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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  new engine - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ihatevw - February 25 - 2:00 am

  replacements: glove box, tail lights, gas tank door wouldnt open, windsheild wipers stopped working, weak front end, new oil pump $600, check engine light on $600, cup holder, trunk opened when i shut car off, and the LAST STRAW>>>I NEED A NEW ENGINE- VW said $7000, im getting it done for $3000 then selling it...oh...and window fell, and it died every time i shut it off...service SUCKS

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  HATE IT - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mercedes Fan - February 12 - 8:43 pm

  I hate this car its one of the worst investments I have ever made. I would recommend any one to spend the money and do as I did after problem after problem and buy a Mercedes or BMW

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  Poor Craftsmanship, Gas Mileage, and Reliability - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By DJBoca - February 5 - 3:40 am

  This car looks nice, rides nice, but then things start to break. Ive replaced the convertible top, drivers door, key cylinder, all the window motors, various sensors in the engine, and the convertible flaps. So much goes wrong. Im in a love / hate relationship with this thing. I love to drive it and I love the windshield angle / distance, but hate the constant breakdowns. A door replacement took three weeks to fix. This car is not worth it. Find something else.

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  Lemon Wagon - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By paulfry - February 3 - 9:00 pm

  Run away from VW unless you want to pay BMW prices to repair a glorified Kia. The thing is always in the shop and you can only take it to over priced VW dealers which include poor service. For example $300 for a headlight. Buy anything else!

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  Terrible Wretch of a Car - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By dansmiles - February 2 - 2:00 am

  This is a terrible car! The worst I have ever heard of! It breaks all of the time. It keeps on getting recalled. Also, every time a headlight goes out, I have to take it to a dealership and pay someone $80 per hour to have a mechanic install the new headlight, because you have to have a special tool that not even my regular mechanic has. It cost me $50 to have a $5 headlight installed!

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  Never ever going back again - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By notlovingmybug - January 30 - 10:39 pm

  I consider this car a lesson learned in poor decisions. I purchased this car new in 2008 and have had numerous problems. So many in fact Im not sure I can list much less remember them all. I will make this short (as possible) and sweet(as possible). The passenger side window motor stopped working, the radio buttons stick, the console top has broken twice, the compressor is barely working therefore I have almost zero air conditioning and the transmission is failing. Not to mention the car has an odd odor that I cannot get rid of. A light continually stays on that I was told needed a computer upgrade but the dealership never seemed to have the "disc". Too many problems to list.

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  Would never buy a Eurovan again - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By Danarielle - January 29 - 12:46 am

  This van has been nothing but trouble. It had brake problems that required towing the first day I bought it. Its air conditioning has malfunctioned twice and the dealer cannot fix it. Its electrical system malfunctioned (no speedometer/odomotor/etc) and it took the dealer a month to fix it. Its windshield is now loose and it turns out it is a PPG windshield not even an original Volkswagen part. A simple recommendation -- do not buy this van!

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  Only thing good are the looks - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By arnabiitr - January 15 - 4:40 am

  It has gr8 looks ,acceleration is very sluggish and engine makes lot of sound while picking up speed .It has a electronic gas pedal which is very sluggish and stiff .

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  Poor Quality and Service - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By Fully - January 15 - 4:06 am

  Fuel pump failed in 700 miles. According to VW website, with Navigation option, park distance control is included. Mine came without, when questioned dealer he would look into it. Result was you bought it. Called VW customer care and they say buyer beware. They point me to terms and conditions and read liberally they can lie and you have no recourse. Car is not built according to website. Buyer beware

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  So Unhappy With This Car!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VW Sucks - December 25 - 2:00 am

  2000 Jetta GLS-worst car I have ever owned.W/in 2 months of purchase,had problems w/ gear shift,couldnt get car out of park: had to get it flatbed towed.>1 yr after purchase,brake lights remained on even w/ key out of the ignition. >1.5 yrs after purchase, engine simply died while I was driving in traffic. >2 yrs after purchase, front right window malfunctioned.Dealer said problem was so common,part was on national backorder.I asked courtesy driver from the service dept about problems hed seen:doesnt sound like VW has fixed newer yr models either.Now I received a recall notice regarding emissions and fuel efficiency.Unbelieveably,unacceptably unreliable car.Stay away at all costs!!!