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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  Problems.... - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SC Meshell - December 17 - 2:00 am

  I am currently trying to sell my Jetta now that the transmission has gone out and will cost $3,000 to replace. In addition to the transmission my trunk never closes the first time around, I avoid using it just so that I dont have to attempt closing it 50 times before it clicks. The first day of a new job, the key would not fit in the ignition. I had to have a tow truck come down and the dealership said I might needed to replace the ignition. The interior radio and window buttons have bubbeled and peeled, and as of today five of my six CDs are stuck in the CD player. I am really disapointed and will most likely get a horrible return on what I thought was a great investment.

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  2007 GLI - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lisa Hughet - December 16 - 12:07 am

  My previous car was a 2006 VW Jetta Value Edition so as I love VWs I knew what I was looking for. The 2007 GLI version is just as solid a car on the road but the turbo makes it a little more fun. My only complaint so far is fairly minor- there is a rattle in the trunk that I havent been able to identify yet. All in all I love my GLI and have gotten lots of compliments!

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  Great Commuter - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VW88 - December 15 - 5:33 am

  Ive had this car for 4 months now and have put over 30,000 km on it driving from Calgary to Saskatoon and Calgary to Vancouver. Car is great for commuting and relatively cheap for regular maintenance. If you can do regular maintenance on a gasser - you can do it on a diesel! Just be sure to use a good diesel fuel additive/fuel filter to prolong the life of your injection pump and take it for a good run regularly to keep the turbo clean and prevent sticking. My injection pump recently went from cheap fuel filter, bad diesel and no fuel additive - $2000 bill, follow the above advice to avoid this costly repair and youll be happy with the car!

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  I loved mine! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gjay - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Wow... I never had any trouble with my 2001 Jetta. I did take it in for ALL scheduled service, which helps I think. I just traded it in today for a 2004 jetta and was actually sad to let my 2001 go.

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  Wud be great if wasnt bugged - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By mferreira - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Mechanically I give it the highest reviews, really excellent, power, fun to drive. Seats could be more comfortable, stereo system could be better. The HUGE problems is general instability in the on-board electronics, nothing is reliable, owners manual is very very pooly written, had it for less than 2 months, been to the dealership 4 times. The keys definitely have a design problem as you hear many people complaining about then (ridiculos range, erratic responsiveness, etc)

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  Lots of Little Problems - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By dc - December 14 - 12:43 am

  Driving the car is fun, but the electrical components are lousy. My local service department is not very good and is very costly. We have had a lot of trouble with it, nothing with the drivetrain, but lots of little electrical problems.

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  Nice Machine - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By T.D. - December 13 - 3:40 am

  Just bought the SEL. Surprisingly nice crossover. Has all the features, plus some I cant figure out how to use. Very peppy, and handles well. The turbo is good on gas, but not real smooth. Overall a very nice driving machine.

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  New Jetta - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By deblynn49 - December 12 - 11:23 am

  I just bought a new Jetta TDI automatic. It only has 300 miles so far but we like it. It is fun to drive, kind of like a European sports car. It has guts, too.

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  Id Buy Again - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By RunWithBenny - December 11 - 2:16 pm

  These little cars are perfect for commuting. Ive put on 60,000 miles since I purchased it and have only had to service the timing belt and clean the intake system due to diesel soot. I was unsure what to expect for maintenance with a diesel, but Ive been very satisfied. This car is too small for a family, but has great pickup when driving solo. Get a manual transmission if you are considering this car - the autos are much slower!

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  Dont - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By LisasJetta - December 9 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car brand new with less than 50 miles. I have had nothing but problems and its been in the shop more than Ive been able to drive it. Dont count on Volkswagon to help you out either as they have been nothing but rude with me whenever Ive called to complain of all of the problems. If I were you, Id look elsewhere for a car.