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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  2003 GLX Turbo Automatic - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Cutebug - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Love my car. Cutest thing on the road. Turbo gives the car a lot of pep. Smooth ride on the freeway.

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  only three complaints! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By TiffieTu - November 28 - 10:00 am

  This is my second new beetle in as many years. The first a 2000 GLX, I kept a year before VW of Amer. replaced it with a 2001 GLX, gratus. Car kept loosing power after coming to a stop and attempting to accelerate again. They spent a year trying to correct without success. New 2001 does the same thing and now they "own-up-to" its "Turbo-Lag which all Turbos have and They cant do anything about it."

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  NOT AS FUN AS YOU THINK.... - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By cathybee - November 28 - 10:00 am

  This is the only car I have EVER wanted and after having it for a year, I will never own one again. I have had it in for repairs at least 20 times-- everything from a basic turn signal not working to the entire electronic system completing going. The drivers side window also malfunctioned---and when it was 30 degrees outside! Can you believe that for a car thats a year old? No thanks. Volkswagen can keep it.

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  Great Wagon can compete with the best - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By frederik - November 28 - 8:03 am

  Was looking for a wagon and found it in the Passat. The interest rate and the fact it was a CPO was another great decision. Despite some different opinions on the 2002 models, I believe this is a solid car. I could not get the diesel wagon may be next time premium model will do :).

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  Love My Jetta - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sherry - November 28 - 6:33 am

  I Love my Jetta. I bought the TDI Automatic. It is very sporty and peppy. I got almost all of the options you can get on it and love everyone of them. If I had to do it all over again, I would not change a thing. In the first 5,000 miles I have had some problems. I am somewhat disappointed in the quality of the materials used in the vehicle.

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  Passats are Lemons - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By tallbrunette - November 28 - 4:03 am

  Please check out Consumer Reports before buying a used or new Passat. In May I had to put in a new battery, I was told by VW that it had to be replaced. A month later or less I had left it in the airport and the battery was dead again. I was told by VW ALL car batteries need to be jumped if left for 3-4 days (I am not lying). I had to bring the car back five times before it was corrected. I cant tell you the time, money and frustration and most of all stress this has caused me. I have owned three Volvos and have NEVER had such problems. I also had to put in new brakes within 20,000 miles. Go for the proven cars - Toyota and Honda. This car is planned to be obsolute at 50,000 miles.

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  I love my new car! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jaime - November 27 - 11:13 pm

  I LOVE my new car! This is my second Volkswagon. My first, 2001 Cabrio, was not great whatsoever. I was a little bit iffy on getting another Volkswagen but Im glad I did. Its been great!

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  Beware of Defective Water pumps - 2012 Volkswagen EOS
  By susanb122 - November 27 - 10:42 pm

  I bought a 2012 EOS in April of 2011. As of this writing 12/24/11, I only have 3,100 miles on the car and it has had 3 water pumps put in. Fortunately, the car has not broken down yet, but the water pumps build up pressure after the cars warm up and a screeching noise can be heard from under the hood. My first was found by accident. With only 400 miles on the car, I had gotten out to run back into the house to retireve something and I heard the noise. I brought it back to the dealer and was told VW had a batch of defective water pumps and they would put another one in, which they did. Stand outside your EOS and listen for the noise! My car is being replaced.

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  Another reason that Detroit is in trouble - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Joseph D - November 27 - 5:30 pm

  I have wanted to combat the high cost of gasoline for a long time. I have found my weapon to be a stylish, sophisticated economy (or is this a mid-size, the rental car companies have me confused on whats what!) car with luxury touches: the Jetta TDI. The interior is surpisingly smart and "rich". The heated leather seats have the look and feel of a high end car in a different price range. Some other manufacturers charge $500 - $1,000 for satellite radio, it was included in the cost when you purchase package 1 or 2.

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  Passat W8 Wagon - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By flyt34planes - November 27 - 11:23 am

  Overall our W8 is awesome. It rides and handles as if it is on rails. The scary part is that the faster you go, the car doesnt get louder. Our family feels very safe and secure in the W8. It is still under warranty - nothing major yet has gone wrong, but a few annoying little things. The worst "feature" is that the hatch requires a separate action to open, even if all of the doors are unlocked.