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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  Don’t buy Atlas - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Bruce - November 28 - 1:39 am

  I bought Atlas from Leith In Raleigh in NC. 2018 SE 4motion R-Line. In two weeks the fuel pump broke and engine light and EPC lights turned on. I lost engin power. I called road assistance no body showed up after 2 hours!!! I went to service center they didn’t have parts. I drove my car 900 miles and it’s unbelievable that I have so many issues with this car. I call my dealership to complain but I was told you bought it you own it!!! Just forget about VW Atlas otherwise you will regret like me.

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  If only it were reliable - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By chingpoongli - November 27 - 1:55 pm

  19k miles and 21 months of ownership. So far ran into these problems ( all fixed under warranty): parking brake failure. Both rear door locks stopped working, doors would not unlock. Dealer replaced the switches. Front passenger door wouldnt lock, I was in another town on vacation and had to leave the car knowing that the front passenger door was unlocked. rear center seat belt jammed/locked. dealer replaced the whole mechanism. Fuel pump failure on 8/1/11. an expense of about $8000, dealer replaced even though they said it was not covered under warranty. fuel economy dropped to 28 recently. steering wheel loosened a bit at the center. pursuing mediation through BBB.

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  An absolute steal! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By JiggyJoe - November 27 - 10:00 am

  Currently leasing this car at dealer price of 31K. Was used as a demo, but what 2002 W8 wasnt? Beautiful ride, excellent stability, decent power. Absolutley the best car Ive ever driven, however I may be biast since Ive been a VW owner for 5 years.

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  1999 Volks Passat - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By yaj - November 27 - 10:00 am

  Great car. Alot of fun to drive. Great gas mileage.

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  Teutonic Rocket - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Paul71 - November 27 - 10:00 am

  Finaly picked up my 2002 GLI last week. I shopped around for the best price and was able to get a "base" GLI (with the NE Emissions) for $20.3K. The car is a blast to drive. Fit and finish are excellent. Feature content is really high for a car of this price.

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  Way to go, VW! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Shadow3 - November 27 - 10:00 am

  We love this car! We bought the 1.8L turbo; its a rocket! And its steady in the wind. Has a nice steady feel. Hard to keep it under or at the legal speed limit. We tried Camry and Accord and feel that we made the best choice when we bought the Passat.

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  So far so good - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By barfod - November 27 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Jetta since January, and the only problems I had were a Monsoon stereo that just quit working and was replaced, and floor mat clips that break too easily. Mechanically the car seems to feel better with each passing mile. It is very comfortable and very smooth.

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  My dream car - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By GABrad2 - November 27 - 1:00 am

  The cars runs well, but the milage in the V6 decreases greatly in city traffic. Also the transmission module failed just prior to a long trip. The car was under warranty, and a dealer took care of the car. The car requires high test gas, which has become quite costly

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  Typical German Engineering- Good and Bad - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cmrva - November 26 - 9:48 am

  This is my daughters car, and to be clear, we bought it used in 2012 (70k miles) for $6k, so I didnt and dont expect miracles. Drove great, like most good German vehicles, but in my opinion, just like my wifes Mercedes, there always seems to be funny noises in the engine randomly that turn out to be pricey repairs. By 90k miles: Replaced transmission ($3K) Water pump and tension pulleys $1500 CV boots/ joint- $1k heat blanket (Inside engine on the hood) $300 Brakes 2X $800 each time.

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  my affordable audi - 2017 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rich - November 25 - 11:30 pm

  I was in the auto business for 30 years.As far as I am concerned if you can find a nicer overall new car buy it quickly.This auto is the se with the tech pkg. It is the nicest riding and handling auto I have driven in my 30 years in the business.Ithas great interior room and a giant trunk.The seats have piping on that make the interior look much more expensive then it is.It feels rock solid and almost gets hybrid fuel economy .The dealer has drawings for dinners and details. I get compliments on the looks where ever I go and it!s made in America.