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:

• 

  Fun, but Unreliable - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dan - October 25 - 3:06 pm

  Purchased this car as a certified used vehicle from a VW dealer a little over a year ago. Fun to drive, mileage is excellent. However, Ive spent way too much time in the dealers service waiting room. Broken trunk latch, peeling radio controls, two bad cooling fans, bad rear brake calipers, smearing and chattering windshield wipers. In a few days Im having the windshield replaced because it is so scratched and full of tiny pitting that it is dangerous to drive at night. Dealership claims the windshield is due to "external factors", but based on the uniformity of the pitting Im sure it is a materials defect. Ive wasted too much time getting this car fixed!

• 

  2009 Jetta Wolfsburg - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By brishimmel - October 25 - 2:49 pm

  I LOVE my Jetta. Before I started having problems with it I swore by VW and said my future cars would be VWs. Well in the past three weeks, that has changed. Once my Jetta hit 25k, everything went wrong. Check engine light always comes on, it has left me stranded two times in three weeks. Both times have been the fuel pump. The first time (3 weeks ago) the dealer said they replaced it, now I am doubting that they did. Now they are saying it is the fuel pump again. I called roadside asst which is still under my warranty and they charged me $250+ to have it towed to my dealer where I live. Again, love my Jetta but be sure you have $$ to fix it when it goes out of warranty.

• 

  Honda/Toyata guy converted to VW - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By VW convert - October 25 - 5:30 am

  I am 100% satisfied with my Rabbit. For me, the Rabbit was a perfect balance of economy and performance. I had considered a whole spectrum of vehicles- from a Toyota Yaris to a Mazda Mazda3 hatchback. The VW Rabbit sits somewhere in between those two models in terms of mpg and is competitive with the Mazda3s performance, though I might say the Mazda has better handling. One thing that the Rabbit, and German cars in general, have over any other car I was considering was its awesome build quality. My Rabbit is a small car and is by no means a tank, but it feels as strong and tough as one. Hondas and Toyotas feel like tin cans compared to VWs. The Rabbit is also very zippy and fun to drive.

• 

  Great small car - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Pawita - October 25 - 5:06 am

  This car is a pleasure to drive! I never have had such a fun experience driving this vehicle, its great for long trips and grocery store visits. This is durable and reliable, its reponds quickly and effectively

• 

  2006 Model JETTA TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mechanobot - October 25 - 4:06 am

  It is probably the best car I ever owned. Comfort, reliability, and yes, MPG! I do take pictures from time to time to show people and even drive around some skeptical colleagues. I do get on a highway about 52-53 mpg ! yes, that is right, not a typo, and about 45- 47 in the city. It has pickup, torque, fast acceleration (you can drive in manual too) and is real good quality made.

• 

  ggggrrrrrrrreat - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tony touch - October 25 - 3:10 am

  the best car ive ever owned. pure precision, in every way.

• 

  MAHOGANY - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By HUNTER492@AOL.COM - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I JUST CANT GET ENOUGH ENJOYMENT OUT OF DRIVING MY NEW PASSAT.ITS ATTRACTIVE SO IT ATTACTS ATTENTION. SMOOTH RIDING AND A HOST OF ACCOMMODATIONS. IM VERY PLEASE TO BE A OWNER. IM ECSTATIC!

• 

  Good buy - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By shawnl - October 25 - 2:00 am

  purchased due to good price for almost luxury-type car. step above accord and camary and much more fun to drive. interior looks exactly like a friends A4

• 

  YOU GOTTA BUY THIS CAR!!!!!!! - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By br1an - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I am having a great time driving this car..never been grocery shopping so many times in one day! I dont know what else to say except that this car has so much to offer. Compared to other cars, price wise, this car has it all. YOU HAVE TO SEE THE CAR IN PERSON to know what I mean. Very thoughtful layout.

• 

  Nice Ride - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Beckster - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This has been a great wagon. Plenty of power, smooth ride, and comfortable. I have not had any reliability issues in the first 24,000 miles. Has never been back to the dealership for anything. Nice sound system (monsoon) and paint job. Fit and finish is excellent I really like the heated seats. (*Get the V-6 if you can afford it. The gas mileage is about the same as the smaller turbo and has noticeably more torque when climbing hills under load.)