any car i have ever had including upper balljoints ($600 apiece) engine parts and now it needs $1000 in repairs DO NOT BUY ONE!

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  Whats happened to VW? - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cmenomorevw - February 4 - 10:00 am

  The 1.8Turbo is a blast to drive, but it has been a horror to own. Ive had major mechanical issues (ie engine mounts falling off) that many feel should have been warranty items. Unfortunately, VW customer service was not among this group. Even though Ive been a VW owner for 12 years, and my family has been loyal to the brand for over 25 years, Im going to be selling asap to escape this dismal reliability and customer service.

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  Beetles Suck - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By vwbugkelly1182 - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I am tired of having my beetle because it goes to the dealership every 3 months. i have had to replace the radiator, water pump, the window switch 3x, the back brakes 6x, the headlights 3x, the speedometer went out, the check engine light comes on all the time, and i have replaced many oxygen sensors. There are a lot of other things that have went wrong on my beetle, but there is too many to remember.

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  VW Problems - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By E. Nepal - February 4 - 10:00 am

  The electronics and programmed systems are a mess and VW has not responded with any real fixes. During the 1st two months of ownership, it was in the shop. I drive it but am still living with the gremlins. VWofA thinks the consumer is incidental and treats us as such. Too bad. Since theyve start feeling it in their sales volumes, you think theyd learn.

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  POOR FUEL ECONOMY - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By JPW1 - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I am getting 14.7 MPG on the highway. The sticker rated the Toureg 15MPG City, 20 MPG Highway. The homelink doesnt work, the multifunction computer required parts that took 2 weeks to get. The two most annoying features are the fact that the trunk locks every time you shut it and the remote is pathetic. I need to be within arms reach of the car to make the remote work.

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  Overall Happy - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Auburn Gal - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I was an SUV, Truck person for a long time, but I purchased my Diesel Jetta last November used and I love it. I am in sales, and it gets great mileage. I would definetly suggest anyone looking for a sleek, fun, and sporty car, look into this one.