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:

• 

  Loaded with most options, sad about MPG - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By smallbej - January 16 - 3:26 am

  We traded in our 2007 Passat wagon for this 2010 Jetta we are leasing because the MPG was better and ran on cheap, 87 octane for the 2.5 liter instead of the 2.0Ts recommended 92 Octane. Sadly, we have been averaging just over 19mpg with mixed city/highway driving. Huge disappointment. Interior is nice, plenty of trunk room. Love the heated seats. Have a smell from the washer fluid coming into the cabin despite all windows and sunroof closed. Only smells when you use the wiper/washer and VW doesnt know why. Im 6 ft and have kids in car seats in the rear, it leaves little room for the kids feet to dangle. some things to think about. I should have looked at more than just VWs.

• 

  With Huge 2017 Discount- Great Deal - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By John S - January 15 - 8:05 pm

  Just drive 1000+ miles on road triip. Got 41+ mpg. Awesome! Also took advantage of VW clearance sale for end of August. Over $4,000 discount under MSRP of $20,800. Solid tight car. Quiet interior. Cant beat this car as a commuter.

• 

  Still breaking it in... - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By JiggyJoe Johanus - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Weve had this truck for just a week. We traded in our W8 Passat for a bit more vehicle and a bit more payment; my wife has had her heart set on an SUV for some time and I finally succumbed to her wishes for once. She loves it, I like it. Its roomier, nicer, and feels much more luxurious. We got the base V8 with an upgraded stereo system, bi-xenon lights and the winter package. Thus far weve only put about 400 miles on it, and no off- roading, but thats coming soon.

• 

  Passat according to Mac - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By BobMach - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Interior Dash guages very hard to read during daylight hours. An additional sun visor to provide both forward and side protection. Tremendous road feeling at all speeds.Very good acceleration, roomy interior and trunk. Very difficult to find a bad rating.

• 

  Good at first but then...... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lilmnstrsmom - January 11 - 7:36 pm

  I loved this car for the first 60,000, then it was just problem after problem. I kept good care of the car but was having continuous issues with the water pump and other minor things. The major problem was the fact that a lot of parts in the engine were made of plastic so instead of replacing just a simple section of a part the whole thing had to be replaced. I averaged about $600 every time the car went in. About 2 years ago I spent over $2,400 at one time!! Recently the car had some more problems that included the fuel pump. I took the car in and the mechanic told me it was not worth fixing. The car had 119,000 miles on it. It did its job. The sunroof was possessed.

• 

  Great car ruined by one major flaw - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Joe - January 11 - 7:50 am

  I am having a love/hate relationship with my CC. The interior and exterior styling are dramatic and pleasing. I have never gotten more "thumbs up" and favorable parking lot comments. The build quality is first-rate. The turbocharged four delivers great performance with truly amazing fuel economy. The value for the money is absolutely out of this world -- nobody sells more car than this for the $27,000 I paid. The dealer experience could not be better. But I am being driven to distraction by the artificial, electronic power steering, which alternates between totally numb and far too much resistance.

• 

  Fun to Drive, but Unreliable - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Collinite Wax - January 8 - 9:16 pm

  Weve had our Touareg for about a year. Handles like a sportscar and incredibly fast, and a headturner. But unfortunately, the car is extremely unreliable and has been back to the dealership 5 times for a variety of electrical problems. While the problems have been relatively minor, its hard to reconcile these annoyances with a $42K car: the passenger side mirror sticks in the reverse position, the rear latch doesnt always unlock, and the radio fades out (apparently the antenna is in a poor location in the car, according to the service manager at our dealership). The dealership has attempted to fix these problems on multiple occasions, to no avail. Our last VW, next will be japanese.

• 

  Beetle Turbo S - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By captgw2 - January 7 - 7:36 pm

  I bought my Beetle Turbo S for my girlfriend to drive. This replaced a 92 Taurus, so there was no where to go but up! Its been a good car, but has required several trips back to the dealer for warranty issues (emblems peeling, trim falling off, floormat anchors). Its fun to drive and Id buy another as long as it had a warranty in effect.

• 

  Unreliable & Expensive to Repair - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By skiebo - January 6 - 2:00 am

  Driving this car overall has been a pleasure however the maintenance and repair costs have been outrageous. In 4 years my out of pocket expenses for repairs has been about $7,000. Extensive warranty repairs have been made in addition to out of pocket expenses, including replacement of emission controls, engine electronics, and the oil pump. It would be difficult for me to considering buying another VW after this experience.

• 

  Good product, horrible dealer service... - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Trinity - January 5 - 4:46 am

  My 2002 Volkswagen Golf has been reliable, but the air conditioning has a musty smell on hot days. The dealer cant fix the problem, until the warranty runs out. Then, for money, its fixable! Both headlights have burned out twice. this car is great on highway after 60 mph. The brakes are sof thought. Overall, if gas prices werent going through the roof, I would trade it for real German car, like BMW 330Ci. the luxury package for $2,000 gets you two decent windows and mats...yes, mats. This car seems to maintain resale value, so I plan on keeping it until it hits 100,000 miles...then, itll be a gift to a deserving soul, like a college student.