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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  Lots of vroom - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jon w - July 14 - 3:54 am

  I like the car but find the electric assist steering annoying and not in keeping with the relatively sporty feel of the car otherwise. Front seats comfortabke and lots of adjustment for somone greater than 62", Rear room is great, lots of room for 6"+ individuals and a huge trunk but at the expense of rear visibility. My girlfriend is short and she cant see anything out the back window. Stereo is OK but meet iPhone to hook up to it. Still havent figured out how to use the trip counter. Ride is good. Performance is good, great fuel economy and I never feel short of power. I can get over 40 mpg highway if Im careful...although I am trusting the VW computer for that and we know how the tdis were fixed... So its a great car with nagging suspissions that the manufacturer is cheating on the mileage and/or emissions...I understand I could just calculate mileage for myself but shouldnt have to, shame on VW. Would not have bought it if I had known company is dishonest.

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  S to Wolfsburg Edition - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By flbntz - July 11 - 5:42 pm

  Had an S in Blue, damaged, not convinced fixed right, traded for this. Opera Red, Cornsilk leatherette interior. Beautiful car. Very much a Volkswagen. Elegant, but tough. Understated. A machine. Awesome on the highway. Like the new 1.8l turbo. Had a 2.5l inline five on a 2010 Golf. I thought it was more than enough engine for that car, decent gas milage, but this is better.

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  JETTA GT - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By titanone - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Over 6 years of reliable driving, great fuel economy and handling. Cheap to own and maintain.

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  More Fun Than It Looks! - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By bp1020 - July 10 - 12:00 pm

  Purchased new and have had no problems. Great handling car, especially with replacement tires. Fun to drive with comfortable interior. Leather seats have held up well. Plenty of interior room for family of 4. I make regular road trips of 3 to 4 hours and with the fully adjustable seats have no problem staying comfortable (at 62"). The 4-cyl. turbo provides more than enough power and great gas mileage. I would purchase another Passat without question.

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  Great Car Horrible Dealer - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dieseldog - July 9 - 10:00 am

  My 98 Jetta TDI has been a great car with few mechanical problems. The only disappointment has been the total imcompetence of the only dealer within 40 miles of me. Without a reliable independent mechanic who understands these cars I would never buy another one. VW has a great product but a common complaint is lousy dealer support. Where is VOA? This is a common complaint across the USA/Canada.

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  disappointing - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Russel - July 9 - 10:00 am

  Well I only have 1234 miles and I am already having problems. From day one I noticed that my drivers seat keeps reclining very slowly all by itself. I keep having to adjust it forward. I also have popping noise coming from my left tie rod when I am backing out of parking spots. I have a leak in the weatherstripping around my passenger door. And last but not least, my freakin window popped off of the track tonight. I would doubt that a Hyundai or a Daewoo would even have this much trouble in the first month. This truly breaks my heart, because I absolutely love this car. I pray that these are the only problems I have. Well see...

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  Beautiful Nightmare - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By PA - July 8 - 1:16 am

  A black Jetta was my dream car. Thank god I leased it because at 200 miles the car began to fall apart. Brake light switch went twice in one week and the car would not get out of park, window dropped down in a snowstorm and after being replaced 3 times it still leaks, computer shorted out and the whole car went dead, sunroof leaks, CD player broke, transmission bucks and VW doesnt know what is wrong with it, factory tires were awful and the car would slide in a dusting of snow, and I made a left hand turn and the front axle broke. Dont but this car without a warranty because you will be livid when u pay the price for german parts!

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  Gotta love it! - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Lost in LA - July 6 - 3:20 pm

  The new Beetle is the best piece of design to hit the road in many years. It has good build quality, great handling, but unfortunarely a despicable dealer network. This is my 5th "Golf" platform VW. And each time I swear Ill never buy another because of the dealers.

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  poor emissions - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By lorila - July 6 - 10:00 am

  I would love this car if I could keep it out of the shop-the price of repairs could have afforded me a much more expensive car! I am getting out VW this year as they have refused to help. Other people I know have much better response from their cars and their manufacturers!! I see other people have the same citrus experience!

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  The Black Flash - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mate - July 6 - 10:00 am

  Very nippy, handles well - though should corner better with its wide rims & low-profile tires - a great fun wagon