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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  03 VW passat GLS 1.8T Sedan - Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By 2003 VW passat - December 9 - 12:33 pm

  I have had this car since Jan 2009, and this is the most comfortable car I have ever sat or driven in. The only problem I have had since buying the car was a CV boot which was just a month ago and it was torn and needed to be replaced asap. So I recommend to you VW owners to not go to a dealership for ANY repairs including headlight/tail light bulbs & oil changes unless you want to pay up the butt in bills. Find a car mechanic. The only thing I dont like about the car is that the headlight bulbs are hard to find and replace. My advice to VW owners is to not to go to a dealership unless that is your last option! I love my car and I guess I was just lucky compared to other reviews.

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  Luxury Unsurpassed - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By luxurycollector - December 9 - 2:00 am

  I have seen websites list Phaeton competitors as the Infinity Q45 and other "luxury" vehicles (Lexus 400 series, etc).My advice, buy a W12, or at least go to your local VW dealer and test drive it.It will take you about 2 minutes to figure out that those "competitors" are not competitors of this machine at all.This vehicle is designed to compete with the S Class Mercedes and BMW 700, and it not only compares favorably to these, but blows them away (for specifics refer to comparison chart of the Phaeton/S Class Mercedes/700BMW in the Phaetons brochure/manual).

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  All-In-One Package - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By CJU - December 9 - 2:00 am

  This has been a great little car, despite a few minor problems(ignition coils, window brackets, radio replacement, & dash lights.) All of which were taken care of by the dealer. It is very functional, alot of room to haul people or cargo. Great handling, traction in snow, wet, & dry conditions. Decent MPG for the performance numbers. Safety and security features are of a caliber usually found on higher end vehicles. Improved warranty is also a plus.

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  Boycott VW - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BadBadJetta - December 9 - 2:00 am

  My problems duplicate the others, including the yellow door goo, bad oxygen sensors, frequent check engine light (cant believe it hasnt burned out yet), cup holder, peeling door handle, bad ignition coil, bad catalytic converter, and so on. I initially thought I had a lemon, but lets face it folks, they are all like this. After the last episode involving the catalytic converter, I will be rid of it shortly. Im at the point where I dont have enough faith to take it out of town. And current owners who gave good reviews....if you havent seen these problems yet, youre just pressing your luck.

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  Incredible Vehicle - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By kickingwestass - December 9 - 2:00 am

  I love my Toureg, it has exceeded all my expectations (and then some). This thing tows over 3 and 1/2 tons (outperforms almost every other SUV in towing). I cant wait for the V10TDI Toureg, I should be able to tow my HOUSE with that thing if need-be. I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone in the market for a luxury SUV.

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  VW Jetta - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DawnD - December 9 - 2:00 am

  My favorite car, fast, fun to drive and lots of style. No need for an Audi or BMW when you have the VW GLX VR6. Its a great car with lots of features and you feel safe

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  Fantastic - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By VWman - December 9 - 2:00 am

  This is a wonderful car and my first vehicle. It is sporty enough to keep me happy but calm and luxurious to please passengers. The styling both interior and exterior is excellent- there arent many other cars in the world that look as classy as this.

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  Car Rocks!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kent Ages - December 9 - 2:00 am

  I have read all the previous customer reviews, and I am just appalled that a car of this caliber can receive so much negative criticism. Maybe these people just are unhappy with their lives and nothing will ever be good enough for them. If this car is so horrible why dont you just go buy a $250K Ferrari or something. Bottom line, this car rocks!!! Anyone who says otherwise knows not what they do. Also another key ingredient for a pleasant experience for car ownership has to be the dealer in which it is purchased. I feel much better now. VW keep up the excellent work!!!

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  CAnt stop smiling - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By AlexWalex - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Moving from 98 Passat to 2001 and 1/2 Passat was a pleasure. More power, outstanding ergonomics, excellent handling.

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  A Pleased New Owner - GLS Wagon - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By JBR - December 8 - 10:00 am

  I was originally considering the Jetta GLS with the Lux/leather options. Then I drove the Passat and I had to go for it. The base model suits me just fine. I really LOVE this car. The 5 speed is fun to drive and the Monsoon sound is the best. It feels like a much more expensive car. The ride is rock solid. I had an Audi 200 (1990) before this and feel that I traded up to the Passat. The amenities are plentiful. I especially like the lights under the door panels which illuminate upon exit and entry. I obviously, highly recommend this vehicle.