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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  Dont buy me because I suck - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By hatesthebug - January 17 - 10:00 am

  From this experience I will never buy another Volkswagen again, and thats sad because I own 3 older ones. Starting from the broken CD on through the broken sunroof, just about anything mechanical that can fall apart did. We have had our Beetle into the dealer 5 times for various issues which included a recalled oxygen sensor to sputtering performance. And ironically, everytime we took it in our moron mechanics failed to report it. I will never buy a car from Continental of Joplin again, and Volkswagen has lost my familys business forever for shoddy workmanship and terrible dealer service. I rate this car the worst ever purchased.

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  VW LOYALTY TO TDI OWNERS DOES NOT EXIST ,ASK WHY - 2017 Volkswagen Passat
  By jim Ramthun - December 29 - 2:42 pm

  VW does not have any loyalty incentives in place for the owners returning their TDIs. VWs answer when asked why not is the incentive to the TDI customer is the added cash when you sell the car back (you get the cash if you repurchase a VW or not). I will take the money and not buy a VW again. If they have no loyalty to a TDI owmer why should the owner have loyalty to the VW brand.

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  Dont buy this car... - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By bbaak - December 4 - 10:00 am

  This car is 95% chrysler! First and foremost. If you want a VW, DONT BUY THIS. This is a Chrysler rebadged as a VW. The Only thing VW besides the logo is the suspension. I was told only the frame and the engine....but sorry the whole thing is Chrysler. VW sells 4 different vans in Germany, but now Im stuck with a car that has lost 30% of its value in less than one year. IF I knew then what I know now I would leased it at least then Id be able to mess w/ VW back as they would have to eat MOST of the cost on this car at surrender time. IF you want a routan buy a Town and Country....go to a VW dealer buy logos and stick them on.....same thing!!!!!!

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  Dont buy this car... - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By bbaak - December 4 - 10:00 am

  This car is 95% chrysler! First and foremost. If you want a VW, DONT BUY THIS. This is a Chrysler rebadged as a VW. The Only thing VW besides the logo is the suspension. I was told only the frame and the engine....but sorry the whole thing is Chrysler. VW sells 4 different vans in Germany, but now Im stuck with a car that has lost 30% of its value in less than one year. IF I knew then what I know now I would leased it at least then Id be able to mess w/ VW back as they would have to eat MOST of the cost on this car at surrender time. IF you want a routan buy a Town and Country....go to a VW dealer buy logos and stick them on.....same thing!!!!!!

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  Handling is not very good. Reliability issues - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mike - November 3 - 11:35 am

  Highway driving does not feel safe. Car is not handling well on speeds over 75 mp/h (I drive fast in the morning to pass traffic). Car feels like floating on the road with steering wheel is not responsive at all. Is this an electric motor drive? Tires are new, pressure is according to the VW recommendations. I used to have 2010 VW Jetta 2.5 and when it wasnt in the shop , it was driving extremely straight on the highway. Unfortunately, I didnt test a car on the highway during my initial test drive. Another problem with 2017 model is its automatic transmission: it is slipping from 1 to 2 and when Im slowing down at the traffic light from 2 to 1. On the highway it does it too but shifting to Sport helps. Anyways, strange suspension and possibly new drivetrain-related problems. Dealer now said that "turbo is not reliable and usually you need to change it at around 100,000 miles... but you just trade this car and well get you a new car!" Knowing how expensive VW service is, it is freaking me out. Someone here has mentioned similar problems. What should I do with a car? Its currently under 15,000 miles. Please advice.

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  Handling is not very good. Reliability issues - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mike - November 3 - 11:35 am

  Highway driving does not feel safe. Car is not handling well on speeds over 75 mp/h (I drive fast in the morning to pass traffic). Car feels like floating on the road with steering wheel is not responsive at all. Is this an electric motor drive? Tires are new, pressure is according to the VW recommendations. I used to have 2010 VW Jetta 2.5 and when it wasnt in the shop , it was driving extremely straight on the highway. Unfortunately, I didnt test a car on the highway during my initial test drive. Another problem with 2017 model is its automatic transmission: it is slipping from 1 to 2 and when Im slowing down at the traffic light from 2 to 1. On the highway it does it too but shifting to Sport helps. Anyways, strange suspension and possibly new drivetrain-related problems. Dealer now said that "turbo is not reliable and usually you need to change it at around 100,000 miles... but you just trade this car and well get you a new car!" Knowing how expensive VW service is, it is freaking me out. Someone here has mentioned similar problems. What should I do with a car? Its currently under 15,000 miles. Please advice.

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  DO NOT BUY - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tammy Taylor - October 2 - 9:12 pm

  We bought the car from my brother-in-law who bought it new and did regular maintenance like clockwork only used synthetic oil. It had 90k miles on it when we bought and was in immaculate condition besides the peeling on inside front doors. We drove 150 miles and lost oil pressure had to be towed 150 miles from home. Dealer said needed new motor $7500 and that didnt include turbo replacement. We went with an autorepair shop instead and spent 5500. Within the next 150 miles the oil was leaking. Turned out to be rear main seal and that is another 1200. We have 15k in a used car with only 90k miles on it.......Ridiculous. VW should do something about all the problems. This should be covered under lemon law.

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  4 years of HELL - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By gallagherx - September 17 - 10:00 am

  This car has subjected me to numerous problems over the past four years (excluding the horrendous problems posed by the dealership!). The passenger side window falling into the door driving across Canada! The headlights have burnt out numerous times and the cost of repair is outrageous.

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  Piece of Junk!! - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Karen Cole - September 14 - 2:40 am

  Lemon!Threw a rod yesterday Always kept up with oilchanges. From the day we bought this car NEW we have had trouble with it ranging from front axles,water pump,seat belt sensors, transmission sensors, etc. Have been towed 4 times. Thousands spent on repairs.Now we have o replace the motor. Call customer care all they ever give is a canned answer Sorry you feel that way. They dont care about their consumers. Their no corrosion warranty means nothing unless it actually rust through. That makes no sense!!!

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  mistake - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By jimbo jones - August 28 - 10:00 am

  My mistake. There are better cars for less $.