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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  Polished, fun and safe ride--a true gem! - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By ct1010 - November 4 - 5:56 pm

  I was looking for a 4WD car that would be fun to drive, look good and be safe for myself and baby. I tested several cars and researched just about every vehicle under 40K. The Tiguan has a very clean and elegant look--not overdone at all--and a polished exterior as well. It drives great, handles ice and snow beautifully, and has an excellent safety profile. While a bit pricier than your usual compact SUVs (Im talking to you, Honda, Toyota & Subaru), the Tiguan is in a class by itself. If you enjoy having a car that is attractive, fun, safe and not the same ho-hum, check out the Tiguan.

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  Unsafe, Unreliable, Multiple Repair Issues - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By usmcwifesocal - November 4 - 3:11 pm

  Puchased van in Aug.09. Delivered t us with a broken antenna (replaced, and then replaced again a year later due to rusting). Rear DVD screen went black sreplaced. Seat covers came apart at seams, window shade fraued, headliner panel and AC vent came loose, arm rest cracked (replaced all), windshield wipers stopped randomly several times (never fixed -failed to replicate), windows and doors failed numerous occasions (3 year old sons hand was caught in door when pinch guard failed and manually had to be pried off of him) -problem unresolved), brake pads and rotors all around have had issues (back pads were recalled, rotors machined 2x in 1 year, VW now says we must pay $1000 to replace all)

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  Dont believe the VW hype - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By Barrwiese - November 4 - 3:23 am

  This car is a money pit. Get ready to pay. The door handles, the mass airflow sensor (a ten year part), the catalytic converter, handle from the glove box, 3 mufflers, heated mirrors and the entire exhaust system went and had to be replaced. The windows go up and down at will, the "dealer disabled" security system locks itself at will like when I am driving, which sets off the alarm, the check engine light comes on constantly and my mechanic shudders when he seems me coming.

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  Love My Passat! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mich63 - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Unfortunately, I must sell my Passat to get a mini-van because of twin toddlers and I need the space.I have been driving my Passat for 4.5 years and love it!The performance is like driving a sports car. Hugs the road,accelerates fast(I have a 5 speed), and is very fun to drive. The leather package is very comfortable and feel very safe in this car. Stereo sound system is great!The car is very quiet when.The only problem that I have with this car is the electric sunroof. When I close the sunroof, it bounces back open.Ive had this fixed before and problem is back again. Also the 6 cd changer is broken and needs to get fixed as well.

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  Great mileage---if it runs - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By quite_unsatisfied - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I have had several breakdowns with this car. This was bought as a new car. First, I had an electrical problem, where the security system broke and kept the engine from running. Then, at 30000 miles, the glow plugs and glow plug relay went out, and had to be replaced at my expense because they were not part of the "powertrain" even though the car would not run without them. VW wouldnt replace my warped rotors at 10000 miles saying that they were "within tolerances". Then I had to pay to get them replaced when the warranty ran out. It stopped running yesterday at a busy intersection. I am extremely dissastisfied.

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  Warranty Woes - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Alrock - November 3 - 10:00 am

  This car is excellent until the warranty runs out. Even though I put a lot of miles on my Jetta, I thought it would hold up better than what it did. At one point I was putting 450 dollars a month in it for maintenance & parts alone. Parts for this thing will make you think you own a Mercedez. I hated to get rid of it, but post warranty maintenance was killing my pockets.

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  Best in its class - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By SF - November 3 - 10:00 am

  The main problem with the car is a lag on the transmission - when you step on the gas, you wait & then it engages. I have also taken it to the dealer 3 times to fix another transmission issue, when coming to a full stop, often I hear a clunk which sounds as if the transmission is moving forwards. Dealer tells me that its nothing.. hmmmm.

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  Sad VW Owner - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vwisanogo - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Very dissapointed...Window rotors have been replaced 5 times; windows leak; moon roof has plastic parts falling off; recalled for engine coil; uncomfortable back seats; center console broke...

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  Door/Window Rattles? Look Here! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steigs - November 3 - 10:00 am

  For those of you with Window/ and Door rattles. The solution is to lubricate the door seals on the car itself.Even if you think this cannot possibly be the source of your rattles try this anyway. The best stuff to use for this is a product called Gumipledge(Sp?) It is sold by BMW dealers for about $8. They have the same issue with there cars. Lube up all the door seals and any rubber on the doors themselves. Be sure to get some on the top rubber door seal that runs along the top of the car. In addition spray white lithium grease in your door locks and hinges I guarantee this will work for many of you and your car will be rattle free. Good Luck!!!

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  Truly Under-Appreciated - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By BWestinDC - November 3 - 3:00 am

  I leased my 08 Passat as an upgrade from a 5-cyl Jetta, opting for the 4- cyl Lux after test-driving the 8-cyl Phaeton for good measure. The acceleration on the 4-cyl is amazing - better than the 8-banger. And fuel economy is often up to 30+mph on my DC commute (recently rated worse than LA). VW doesnt get enough credit or positive publicity for the genius engineering theyve done to produce such a car. Ride quality is tremendous. Interior finishes outpace Lexus. Cargo capacity is amazing. All-in-all, I confidently recommend this car to anyone currently shopping. Its performance will knock your socks off.