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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  Breaks down every other month - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Jessica - December 27 - 4:34 am

  Ive never experienced so many problems with a car before. The engine coils break every 4 months as well as the spark plugs. Ive gotten the battery replaced multiple times in the past 3 years. The interior cloth and leather seats are falling apart so easily. The radiator and water pump had to be replaced. I feel like ive replaced and have fixed everything in this car and yet i still have problems with it. Reading all the other reviews im starting to think maybe i just got a bad one or the owner before me didnt do crap to maintain it!!! its a shame though because it really is a unique and fun looking car to drive.

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  Bad Quality - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tony - November 30 - 7:40 am

  I have a 2001 Jetta. The check engine light has come on numerous times during the past couple of years and I have spent more than $1,500 a year on repairs, over and above the regular maintenance. I am really tired of this cars bad quality. My colleague has the same one and has the same problems. I will never buy a VW again! Quality is the key, look at all of the Japanese cars around.

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  Same transmission problem - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By costine1985@gmail.com - November 22 - 8:02 am

  I just got back from trip from Ohio to D.C. At some point I was not sure if the car will make it back. Cruise control actually wont control a car while driving down the hill (long downhill areas in PA state if you dont take I-70 toll). On up-hill driving the transmission is slipping (with and without cruise control). It was slipping this morning too while driving on flat surface. It didnt happen before. I took Jetta to VW dealer and "they will investigate it... but most likely this is nothing... ". This is third dealer. Two dealers didnt want to take a car and didnt want to "investigate" the transmission issue. So, Ive got "nothing" and I am just wasting peoples time? Another issue: Front Rotors are made of cheap metal and it will wobble. I am leasing Jetta because I wanted to see if they fixed previous issues. VW didnt. VW is still just a neat looking car with low reliability. I need to talk to someone with same issue! Random JettaTSI drivers Ive talked to, all had manual transmission because they did have Automatic transmission failures in the past. This is my first VW. Why would you buy another VW if it failed? Hope this car will break and Ill end up the lease and Ill get Japanese car. One more thing: do not use synthetic Mobil because it wont like it. Search for dealer with oil change coupons instead (here in D.C. its $46 - same you will spend at Walmart plus your time). Dealer has good oil. Good oil is important for these engines because VW has plastic parts inside such as chain tensioner. How long will this part last?

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  RUN LIKE HELL - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By Ros - November 9 - 5:54 pm

  This by far is one of the worst vehicles. I only had it a week and its been in the service shop everyday...REFUND

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  This Car Is a Lemon - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By thegoods - October 28 - 10:00 am

  This car is nothing but a problem. The service department is always full so it is just not me having problems. I have had this car over a year and I will list a few of its problems: Air Condition broke, Drivers side window fell out TWICE, speakers broke, brakes went bad after 5000 miles, sunroof broke, interior lights broke and there are many more. Im warning you DONOT buy this car.

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  VWs are not as good as you think!!!! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Daniel Grayson - October 18 - 1:46 pm

  I have never heard of a car that has so many problems as this one. Sunroof, passenger side window, interior & exterior lights stopped working, starter, oxygen sensor, fuel sensor & fuel pump needed to be replaced. ALSO, this car has always been serviced at the dealership and everything was always done to this car religiously when it needed to be (oil, tune-up, tire rotation). I would not recommend a VW.

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  Dont buy it - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Victor - September 15 - 2:24 am

  At about 10,000 miles auto-transmission started making funny clunk sound and at 25,000 miles transmission started slipping even more. VW dealer said "its normal" and mechanic said: "they all do loose their transmission". This is my leased vehicle. In the mean time I bought Golf Rabbit 2.5 (4 doors) and its transmission died on me next day I registered it. While test driving it, I am thinking: this is normal clunk. Both transmissions are NOT serviceable (there is no hole to add oil or check the transmission fluid level). I traded-in "Rabbit" for Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. I am going to terminate Jettas lease soon. No more VWs or any other Euro brands (last mistake was SAAB). Yes, they look cute but reliability is zero. Services are expensive: oil change is $86 + tax. If you dont change oil at VW dealer, they will void your Warranty, they said.

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  Dont buy it - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Victor - September 15 - 2:24 am

  At about 10,000 miles auto-transmission started making funny clunk sound and at 25,000 miles transmission started slipping even more. VW dealer said "its normal" and mechanic said: "they all do loose their transmission". This is my leased vehicle. In the mean time I bought Golf Rabbit 2.5 (4 doors) and its transmission died on me next day I registered it. While test driving it, I am thinking: this is normal clunk. Both transmissions are NOT serviceable (there is no hole to add oil or check the transmission fluid level). I traded-in "Rabbit" for Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. I am going to terminate Jettas lease soon. No more VWs or any other Euro brands (last mistake was SAAB). Yes, they look cute but reliability is zero. Services are expensive: oil change is $86 + tax. If you dont change oil at VW dealer, they will void your Warranty, they said.

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  No longer status - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By David - September 6 - 2:40 am

  Guys dont buy any VW. I had two (jetta 16 and this junk). A few days ago I was lucky to trade it for Mitsubishi. I dont know where to start... These cars are good for 20-30,000 miles only. Last German engineer died in 1982 and VW brand is dead.

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  Worst Car Ever!!! - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By MelinNj - August 24 - 1:52 am

  Dont but this Dodge garbage! Nightmare since Day 1! During the first year of ownership, I bought pre-owned with 25,000 miles on it, my dealer had the car more than I did! I have a stack of repair orders 2 inches thick. They replaced the motor twice. Has nothing but defective parts. Now Im going through an issue where the car wont start at all. Replaced the starter and Battery. So then I do some more research and find that many others about the same problem! Not sure why this has not been recalled! The door seals leaking, the doors fill with water, the electrical system has gone crazy causing all windows to roll down during the rain and not go back up. Garbage!