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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  Great features, terrible reliability. - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JohnJetta - January 7 - 10:36 pm

  If this car were more reliable, (or at all reliable), I would be completely satisfied with it. It has a great interior with plenty of useful features and a good design. I love the look of the outside as well. BUT, this car has been nothing but trouble since the day I got it. It is in the shop AT LEAST once a month, and repairs on German cars are expensive! The check engine light is basically on more than it is off. Make sure you have a lot of money to spare and an extra car if you decide to buy a Volkswagen!

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  2001 GTI 1.8Turbo - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By 1FE - January 7 - 2:00 am

  Great driving. Would like the 2002 180hp engine software. Coolant system leak following delivery. Power window failed X3 due to faulty regulator. All problems repaired under warranty. Generally pleased with car and service

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  Little Buger - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Ornary Old Coot - January 4 - 5:10 pm

  Ok, so bought this turbo beast of mine at 114000, here I am and 2 oil changes later (at 5000kms a piece, first one as soon as I got her ), Im at 120000kms n she drives like a dream. I call her pristine, mind you after the manual sunroof blocker had to be removed and the sunroof is visible all the time I may have to change that. I got her reasonably young, and is amazing to drive. I take off ramps rated at 40 km/hr at 80 and she hugs every corner. When I bought her, she came with 17" Momo Italia 5 spokes, wrapped in pirellis. I had a 96 jetta b4 hand and this one is much more fun, aside from a lack in cupholders and a bit of trunk space, handling is superb for a front wheel drive

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  Only 48 hours in, but awesome so far - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By guymeister - January 3 - 4:14 pm

  I just picked up my new 2012 LE model 2 days ago, so I havent had a lot of experience with it and cant comment on its long term durability, but so far, its been awesome. Its much more car than I thought I was getting - very quick, yet with a very solid feel, quite fast (it feels much faster in 0 to 60 than the official times for it), it has more than enough conveniences, a lot of room, and it looks great. And the gas mileage is good (roughly 24 round town, which I think is exactly what its supposed to be). I love it.

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  Fun and Stylish MPGs - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jmmeeks - January 2 - 11:25 am

  The manual TDI is fun to drive, and gets great mpg. EPAs city mpg is about right - I get 29-32 mpgs on my commute (suburban + city streets, 16 mi. each way). On the highway, though, I usually get 48 mpg. The interior leans high-end - seat warmers, speaker phone, and the spots you actually touch while driving (arm rests, steering wheel, turn signal) have a soft feel. The top of the console extends to an arm rest wide enough for both driver and passenger. The Fender speakers are fantastic, but the iPhone interface can be prickly. When my phone is connected via the media cord, the system sometimes gets confused between that connection and Bluetooth.

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  Total Fun Car! - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By Steve - January 2 - 9:06 am

  Ive always wanted a hard-top convertible ever since I saw one two months ago. I generally assumed that it would be way out of my price range, but when I found out that Volkswagen made a hard-top convertible, I was totally hoodlumed. It turned out to be not only very reasonably priced but it drives and handles really well. People will also be very surprised by the roominess of the rear seats. The back is definitely big enough to hold two average sized dwarfs or a couple of medium sized farm animals. My automatic transmission shifts very smoothly and the engine definitely holds its own on the highway. Overall, this car is a pleasure to drive.

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  The Breadbox - 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By Miocardian - January 1 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my EuroVan GLS for well over a year now, and I cant stop saying good things about it. Sure, it doesnt have all the "gizmos" that all the other minivans have, but in reality, this is a great vehicle. I always walk away with a smile on my face after I drive.

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  Lovin my Jetta - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wien976 - January 1 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned 4 Jettas so far and this one has been great! Though I prefer the body style of the Jetta III, this 2000 Jetta is a nice one! I love driving it, it handles well, has tons of room, and is really a slick little car.

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  This car is a lemon - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By aerochick - January 1 - 10:00 am

  I wanted a Jetta forever and was excited to finally own one. However, I have been severely disappointed. After 6 months of ownership, Ive had the car in for non-routine service at least once every 2 months. These are generally recurring problems that Volkswagen cant seem to fix. VWs warranty is also a disappointment. You have to take the car in for routine maintenance every 10,000mi and must pay all labor costs for these trips. Plus, if you complain about a malfunction that the dealership cant find, you have to pay all labor costs for their nonproductive investigation. These are poor policies!

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  Ex Japanese buyer now German.... - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cube69 - December 29 - 11:19 am

  This is my first car that wasnt Japanese but Im very happy I made the switch. The Jetta has more room than any other in its class. The doors close with a solid thud to let you know the difference in the quality and fit and finish of this car compared to others. The Jetta feels solid on the road with no excessive road noise like my Honda. I like the design of the Jetta which I feel will last with time. My next car will be VW, I like German engineering and safety.