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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  My First Toy - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By sickboy778 - April 6 - 7:00 am

  The car drives like something far more expensive. The ESP is nice when you need it, but if you wanna roll, turn it off and the car is a madman! its easy to park and the extra room always comes in handy. This car is hot!

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  50%-50% - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Eugene - April 5 - 1:03 pm

  i have this passat for more than 3 years so far replaced windshield wipers motor, front cv joints with axle, just got whole cd/radio player broken, some emission sensors and have been driving with "check engine" light on for 2 years (due some stupid emission sensors!) and battery replaced! so you should really consider this-this car is bad on electronics! otherwise just keep up with maintenance and youll be good!

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  Lots to like in a small car + 47 MPG - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By rickf - April 3 - 12:33 pm

  I see a lot of complaining about New Beetles in here, but reviews are created by the people who love and the people who hate the car. So you get either side... I have a 1998 Beetle that has 104K miles on it. Yes, it is 11 years old, yes it needs a little this or a little that, but honestly... show me any 11 year old car that starts every time even in sub zero weather, gets great gas mileage, and all in all is a great car. Take care of your vehicles and they will take care of you.

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  2003 Volkswagen Jetta GL TDI - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dbensey - April 3 - 6:50 am

  The 2003 Volkswagen Jetta GL TDI is fun to drive and gets super fuel economy. It is also very comfortable. I love its smooth ride and tight handling.

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  Good car, high operating costs - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By christauph - March 30 - 6:36 am

  Almost to 15k miles, awesome handling, awesome braking, decent acceleration (its a heavy car). The clutch and shifter feel great. Overall my experience with this car has been good, but a few build quality issues have arisen. The sheet metal seems to ding easily, I tend to park carefully but have received a disproportionate number of dings in the past year. Rattle started coming from the center HVAC stack at about 8k miles, dealer fixed. The plug for the spare tire compartment came loose and I had standing water , but luckily no rust, dealer replaced. Rear windshield sprayer is cheap, popped off once, dealer replaced. Routine service is EXPENSIVE (syn oil), and difficult to do yourself.

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  Fun, Comfortable, and Economical - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By chris - March 29 - 9:06 pm

  Ive got 145,000 miles on the car and have had to spend a fair amount of money on service. Ive replaced the glow plugs and had the intake manifold cleaned when it plugged with carbon. Ive also replaced the airflow sensor twice. So it hasnt been trouble-free, but its within acceptable limits. The cost of ownership is about what you would have with a trouble free car getting about 35 mpg, but Id still buy it again. I love the way it drives and the torque of the TDI engine. It sure doesnt drive like a 44-49 mpg car! It pulls like a big V6 up to about 3,000 rpm. It is great for a sole commuter or a traveling couple.

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  Warning: TDI fuel pump - 2013 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By badtux - March 28 - 3:40 am

  Volkswagen specifically states that putting biodiesel in your tank will void your warranty and many people have had their vehicles fail. Unfortunately B10 or B20 (10% or 20% biodiesel) is all thats available in several midwestern states. Be forewarned -- filling your VW up with diesel can kill it.

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  Good Car I like it - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ger - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Bought my car for 3000 less than sticker at a tent sale. I got a good deal for the money I spent. Good Points -- Performance, no Maintenance (only scheduled) in 30000 miles, handling is great and has good gas mileage. Bad Points -- the cloth on the seats is horrible ( they need to rethink this)

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  Fun but unreliable - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Poolfish - March 24 - 4:23 am

  Im at 117,000 miles and and getting ready to trade in for a Honda. The MIL is on right now because of a bad coolant sensor, a bad 02 sensor and a bad catalytic converter. The heater core also has a hole in it, so the car smells like anti-freeze if I turn the heat on. I hope the dealer doesnt take it for a drive before proposing a trade in value. I figure Ive put about $10k into the car on repairs over the years, with only about $2k being normal scheduled maintenance. That includes a few new rims and tires because it does not handle pot holes too well! It is fun to drive though, so I will miss that after the trade in.

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  Bitten By My Bug - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By M. Young - March 23 - 5:43 pm

  I love driving my bug (even put German tags on the front) - I get compliments from total strangers on it all the time...they say it suits me (I guess I look like the artist/musician I am). All was great until 9 days after my purchase (4200 mi) my check engine light came on. Repeated 13-14 times in the next two years, plus speakers rattled, seat frame on drivers side broke more than once (try driving in a bobbling seat). Rubber coating on inside door handles peeling, interior fabric liner on convertible came loose and draped over window. Thank goodness all repairs so far have been under warranty! Looking for more reliable transport now, but will miss my bugs "cute as a bug" smile. :-(