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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  No Satisfied - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dartman - September 15 - 2:00 am

  WOW. I was really excited to get this new car, and at first the car was great. At 6000 miles the clutch died, shortly after that the gasket around the CV joint was leaking fluid, then the sunroof broke (Ive taken it in 3 times so far - rattles everytime you close the door or go over a bump still). Everytime I step on the clutch pedal is makes a rubber squeaking sound - all in all, Ive taken my car to the shop about 14 times now! Be warned - I think due to its popularity, they have sped up production time, and as a result quality has gone dramatically down. My sister has a 1998 jetta (previous design) and never had a problem. Think twice before you buy.

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  Just a test drive - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bryan1280 - September 15 - 12:03 am

  First I should say that I only test drove the car. I found the seats to be very comfortable. I love that they lay almost flat (I like to nap during lunch). Heated seats were nice. I found 6th gear to be too weak and was downshifting to go uphill on the Highway. With the turbo the car feels faster than it is, but with the torque and MPG, this is the perfect cross country car. I just think that 6th gear is only good for flat driving.

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  Amazing Car! - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By gilicata12 - September 14 - 11:03 pm

  I got my 2013 Passat TDI last week. I traded in a 2010 Mercedes E550 for it. I love my Passat more than the Benz. The ride is outstanding, some people complain of noise but I think it is more quiet than an E-class. I do a lot of suburban driving so I am kicking EPA fuel estimates out the window. I get about 40mpg city and about 48mpg highway. This car also handles better than any other car I test drove. This car beats the competition. I feel extremely safe in this car. The doors are heavy and the feel of being safe is extremely important to me. The interior design of the car just makes sense. There is a place for everything and everything is in its place. This is the best car VW has made.

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  Absolutely not! - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SMO - September 14 - 1:00 pm

  So I bought my nice 1998 jetta in 2008 for a graduation present to myself. Granted the car was 10 years old and I did get it for a deal (sort of)...IT stinks! so far since Ive had it (less than a year) Ive had to replace the wheel bearings 3 separate times because theyve broken while I was driving and Ive also done the breaks and rotors twice. On top of that I had to replace the exhaust, all the window motors are messed up, my automatic door locks dont work, the window cable broke, my 02 sensor failed, my cruise control doesnt work, the wiring causes shorts in the lighting and sensors, and my side panels had to be reglued in place. All of this at 120,000 miles? I miss my dodge stratus!

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  Volkswagen has sold out - 2010 Volkswagen Routan
  By routan VW - September 14 - 1:26 am

  I really dont like this VW Routan at all. It is small and cramped. I have hit my head several times getting in and out of the vehicle. The kids keep hitting their heads when they climb in to get in to the back seats. The automatic doors are extremely annoying. What has Volkswagen done? They have sold out and made their van just like all the other vans on the market. Long live Eurovans!

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  Total sleeper! - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By Bio Two - September 14 - 12:43 am

  I tested both GTI then the R32 on the same raod and same driving style. If it was not the price tag, it will be a no brianer R32 is the one. I picked the R32 anyway. This car is super fun to drive. After getting used to the car and start pushing it, I was shocked that how much a $33000 car can do! Especially on wet road, this car car pretty much beat any moving object on the road! If you can totally master this car, you can out run most of the higher power cars on the market even with the only 250bhp. I often play with my co-workers BMW 335i, as long as there are some turns, he will has a hard time to catch up. The sweetest feature... Lanch Control!!

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  2003 Wagon great car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By BillfromNY - September 13 - 7:06 pm

  2003 Passat GL Wagon, 5 sp MT. Heated seats and monsoon audio. Great car. My wife drove for 5 years 98,000 miles and we bought her a new 08 Passat sedan (arrest me red) with a 6 sp MT. This car is new to me since I only drove it a handful of times since 2003. Ride: Great Performance: Great Comfort: Great Safety: You feel very secure in a VW Reliability: Fine, we have a very good dealer near by that is a pleasure to deal with.

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  Too Bad - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Jerry - September 13 - 6:16 pm

  This was a fun car. But its low level of quality really stinks. Something was always broken. The bulbs for the headlight are impossible to change if the plastic mounting/locking device for the headlight assembly break (the dealer confirmed that was the case). 10,000 miles before the timing belt was due to be changed the tensioner broke destroying the engine. And because VW makes the engine mounting holes different for different models with the same engine you can not interchange them. This became a pricey repair ($7,000 before it was done). The airbag and a sensor both went bad. Several sensors went bad. It was a nightmare. I was very happy to get rid of it.

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  honestly read this - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By listen here - September 13 - 5:23 pm

  I really want everyone to know every car has its problems. Most people write their reviews because they are upset. I have had my VW jetta for 6 months and have put over 10,000 miles on it. I bought it used and drive it every day all day. This car is built like a rock. Its quick and fun to drive. Pretty from the inside out. It doesnt get the best gas mileage and if you dont shut your blinker off before you shut the car off your lights wont shut off also my car struggles to work in freezing weather. It starts right up but the electrical stuff doesnt work well at 19 degrees. Over all its great and reliable I want another VW perhaps a bluesport? check them out

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  Worst Car I Ever Owned - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Haz - September 13 - 2:36 pm

  This car was the never-ending money pit! Engine had to be replaced along with two clutches. Window motors were constantly breaking. Electric side mirrors stopped working. Glove compartment hinges broke. Windshield washer system stopped working. Molding was falling off. Seat recliners never worked. Emergency break broke several times which resulted in the car rolling into the street and finally - a LAKE! The repairs were incredibly expensive compared with US or Japanese made cars.