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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  Great until something happens - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Marissa - July 31 - 6:56 am

  I have had my Rabbit for 2 years and have loved driving it. The problem with this car is that, when something happens to it (or even when you need an oil change), youll be put in the poor house. Beware, the Rabbit is very high-maintenance and pricey once off-the-lot. I was lightly rear-ended, small dent: $900. I drove a dirt road leading to a mountain hiking trail and hit a bump, transmission needs to be replaced: $7000. Even an oil change: $90. I will be saving the $7000 needed to put in a new transmission and choosing a reliable, low-maintenance Japanese car, like I had before.

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  One problem after another - 2010 Volkswagen Routan
  By traci0815 - July 30 - 9:36 am

  I wish I would have stuck to the Honda Odyssey. My 2010 VW Routon has several nose issues. Every time I step on the gas it starts a squealing noise and as soon as I take my foot off the gas pedal it stops. The right slide door sticks and sounds like it will fall off. There is a knocking noise in the right passenger door. The engine sometimes does not shift smoothly. and of course the dealer has no idea how to fix these problems!!! :(

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  Good car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dave E - July 29 - 3:20 am

  Had the car for 2 1/2 years. Good runner, fun to drive. Had a coil go bad at 30k miles that was replaced under warranty. No other mechanical issues.

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  Bad Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By brett - July 29 - 12:46 am

  The 2003 Volkswagen Passat GLX is a wonderful car, I loved it, it had many great features, was comfortable, and had great style. It was just what I wanted, but after two years, it had so many problems that I had to get rid of it. The last straw was the fuel pump wearing out at 27,000 miles. I had water leaks inside the car ruining the computers under the rugs, constant check engine lights, etc. VW makes wonderful cars made out of junk east German parts that fail.

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  great q-ship! - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ths - July 28 - 12:13 pm

  This is my 3rd VW and wont be my last. The only thing to know about this car is the fabulous VR6 motor.......torqey, smooth, reasonably fuel efficient, sounds great, and very reliable. If youre looking to buy this car used, dont bother with the anemic 2.0 liter/115 hp motor......waste of time and money. Aside from the great motor, the rest of the car is ho-hum.....bland suspension, smallish wheel/tire combo, unimaginative interior, unexciting body.....but oh DAMN that motor!

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  Likes and dislikes - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By kjthomas323 - July 28 - 10:33 am

  Very poor city driving mileage. We came from an Odyssey so we were surprised at this. The interior leather looks cheap (thanks to the Chrysler design). The kids constantly bump their heads on the DVD players when going in and out of the vehicle so keeping the screens closed helps! Other than that, we have not taken it on a long trip, so I cant judge comfort or gas mileage fully. It has 6k miles on it and I hope we are one of the lucky ones that does not incur any mechanical issues. We love the sched. maint. We love the options i.e. remote start and heated rear seats, for the money it is a good deal. I have owned 4 VWs so far. Hope this one is built just as well.?! Only time will tell

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  No problems here - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dantheswim - July 26 - 11:10 am

  Ive had this car for going on three years and only a few minor problms. The air flow sensor was bad when I bought the car (recalled but I was over the milage - $80) and the brake light switch wasnt working correctly ($15). Other than that I havent put any money into the car except regular upkeep. Oil changes (using synthetic) dont have to be done but every 10,000 miles which will save a few bucks. The only improvement that could be made is with the auto transmission. The auto doesnt make good use of the torque the car has and RPMs go too high before shifting for a diesel engine. If youre looking to buy get one with the 5-speed manual transmission.

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  In for a surpise - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Superchiqa - July 26 - 10:50 am

  I bought this car, wanting a car with personality - and I got one. A bad personality. The car is fun to drive and is great to fit into places but it has its share of problems. 1st started having check engine lights come on (all the time!) for a "loose gas cap" then electrical problems that would come and go - chip in door latches "burned out" and the car would re-lock itself as Im trying to turn it on, causing the alarm to go off. Then started having oil and gas consumption problems - thats just the main problems too! If you have money to keep up with the cost of VW repairs, then you could enjoy one of these cars.

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  Safety Defect - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By dhsec1 - July 23 - 9:34 am

  When in slow moving traffic the Auto Transmission does NOT downshift at RPM about 1100 or speeds about 15 MPH, and the engine begins to stutter as if it was about to stall. To correct this the driver must either press the gas pedal or manually downshift to the lower "S" gear selection. Pressing the gas pedal is dangerous unless there is much space between you & the car in front od you. Downshifting requires some decision time which is not always an alternative in highly congested traffic. The Tiguan is a wonderful car I would highly recommend EXCEPT for this defect!

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  Utterly reliable - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By scorcher - July 22 - 10:00 am

  My third Jetta is a bitt heavier & slower-handling than the last 2 (only a bit). Theres a little more "looseness" in the front end. But its cost me NOTHING to run - no mechanical problems EVER.