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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  Great little car and fun to drive - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Otto - September 3 - 5:53 am

  I am very happy with my Passat wagon. It is nimble and a blast to drive thanks to great handling. The turbo motor lacks low end torque, but once you put your foot into it, the car has enough power to get you in and out of trouble. Its highway mileage is also a real plus, but the 91 octane requirement means you need premium fuel. It has good cargo room for its class and the high roof helps out here. The fit and finish are also very good. The interior is austere but very well done, but the glovebox is the only real storage space.

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  Why this is my last VW purchase - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By finalstraw - September 2 - 11:15 pm

  After owning many VWs and with a lifetime of great memories Ive got to accept the fact that VWs have never been reliable and Ive spent waaay too much time and waaaay too much money for those memories. The final straw happened today; I received a Warranty Extension notice in the mail about the transmission valve body in my convertible. WOW!...VW finally admitted there has been a problem and they were going to fix it. WRONG! I was out of the warranty window by 2 months - but they could repair it for $2-3k! VW lost me forever. I wish I could recapture the time that Ive wasted fooling with VWs. Unless you want to spend a chunk of your life hanging out in garages with mechanics - stay away!

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  Excellent Car! - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By guitarzan1 - September 2 - 6:06 pm

  Sporty, fun to drive, economical, great looking, and useful! This car has a huge trunk/hatch area that will haul lots of stuff, the rear doors make getting in and out of the back seats easy - easier than the Jetta. The drivers seat is comfortable and supportive. Driving position is great. Visibility is good but the pillar between the front and back seats sometimes blocks your vision. Monsoon Stereo sounds fabulous and I love the sunroof, also. Believe it or not, I love driving to work every day in this car! The sporty little TDI engine is very peppy and strong, and will definitely surprise you. I average 43MPG all city driving. Car feels like a quality product. No cheap plastic here.

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  heap of rubbish - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By stav39 - September 2 - 2:04 pm

  This car just breaks down at every opportunity it spent more time in the workshop than on the road. Everything gone wrong electrical engine gearbox interior wheels etc etc

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  Good but not Great - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Justin - September 2 - 1:30 pm

  This is my dads car. I drive it all the time, but i also drive my moms 2007 rabbit which I prefer to drive. The Jetta just doesnt stop like the rabbit at all. And it doesnt accelerate. The steering is almost the same but not quite as good as the rabbit. Overall I think that it is a good car but not great.

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  I love to hate my VDUB - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By varuca salt - September 2 - 10:36 am

  First the AC busted a hole in itself then all interior parts bubbled and peeled off within a year, then my cam system blew they replaced that, then my shifting cables broke, sun visors dont work and fall out of the holes that hold them up, all buttons had to be replaced, consistent alignment problems, consistent gas cap issues, consistent check engine light, fuel pump replaced, vacuum seals and all that kind of stuff replaced, now warranty is over and Im stuck with only one year payments left with a piece of crap that is fun to drive that I have to trade in when all i wanted was a car that would last 100k miles, Ive got 58k and Im DONE.

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  This car will be my last VW - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Buffmeat - September 2 - 10:00 am

  We have had numerous problem with this vehicle and have less than 60,000 miles. My favorite was replacing the air bag clock spring twice. We also had a fun problem with the shocks rubbing with 2 people in the back seat and the tail pipe fell off at 10,000 miles. The only thing I can say good about the car is we live in the midwest and the car starts every morning no matter how hot or cold.

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  A few annoying things - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By pfreader - September 2 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car, with a few caveats: The steering wheel does not telescope, which is terrible if youre tall (which I am). The seat goes back so far I cant touch the pedals, but the steering wheel cant compensate, so its useless. (Incidentally, it says in the manual that the steering wheel telescopes, but it does not.) Also, the front cupholders are useless. NOTHING fits in them except for a can of soda. Otherwise, its a great car, but Im trading mine in soon. I cant get comfortable in it.

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  JUST TRY AND TAKE THIS CAR AWAY FROM ME! - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By rexmasters - September 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2000 VW Passat Turbo 5spd. in July of that same year--Satin Silver wth custom red (yes, RED) leather interior and upgraded GLX wheels. My other car was a BMW Z3, and others have included other BMWs, Hondas, Toyotas, etc. After one year of ownership, I decided that I liked the car so much that I installed Koni fully adjustable sport suspension, and wider, Toyo sport Proxes S-1 tires. My car is now comfortable, yet very tight, and handles like a dream. So much so that I replaced the Z3 with a Jeep, since I prefer the sport car feel of the Passat. I am getting 40 mpg on the highway, and about 26 mpg combined.

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  Eco-Turbo-Fun - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By turbopwr - September 2 - 10:00 am

  "one year pre-owned". Good mileage and a better price than new. The economy and fun-factor are very high! My two main concerns are the seat is too short- (seats could also use better lumbar and side bolster support), and the service cost. The service cost is TOO EXPENSIVE. I found a good german-auto mechanic to change the timing belt at 50,000 miles after two dealers told me it would be 500+ for the work. It still cost me 300+. The MAS just went bad at 75000. The part was 300+. Incredible!! If this keeps up, my savings on driving expenses will be quickly overcome by service costs. Overall, a good choice after one year of ownership.