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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  Love it - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Greg - August 29 - 3:16 pm

  The only couple issues i have are the aux jack in the glove box and the space between the center console and stick shift seems to be to far away. Then again the console lid is adjustable. But ive had no problems and the car is perfect. This is my second jetta and Ill never own anything else!

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  just like the others - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By debbe - August 27 - 9:33 pm

  No different than any other vehicle. You pay for what you get and sometimes you get less than what you pay for.

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  Awesome Car - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mohamed - August 27 - 7:11 am

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  Great long-term vehicle! - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By kaper - August 27 - 2:10 am

  I bought my manual trans V6 Passat almost 10 years ago and have to say its been a great car overall. There have been few unexpected repairs but the repairs I have had to make have been expensive. The car has a peppy V6 engine that gets great gas mileage (low 30s on the highway). My wife describes my Passat as "smooth in every aspect". Ive been happy with the quality of the engine and body. The interior controls have a quality feel but many of the buttons, knobs and cupholders have failed or begun to become unreliable. Overall the positives of the vehicle far out way its issues and I hope to drive my Passat for many more miles!

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  one owner TDI - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dave - August 26 - 10:13 am

  This car was chosen for size and mpg. Best mpg has been 56 and 36 is the lowest. Performance is suprisingly good with 1 or 2 adults in car. Add 2 more in the back seat and they will be suprised at the space, but driver needs to reconsider passing on two-lane roads. This car does hold its speed very well on the interstate. Climbs mountains as if they are ant hills. As long as the glow plug relay gets the right signal, this car starts like a champ on sub-zero mornings.

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  Nice Car! - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By jim - August 26 - 3:16 am

  I just bought my first VW and it is a 2006 New GTI (2.0 turbo). I am very impressed by the handling and performance of this car and would highly recommend it to others. It is fun to drive, decent on gas, has pleny of leg room, and it is FAST! I test drove one last week and when I came back home I made the decision to go out and by this car the next day. I have no regrets.

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  A nice car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By TommyK - August 25 - 10:00 am

  Good car for the money. Nice build quality with spacious interior. Coming off an A4 I find the handling a bit lacking in corners but the ride quality is better. Would have bought another Audi but with the Passat sharing so many components it wasnt worth the extra eight grand. Only major concern; the auto isnt matched well to the engine, use of the tipronic is a must.

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  Look forward to driving my GTI - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Ghetdo - August 24 - 3:16 am

  Compared this car with the Subaru Legacy, but settled on the GTI based on friends recommendation and fun driving experience. I only have 2,700 miles on it so far, but its been very fun to toss this car around. Friends and family alike have been impressed with looks and performance. DSG takes a little time to get used to (tend to be jerky at low speeds), but once you get the hang of it, very fun and intuitive and the middle gears (2-4) pulls very well. Regular drive mode is useful when you dont feel like messing around with gear changes (i.e. traffic). Overall, very satisfied with this car. Hopefully, long term reliability and dealer service will not be a hassle.

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  Great Car! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By nadmonk - August 23 - 8:23 pm

  I bought this car after owning 3 Accords in a row I was a little leery considering some of the reliability stories you hear of VW. This car has been great, even with the 2.0 4cyl it is fun to drive, the mileage exceeds their claim. The exterior styling isnt for everyone, but I like it. The Monsoon stereo is great. I have had no mech or elec problems. The only issues are that the air vents seem to get damaged easily and the seat cloth holds lint like mad. The cup holders are a pain, but I think thats a German thing as even BMWs have subpar holders. Just be sure to use a closed top lid unless you want to spend a weekend cleaning coffee out of the stereo like I did from the prev owner.

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  VW Cannot Build a Reliable Car - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By swall1965 - August 22 - 11:56 am

  Its sad I cannot give this car a positive review. Yes its fun to drive and yes its nicely appointed. However, this car has been a constant source of pain for my wife and me. Beginning the first year, the check engine light came on. Having the dealer examine it under warranty, no worries. But, as expected, 2 months after the warranty expired, the mass air sensor had to be replaced for a cost of over $400.00. While VW has admitted known issues with this part, other consistent failures have apparently existed such as issues with ignition coils and fuel injectors. All failures point to wiring issues. They made a dreadful judgement in error and built these in Mexico. Shame on VW!