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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  The good and the bad...... - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By S_A_Moniz - September 21 - 9:46 am

  I bought my Jetta GLS new in November, 1997 and now have approximately 145,000 miles on it. Over that time it has needed a few repairs, but nothing hideous. The car is still an absolute blast to drive. The acceleration with the manual 5- speed is excellent and the handling is still tight. I havent experienced the "stiff shifting" quality cited in some reviews. The car definately encourages "spirited" driving, giving the driver the same sense of connectedness with the road as the BMW 3-Series and the Audi A4 for thousands of dollars less. Its interior and exterior design are really attractive and have stood up over time, the car still looks great. Overall, a durable, and stylish ride.

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  Solid, Reliable Family & Commuter Car - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By popperoni2 - September 21 - 3:47 am

  I bought my 2013 Passat SE-TDI new in April 2013. Ive put 16,000 miles on it since then. My daily commute is 35 mostly highway miles. Weve taken the car on week-long road trips (from D.C. area) to Charleston, SC; Cleveland; Buffalo; and NYC area. I average 37 mpg per tank in mixed highway/local driving. Its an excellent cruising car, although the seats are a bit hard. I havent noticed the road noise problems others talk about. Havent had a single mechanical problem since I bought it. To me, the design is attractive inside and out. I highly recommend this car.

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  Super Car! - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By STEVE C - September 19 - 10:26 pm

  It took a long time coming, but I finally found a car that was fun to drive with style, luxury and enough speed to keep my heart racing. Audi, BMW, Mercedes have nothing on this car. Saved 15k over BMW and got way better quality car.

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  Do not buy! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By HateTheReg - September 19 - 8:33 pm

  This was hands down the WORST vehicle I have ever owned. I have driven lots of cars and SUVs, and this one took the cake in bad performance. Its beautiful, especially when you are standing beside it waiting on Roadside Assit because its DEAD! After 5 alignments in 5 months, being completely dead/towed twice, I had enough. Dont get me started on all the electrical failures, warnings, Service calls, recalls and problems I endured in the 12 LONG months I drove this horrible vehicle. And VWoA is the WORST co. on earth, not caring that they are selling a useless vehicle to unsuspecting people. They do not respond to complaints, and have no intentions of standing behind their horrible vehicle.

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  A Pleasure - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jgw - September 19 - 5:33 pm

  We traded an 03 Passat for the Jetta TDI. No complaints. A pleasure to drive. As it is a small wagon you cant expect a lot of room. The biggest problem that Ive had is the smell of diesel fuel on your hands after a fill up. (really, not much of a problem is it?). The biggest problem we have had was the rock that hit the roof. The good news, it missed the windshield but it did put a dent in the roof.

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  Luxury and ruggedness in one - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By suvfan - September 19 - 2:36 pm

  This thing has been great both on and off road. Very reliable and comfortable. I looked at a lot of luxury SUVs in this class and as far as ride comfort and interior material quality this is by far the best. Towing capacity is great for a vehicle this size. If you don’t need third row seating, this is the vehicle to get.

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  Awesome - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ivo-king - September 19 - 10:30 am

  Just picked up my new Passat. I had to decide between getting a 2007 Camry, a 2004 Passat 1.8T GLS (with 22,000 miles on it) which was in impeccable condition, and this car. After weeks of research, and test driving, I absolutely could not justify paying $16,000 for the used Passat as it is a whole different car now, nor $20,000 for the Camry as it did not compare in the test drive at all. I picked up the dark grey Passat Value Edition 6-speed for $21,580 (this includes the $1,000 loyalty bonus). I figured that I can live without the chrome lining around the windows, while I can put alloy wheels myself further down the road as I wear out these sweet Michelins that come standard. No car in this price range can compare with the Passat experience!

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  This car delivers - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By delfin1 - September 18 - 5:31 pm

  I have just over 2,000 miles on a new base model Jetta TDI with a manual, so I cant comment on long term reliability. What I can comment on is the performance of the package, and it exceeds expectations. Were averaging around 43 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Since this is more than promised, it is hard not to be impressed. The seating is comfortable, and while the interior finish materials are not as high quality as some other vehicles, they are certainly good enough for a car that costs less than $23,000.

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  150k miles new - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By torchmonkey - September 18 - 10:46 am

  i have owned vw most on my post high school life. from an 02 5 spd vr6 gti to a 03 vr6 6 spd jetta. great cars when taken care of and modded properly. stay away from the automatics, and enjoy on a back road once in awhile. currently own a 2001 gti 1.8t. great gas mileage. bit of a hit on power from the vr6 cars im used to but can be made up in parts and the 1.8 definitely handles better. my current car has 160k on it and runs like new. interior is showing signs of wear around the ac controls, console, and ignition. shall be replaced soon. rolled my 02 gti 2.5 times at highway speed and 3 ppl walked away unharmed. (perrelli tire went flat and came off the rim). so i dont buy perrellis anymore.

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  Just bought a new 2006 - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mrrizzo - September 18 - 9:36 am

  Just bought a new leftover 2006 3.6. Got a great deal since the 2008s were already on the lot. Although silver is never my first choice in color, I think this is a great looking car. It has just the right amount of chrome and black trim. The 17in wheels are handsome too. It does need premium gas, but the highway mileage has been terrific, especially considering the performance of the 3.6 engine. The interior and trunk are beautifully finished. The exterior fit/finish are flawless. The console does creak a little but I think the plastic is more temperature sensitive than a flaw in essembly. On a couple days when the temp went above say 45, console didnt creak.