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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  Windows - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MC2 - September 2 - 10:00 am

  I love my Jetta i spent two years building them online, and when i finished up my senior year of high school i told my mom and dad that we were going New Car Shopping b/c i was not going to drive my POS anymore. We got my Jetta the day i graduated and a month later my drivers window broke so they fixed it. A month after that the passenger window broke we took it back but we had to drive in the pooring rain with the window down and they fixed it. That time they gave us a loaner b/c we were pissed. What we found out is that there is a plastic clip and it brakes but the replace it was a metal one. But your window has to brake first before they will fix it.

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  Jettas a winner!! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By drjhson79 - September 2 - 10:00 am

  We bought our Jetta in August 02 so we dont have any long term experience with it but the time we have had it has been great!! The quality of assembly and materials of the interior is wonderful and the exterior styling is what we were looking for. I work for an automotive supplier and could have recieved some great discounts from the "big three" but they just didnt have a car that could compete with the Jetta. The VR6 is incredible in its smoothness and power. This is the first import we have owened an at this point we are very impressed.

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  VW has really done it! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By iclyde - September 2 - 10:00 am

  My god how can they sell such a well equipped car for this price. My parent have an Audi A6 and almost cried when they heard how much I paid for my Passat.

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  Love it! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Marie - September 2 - 8:50 am

  This car was the first car that my husband and I bought together. I think we will be lyal VW customers for life. The car rides wonderfully, has plenty of get-up-and-go and is VERY comfortable! The cargo space rivals that of most mid-sized SUVs and it gets FAR BETTER gas milage than most SUVs! We are so thrilled with this car!

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  I love my yellow Beetle - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By tara - September 1 - 9:06 pm

  I have to say my bug is running good even thought it has 137,000 miles on it no major problems yet. And this is the first bug I ever owned and I love it. Great on gas. But the light bulbs have to be changed every time one goes out. I just love my bug, its a fantastic car when nothing goes wrong with it.

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  Great First Car - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By morgoone - September 1 - 5:30 pm

  My parents bought this car for me as my first car and I have never had any problems. It is fun to drive and has enough room to comfortably seat me and 4 friends for whatever excursion comes to mind. I always feel safe in this car because i am surrounded by airbags. The sound system is amazing and makes my friends jealous. This is a great first car.

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  Avoid at all costs! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By JetsetTX - September 1 - 5:10 pm

  I loved my car when I first bought it. It is beautiful and the inerior is very well done and they use quality materials. Thats where the love story ends. When it was just over three years old the check engine light came on and it was the brake light switch, which was replaced under warranty. Not long after the car broke down on me on the way to work, it was the fuel pump, they replaced it. They had to replace something that was allowing fuel vapor into the cabin a few month later. The new fuel pump needed replacement within a year of the original being replaced. The clutch had to be replaced (out of warranty) at five years old. The thermostat was just replaced the CV boot 2 yrs ago.

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  Jetta TDI - Perfect at 18,000 miles - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Brian_in_Florida - September 1 - 8:06 am

  I purchased the Jetta TDI with DSG Auto 6 speed tranny and Package 1 last Fall. After owning Japanese cars and BMWs the last 20 years, I was concerned about quality, but so far I love my TDI. The DSG tranny is superb. I drive 110 miles per day highway at 80 mph getting 42 - 44 mpg. The driving dynamics of this car are as good as my wifes BMW 330Ci. It is a n nice tight package with excellent fuel economy. I only wish the styling didnt look like a cheap Corolla.

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  My Love of Jettas - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sunshinegirl - September 1 - 12:36 am

  I bought a 2006 Jetta Value Edition after little research. I loved everything I read about the car and was impressed with the safety ratings. I feel comfortable driving me and my little one around town. It is a very smooth ride and has a lot of power for a $20,000 car. The interior is functional and cool to look at. I dont think I will ever get bored driving this car.

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  Are you Kidding - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Gman - August 31 - 3:06 pm

  I bought this from a Lady in Kansas over the internet and she drove it to me in Colorado, delivered in pretty much perfect shape. I have over a million miles on it now and I am pretty much shocked by the other owners reviews. It was built in Mexico and has had the usual faults like electric window problems and seat heaters but that was all covered in the warranty and replace with no hassle at the dealers. On the last days of my warranty I had them replace the Turbo as easy as if it was a light bulb. Since then I have done most the work on it myself. A lot cheaper than mechanics will do. Replaced the thermostat for 15$ in thirty minutes. $200 plus at most shops.