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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  04 GLX Wagon V6 - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By bonobo - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Only had the car for one week now, but WOW! Got it for my wife (30th birthday gift) and we couldnt be more pleased. Great ride, great features, and that famous VW fit & finish. For a "mommamobile" it doesnt get any better than this, and I find myself envious of her ride! Its simply the most classy, well-refined, and user- friendly wagon for under $40k. Looking forward to many years of happiness in owning this vehicle. We hope the reliabilty is better than what weve been reading about, however. On the upside, it cant be any worse than the horrendous car she previously had, a 1999 Pontiac Grand- Am GT. GM should have paid ME to take delivery of THAT car. Go for the VW wagon, yall.

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  I love my little Jetta - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ev_rickus - November 28 - 1:56 am

  With all the negative reviews most people have about this year/model, I have been fortunate to not have the same problems. Dad bought this car in 05, and I have been driving it since 11. Bought car around 60k miles - dad had about $3000 of repairs put into it at time of purchase. Then replaced the water pump shortly after I started driving in 2008. Had to replace inner/outer CV axles after hitting a nasty pothole back in 2012 (cost $500, OUCH!) Car just passed 176k miles. Trans is having problems (expected, its all OEM far as I know), no electric issues (surprise there), the center console latch and glove box door broke, cloth liner falling down. Good car, plan to have for a while more

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  Fun to drive - rough on the wallet - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jeremy - November 27 - 9:23 pm

  This car is really fun to drive. It handles well. It costs WAY too much to maintain. $900 to replace the timing belt. $500 to replace the brakes. Timing belt slipped and had to get the engine replaced. Found a used one for $3000 as opposed to the $7000 the dealership quoted me. Basically its not worth having because it costs too much to maintain.

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  Fast, Comfortable & Useful - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Bob Swain - November 25 - 6:20 pm

  Purchased new. Not driven hard except for an Audi Quattro Club weekend at Road America where it held its own at 110 mph plus. Several long trips were very comfortable. A very useful hauler of all kinds of stuff. Sound system: Excellent & I have lots of cassettes and CDs to play. I prefer the front end styling to the later chrome; understated, not glitzy. The engine is wonderful: strong, powerful, smooth and gets remarkably good mileage for an eight; 25 mpg plus at 65-70 mph. Major complaint: Car delivered with OnStar and salesman knew it was important. Two years later (and three years short of the new car warranty) VW canceled the service. VWs response to my complaint. Too bad.

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  BYG Review8 - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By bygkid - November 25 - 7:20 am

  To own a W8 is love. I cant wait to turn the key, crank the stereo and shift into fun! The W8 is a marvel of auto-feats, 4Motion keeps all four tires grounded like no other! The 6 spd manual is effortless and has a powerband that is limitless.

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  Such A Shame - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Miami Guy - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Owning this car is like a relationship with a hot, sexy, person who has a severe chronic disease with many symptoms which can appear at any time for any reason. The car has had the ENTIRE ENGINE replaced at 34k miles because of a problem with an oil leak. Before that transplant I had replaced the clutch at 18K, all the power windows have broken. I have a little pile of plastic peices that have fallen off the ashtrays, seats, and interior which I cant figure out where theyre coming from but they all have the VW logo. Gunther Volkswagon is the best, like nurses in the cancer ward, they are very sypathetic and understanding. This car is Junk..

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  Little Things... - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Ladys Bug - November 21 - 6:16 am

  I bought my 99 Beetle with 38,000 miles on it. It now has 52,000 miles. It is pretty good overall, despite the little "Mickey Mouse" problems that most bug owners complain about (cup holders, visors, etc.). The cloth seats do stain easily. The plastic does melt and scratch/break easily. The lights are iffy, however they are not as hard to replace as most think. Get a Haynes Repair manual (about $12 at any auto shop). My cars headlight was replaced in 10 minutes and for only $3 (the cost of the bulb). Everything seems to be working fine except for the CD player which is located in the trunk and a leak in my a.c. evaporator. The shop quoted me about $2,000 to fix it. I said "no thanks" and just added freon. Its good for now until it all leaks out again, in which case i will add more freon.

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  Needs more HP - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By KRUZNBY - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I had previously owned a 85 Jetta. I loved that car so I thought I would get another Jetta. The interior layout and style is great as well. The major problem I had with this car is the lack of power. Even with a 5 speed, it seemed to take forever to get it moving. Dont even think of shifting at 3K RPMs, wait it out until 4K and you will be a bit happier. The other problems I had in the 2 years I owned it: 2 window motor controllers failed, factory volume knob does not respond properly, and a desperately needed tune up. When it would rain or just plain humid, the car would miss a lot. I had to replace the cap/rotor, plugs and wires ($400).

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  Fun Car...with lots of problems. - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ytaK - November 19 - 10:00 am

  The VW Beetle is, without a doubt, a fun car to look at and drive. I love seeing the smiles on other peoples faces as I drive by. Thats not the only reason to drive a car, though. Just six days after buying this car, I stalled out in a parking lot. After 3 days of arguing with the manager of my dealership and the service department, they finally figured out that the air flow meter was nonfunctioning. Both power window switches broke within 6 months. The cap to the parking brake fell off just a few months ago. The A/C doesnt run cool enough, and makes a loud squeaking noise, which no one can seem to correct. This poor car is falling apart piece by piece.

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  Glad to be back in a Jetta - 2013 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By desertguy51 - November 19 - 6:36 am

  There was one manual S available in all of Southern California when I was in the market. While I loved the response of the TD, I just couldnt justify the additional $5-10K. Plus, I live in the desert, so I really dont have any desire for a sunroof. This car replaces a 2009 Subaru Forester, a reliable yet gas guzzling AWD, with no power & awful seats. I dont regret not spending the extra $ for the diesel because Im consistently getting 33-35 mpg/hwy, 26-28mpg/city. I drive 60/40 hwy/city. After 5 months, with 5K miles, Im thoroughly enjoying this car. Though this is as basic a Sportwagen as one could probably find, I got a lot of car for a very reasonable price.