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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  faulty headliners - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By nandev - February 15 - 2:00 am

  We own this vehicle..I would not buy another..one month out of warranty with 20,000 miles on it the headliner started pulling off. Went to dealer,they stated they would order a new one. well 8 weeks later and now they wont return our calls. Stopped by and we were told they couldnt see were one was ever ordered. They should have been up front and stated sorry cant do anything about it. Honda does courtesy warranties on stuff like this. No more VW for us. We are in our 50s and our cars are very well taken care of. This is unacceptable. They have a problem with their headliners falling down..

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  Great, when its working - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Michael H - February 15 - 12:56 am

  I bought my 2002 Passat wagon used with 23k on it. I was drawn by the styling inside and out, vault- like build quality, and the utility of a wagon. The only negative I saw was the lackluster engine power. Since then, I have replaced the convenience electronics module, turn signal flasher, brake booster pump, steering rack, one catalytic converter, and the other cat is now leaking and needs replaced. The transmission is dodgy, the climate control sometimes cuts out, and the rear window washer doesnt work. The sunroof drain leaks into the rear floor. Ive spent about $5000 in repairs in 3 years. When the car is working, its fabulous. When its not, which is way too often, its a disaster.

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  Fun to drive. - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Louise Wilson-Erb - February 13 - 12:20 am

  The VW convertible is fun to drive, fast, and easty to operate. However, the drivers seat does is not comfortable and provide lumbar support for the older nostalgic drivers.

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  Brakes Already!! - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By Melissa - February 12 - 10:53 pm

  Completed all maintenance as required. Dec. 2009 had 20k maintenance completed. No issues. Now 3 1/2 months later, 4k miles, rear brakes are grinding! Come to find out there are no sensors/indicators. Questionable if brakes were even checked during maintenance. Tech wasnt required to jot down any numbers/levels when maintenance was done!! 2 days ago was the first time any problems were noticed - grinding already...Friday serviced = $350.00 just to replace pads. Ive never had to worry about brakes on any of my previous cars until well over 35k. My 2000 Passats rear brakes were done around 50k. Tech should have noticed something in Dec, therefore I could have anticipated the charges!

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  First owner of Touareg in our City - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By K Strickland - February 12 - 2:00 am

  The Touareg (our 3rd VW with Jetta and Passat V6 4 Motion previously) attracted us by it exterior and interior styling. Cost for features compared to BMW and Lexus was a great value. Sold on our prior experience with VW we were immediately transfixed by the Touaregs appearance.

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  Amazing car, could be improved. - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By anon. - February 11 - 9:43 pm

  Really fun to drive. Best first car I could have asked for. A bit pricey for the build quality that is has. The clutch tore out at 35K and the glove box handle snapped off. Love the seats and the sunroof. Love the smooth shifting and the engine sound. Really quick. Nice handing and really nimble.

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  If only it were reliable - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By b-radaz10 - February 11 - 2:36 pm

  When I bought this car I totally loved it. I drives great and was fun to drive. I never noticed until I went to sell it and got the vehicle service history printed out that I took it in 14 times for non-standard maintenence in 4.5 years. This is ridiculous. As soon as the warranty ran out, then I had to start paying for repairs out of pocket. Sooo disappointing. I would have loved to have kept this car, but the unreliability is so huge. Ive previously owned another VW before this that had some problems. I will never buy another VW. Again, the reliability is terrible. I think VW should pay me back for the 3 visits to dealer in one month alone that cost nealy $3500.

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  Black 01 GLX 4Motion Wagon - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Willliam Wenzel - February 10 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love our GLX 4Motion Wagon. My wife and I both state that we will definitely purchase another Passat Wagon or Audi S4/A6 Avant for our next family transportation. Very pratical and economical. Great looks and wonderful Germanic handling characteristics with a great firm, but comfortable ride to boot. Indigo blue lights at night for the dash are real cool. I also have received several compliments on what a great looking, quality wagon it is. I own an 01 BMW 325Cic convertible for my weekend fun and the German engineering really shows on these vehicles in the quality and the handling characteristics.

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  Why buy anything else?? - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TXwhitewater - February 10 - 1:10 am

  Gobs of fun to drive! 40+ MPG. Holds a bunch of stuff. Very good fit & finish. Too soon to tell much about reliability... Only problem so far, I look down at the speedo, Hell! Im doing 80 again... Really smooth, quiet for a Diesel.

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  Handles well and has a sporty look - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jhen Chambers - February 8 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is fun to drive and handles the road well, great car for the money. Would recomend this car for a comute and for a young adult looking for something that is reliable and good looking, and not a gas gussler.