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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  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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  The yellow is starting to show - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sandra Bartlett - February 3 - 8:57 pm

  Bought in Feb last year and cant make a yr with it.I have replaced multi things catalytic converter.2 batteries abs battled check engine light for 6 months .Now theres an electrical drain the no one can find. Fed up here.MY UPDATE-UNLOADED this crap vehicle no one ever could figure out what was draining the battery

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  good riddance! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By disgruntled_vw_owner - January 30 - 5:03 pm

  Finally got rid of my jetta last month. This car has caused me so much grief (and money) during the 4 yrs I owned it. VW replaced the mass airflow sensor after the car died on the highway while I was 8 months pregnant. A few months later the same thing happened so the sensor was replaced again. The car stalls after pulling from parking (cold start) everyday, and VW couldnt figure out how to fix it. The check engine light goes on all the time, after multiple trips back to VW they still couldnt fix it. The replacement parts cost so much too for something that was assembled in Mexico. The rubber material by the door peels and looks disgusting. Will never buy a VW vehicle again ever.

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  What an Expensive Piece of Junk!!!!! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By growlingbadger - January 30 - 11:40 am

  2004 Touareg with under 60K miles. I have never had a better maintained vehicle because its in the shop at least once a month! And expensive!!!!??? A key - $75, key with remote - $150. Headlamp replacement is an annual event. They dont last very long and require a mechanic to install and even Factory techs hate replacing them! Cost - $150. It also has issues that the dealers keep blowing off. This is just the cheap stuff! Its a good day when I can get it out of the shop for under $500. Im on a first name basis with the wrecker driver the dealer uses.

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  Outdone - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vwhassled - January 26 - 2:00 am

  If the window clip problem were not enough, I am back in a rental with the third ignition coil change. VW refuses to change the last one, that is sure to malfunction as well. Great car to drive when it is not in getting fixed. VW America not doing a good job of fixing own mistake.

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  IT DOESN"T RUN - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Patrick - January 26 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car after researching on this site and others. We have a little over 5,000 miles on our Passat and it has been in the shop 4 times for igntion coil failures. This results in not being able to drive the car. The last time the tow truck driver stated he had towed over 100 of these one with only 23 miles for this problem. We have had some other minor issues. VW has left us with bottom of the line Toyota as a loner with no date on when we will get our car back as they have not parts to fix it.