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:

• 

  A Great Station Wagon - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By szakal - September 4 - 10:00 am

  The moon roof is so loud when open that we could not enjoy the ride with it at all. So I went out to buy the wind deflector for it. It does a great job, but then, when the window is closed it generates a lot of extra noise. I still dont know if I liked with or without it better.

• 

  Thumbs up - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By trex1200r - September 2 - 11:42 pm

  I was looking for a sporty, roomy vehicle that I could easily haul my dog in. The sportwagen has a large cargo area, and the heigth is easy to negotiate for our aging pup. While shopping around, I convinced myself I had to have a diesel for the torque and the mileage. Performance is good, not great. DSG likes to keep the revs low, so you need some planning and patience for the wave to arrive. Sometimes the wave is there, sometimes you wait. Gas Mileage. Averaging 38mpg over 9K miles. It takes a good 10 miles to get the mileage reading into the 30s, so not sure how it would do if you only take short trips. Probably not good.

• 

  Monday - Friday car? - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By lil buggy - September 2 - 9:53 pm

  Id like to start by saying I love VW Beetles, always have but my little bug has given me a bit of trouble. Is it the year? Is it the day of week it was built? I have had to replace the cooling system ($$$), oil pan, airconditioner ($$$), both windows due to motor failure ($$). And the little things...fuel door wont open from inside, and knob to adjust outside mirrors is broken. It is also expensive to replace the headlights (poor design). Im wondering if I should get another Beetle, and if Volkswagon has made any improvements in these cute cars. I love the way the Beetle maneuvers expecially on curves and in parking lots. Love to share info with anyone out there.

• 

  So far so good - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By GTI-UP - September 2 - 8:13 am

  Ive owned many VWs in the past, but gave them up after leasing a 1995 Jetta that was nothing but trouble. Gave the GTI a chance as a summer fun car. It has a little over 5K on it. Its a blast to drive, awesome stereo, great seats, solid and stable. Fuel economy is disappointing. Ive got the 6 speed manual, and a 13 mile drive to work that is mostly highway, and only get around 26 mpg. All highway gets me up to a mere 27.2 mpg. I see others getting better than 30. My driving is spirited at times but I suspect no more so than most others getting higher mpg.

• 

  2008 New Beetle YUCK! - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Beverly DuVall - September 1 - 8:00 pm

  I have owned 6 Beetles in my lifetime and I have loved everyone from my 1968 to my 2005. I recently traded in my 2005 and upgraded to a 2008. What a shock. The appearance and features are all basically the same as all my other New Beetles, however, the gas mileage is another story. I have paid more for gas than I have in payments for this car since I purchased it. It is only averaging 200 miles per tank of gas. I have had it to the dealership for service, and they insist that there is no problem with it. My last full tank of gas I got 193 miles. I am certain that there is a problem with the 2008 Beetle fuel system. I am not happy with the 08 VW. YUCK!!!

• 

  Can the Car Last Five Years? - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By leibo52 - September 1 - 12:36 pm

  I was so happy with the car until June 2006 when the turbo went while driving, this just 1,000 miles after the 60,000 mile checkup at the dealership? Coincidence or engine design of the car? Does someone call and ask you how much do you love your car? Implying it is too costly to repair a car like this. Thank goodness I bought the extended warranty from outside (Continental) they covered most of the expenses except for full labor ($105+) here in NY they only cover up to $75 per hour the job took almost 10 days.

• 

  GTI ist der fun! - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By zenmoose - August 30 - 8:20 pm

  Great design and drivability are the hallmarks of this sporty hatch. Mechanically it is still going strong as it approaches the 40K mark. The A/C failed, however, though it was replaced under warranty (took 2 tries!) Aluminum pedals are great, as is the premium stereo (after re-flash). Visibility out the back slightly poor. Biggest problem: 18" Huffs EAT TIRES! I have replaced numerous tires due to Pennsy potholes and had rims straightened once. Ouch! Buy a 17" wheel for the sake of the extra sidewall. Noisy rough ride just reminds you why you like to hang onto that fat padded wheel so tightly at speed. Great lines! I have thought about trading it when the warranty is over, but....

• 

  value - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By turbodude - August 29 - 2:00 am

  bought new for less than $20,000 three years ago. the power during the test drive convinced me to buy it. solid feel of a german car puts my old honda to shame. my first car was vw bug in 1972 so it was kind of like coming home to an old friend. the only problem ive had is the engine light sometimes comes on in cooler weather (ignition coil factory recall?). i suppose my only real complaint is that i need to be aggressive with the clutch when the light turns green to keep up with the automatic transmissions.

• 

  Good car overall! - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By imafishinnut - August 29 - 2:00 am

  I love the car in general. It is really fun to drive and has great fuel economy (average 48 mpg city and 54 mpg highway). Excellent power for a four cylinder. Only have encountered on problem so far -- faulty window mechanism for power windows. Driver side window fell down into door and wouldnt come back up. Dealer fixed both windows simultaneously and indicated that it was a problem with the pulley design.

• 

  Honest Review - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tommy - August 28 - 9:00 pm

  The 2006 Jetta is a fun car to drive with good handling capabilities. The gas mileage is great compared to my SUV trade in. This is the main reason why I wanted a smaller car. I like the looks and the way the interior is designed. I have the navigation system which is ok. The radio sound system is weak and the satellite radio always seems to loose connection. The wind noise is very lound on the highway you need to really turn up the radio. The front seats are very uncomfortable. There is a bar in the drivers seat that hurts my rear end. This is the biggest negative for me.