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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  Volkswagen Passat - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By UMboy03 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I recently purchased my Volkswagen Passat from my mother prior to leaving for college. I had wanted something a little sportier and suited to customization, such as a GTI, or other sport coupe. Given a deal I could not pass up, I decided on the Passat (reluctantly at first.) I found, however, after looking the automobile over, that it had sufficient power (until I decided to upgrade that is) a luxury interior (in leather trim), and enough rooms for my friends and myself. After installing my custom sound system, this car is a definite keeper and crowd pleaser.

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  Major satisfaction - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By J.R. Belfast ,Maine - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Ive been totally excited about the 2003 Passat glx 5 speed manual I purchased in October of 2002. Ive driven 11,000 miles so far and get just as much satisfaction from this car as I got from my last 2 cars (1997 bmw 540, 1999 benz e430, both automatics)at about half the cost. Ive had oil service twice so far and no other reasons whatsoever to visit the service department. With all the bells and whistles and the quintessential german car driving experience, I made a very good decision.

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  Jetta TDI - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Feeney - August 8 - 2:00 am

  On a long trip with three (3) grown ups I got 52 miles per gallon.

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  Wishing for more - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mat - August 8 - 1:10 am

  This is my 5th Jetta and there are a few major issues. The car failed to start 3 times and the alarm went off in the middle of the night for no reason. It was an electrical short that took 3 trips to the dealer to fix. The last time it was there for 5 weeks!!! The center console "handles" crowd the drivers right leg and they serve no purpose! The gas mileage is not the best/or worst but for mileage this low I want a car that is faster. The acceleration is adequate however and I enjoy the fit and finish of the interior and exterior. The trunk and back seats are roomy. Besides the mechanical issues I like the handling. I will not however be purchasing at the end of my lease.

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  10,000 Mile Review- - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By berad - August 7 - 10:27 am

  I was between this and the Ford Fuzion V6. In the end, the entry lux interior won my wife over so hence the Passat. This is a nice clean sedan. The interior is impressive with soft touch dash and clean teutonic lines. All reports of a hesitation at start are correct. It feels like half a second. Drive this car around for awhile before making darts into tight traffic. All in all this thing scoots for a 4 banger. Steering and handling is not on a BMW level of communication but its good, really good for this price point. The cabin is quiet.

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  Constant Repairs In A Pretty Package - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tmalone - August 5 - 3:33 pm

  For the cost of my 2006 TDI I could and should have bought a lightly used BMW, Acura or Lexus. The amount of time its spent in the shop has more than eclipsed the gas mileage savings Id intended by going diesel. Buyer beware: emissions warnings, glow plug issues, service and recalls await! Regular maintenance oil changes are astronomical $$ and good luck trying to perform any maintenance yourself. The 2006 TDI Jetta is a good-looking, well appointed and fun car to drive. Just make sure you live close to the dealerships service department. Sorry VW, Ill never buy another.

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  So far, so good - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Kathryn B - August 5 - 6:00 am

  This is an update on the 1999 Volkswagen Passat GLS that I bought to bring to Athens two years ago. There have been very few problems with the car, including a broken window track that Superglue took care of, and an intermittent refusal to start when warm that turned out to be a faulty O2 sensor. For that, I blame the repair crew: they couldnt find the problem for weeks, but when I took it to a dealer they knew what it was and fixed it quickly and cheaply. I drive very fast (routinely up to 100 mph for hours at a time) but smoothly, so dont I strain anything. I also tackle dirt tracks and very rough city streets. The car is still rock-solid at 67,000 miles, and running as if it were brand new.

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  love/hate relationship - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By ultrachick - August 2 - 2:00 am

  I have a 2000 Passat 5spd turbo. 1st yr car to the dealer 6 or 7 times because the chck eng light went on for varied problems. Second yr chck engine lt & other problems (some pump went & all the fluid ran out of some important place) (I know nil about engines). Just after warranty expired a problem arose to the tune of $700. Had to pay a $90. diagnstc fee. VW paid 1/2 of $700 since I had been calling & complaining re problems all along so I was on record. Just a few months ago the boot quit locking. Lid so heavy, had no prob riding with it ajar didnt realize trunk light was on battery went dead replaced both boot lock & battery & climate indicator bulb

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  Great Car. Has annoying road noise - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By Chris - July 31 - 1:34 pm

  Bought this car brand new. Love it! Except for the wind noise in the back right window. Took it to the dealer they did some test and pretty much told me tough luck wait until a service bulletin to come out. Not a great first impression. Now I have a brand new car with a noise and it audible and very annoying. I encourage everyone to please submit complaints directly to VW Owner Care that way we as consumers can get them to back there products correctly!

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  Great Little Car - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By 0202GTI - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Runs great. Easy to chip. Early models had rough idle that took out the coils. Many complaints about window regulators. Otherwise a real treat.