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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  1997 VW Jetta GL - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By KMP - July 21 - 5:30 am

  We currently have 180K miles and no major problems other than the necessary and routine maintenance plus its FUN to drive! I understand some of the cars were put together in Mexico and others in Canada; ours was from Canada. We would definitely consider purchasing another VW when the time comes to replace this one (which wont be too long from now).

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  BEST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MAJPETE67 - July 20 - 9:00 pm

  I would have never thought of owning a diesel, so I am glad I got a VW. This car has carried me all over the US and I just passed my 114K mile. I have never had a problem with this car and the drive is great. Most people have no idea its a diesel or that it is an 06. My mileage is greater than planned and I get from 42-48 MPG consistently. I use regular diesel and the new improved diesel works just as well.

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  Cargo size, R Line style & warranty = great value - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Mike - July 19 - 6:27 am

  We got a white R line SEL and it is a great looking vehicle and great value to other SUVs in this class. Storage space is off the charts. 6 year 72k mile warranty alleviates any long term concerns. We have way more storage than the 2012 Tahoe we traded in for this. Solid SUV. We had looked at 4 others in this class (Highlander, Explorer, Pilot, Traverse) before considering this and had no expectation we would love it this much. You absolutely have to get the R Line for the wheels and exterior painted trim (vs boring black plastic trim).

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  This Car Rocks!! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Andy S - July 18 - 1:33 am

  This car is well matched to the 1.8T engine. I have chipped the ECU and it made a ton of difference. The car is strong, looks great, handles... whats not to like oh, yea, great on gas too!!.

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  Jetta - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Hank - July 17 - 11:23 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for over five years and have had no problems. This is my third VW and have been pleased with each. This is a fun vehicle to drive and it corners very well with minimal under steer. The heated cloth seats work great.

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  FUN! FUN! FUN! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bkpoovey - July 17 - 11:50 am

  I have owned a Mercedes C230, Acura TL, and recently purchased a BMW 330Ci. I was disapointed in BMW and could not understand all the hype surrounding this car. I test drove the Audi A3 and A4 before trying the Jetta GLI. I enjoyed the feel and handling of the Audi A3 but the GLI won me over. This is the most fun car that I have ever owned. For someone looking for a fun well made car with good peerformance and a sporty feel, this is the car at a good price.

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  Great Little Big Car! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Beatriz - July 17 - 9:10 am

  I have owned my 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 for five months so far and its great! I love it! Its smooth, fast, I get great mileage when traveling and around town. I love it! I definetly recommend this car!

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  I leased it based only on price, then fell in love - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lars Bogard - July 17 - 6:45 am

  I leased this because it was the absolutely cheapest lease I could work out on any car that wasnt bottom-barrel. I never thought Id buy or lease a VW. Amazing economy. Gets 500miles on a 12-gal fill-up. At 75mph avg, it gets 41mpg, at 55-65mph its 45mpg. Combined with 25/75 city/hwy is around 38 mpg. Acceleration is like a big rubber slingshot - amazing for a 1.4. Feels much faster than any other 4cyl and most 6cyl Ive driven. Transmission is fantastic - manual downshift reminds me of my brothers BMW 135 - shift from 5th-4th gear at 70mph and all you notice is the tach jumps and the note changes, but no lurch or discernible transmission shift friction. Can take 25-mph curves at twice the speed with NO drama, as if its yawning and laughing at the guy that made the speed-sign. Sport mode actually makes a difference, but it is mostly unneeded unless you intentionally want to drive like a moron - or have fun up the interstate entrance ramp. Transmission disengages at stop-light to save gas but doesnt stop engine (smart). You can feel it gently and immediately re-engage the instant you let go of the brake causing no take-off delay. I added the Helix sub-woofer/amp (about $900 installed) and it has completely changed the character of the entertainment system. iPhone integration is fantastic, especially map integration. Speakerphone is so good that I hold hour-long conference calls in my car and nobody knows Im in a car. The longer I have this car, the more I realize all the things it does correctly, and all the things the other guys, including Toyota and Honda havent figured out yet. Cruise control, gas gauge, speedometer, odometer, and MPG calculations in the trip computer are actually accurate - especially not over-stating the MPG like just about every other trip computer Ive used (and Ive rented a LOT of cars). If the car does not have any major issues by the time my 3-yr lease is up, I may actually buy it out.

• 

  I leased it based only on price, then fell in love - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lars Bogard - July 17 - 6:45 am

  I leased this because it was the absolutely cheapest lease I could work out on any car that wasnt bottom-barrel. I never thought Id buy or lease a VW. Amazing economy. Gets 500miles on a 12-gal fill-up. At 75mph avg, it gets 41mpg, at 55-65mph its 45mpg. Combined with 25/75 city/hwy is around 38 mpg. Acceleration is like a big rubber slingshot - amazing for a 1.4. Feels much faster than any other 4cyl and most 6cyl Ive driven. Transmission is fantastic - manual downshift reminds me of my brothers BMW 135 - shift from 5th-4th gear at 70mph and all you notice is the tach jumps and the note changes, but no lurch or discernible transmission shift friction. Can take 25-mph curves at twice the speed with NO drama, as if its yawning and laughing at the guy that made the speed-sign. Sport mode actually makes a difference, but it is mostly unneeded unless you intentionally want to drive like a moron - or have fun up the interstate entrance ramp. Transmission disengages at stop-light to save gas but doesnt stop engine (smart). You can feel it gently and immediately re-engage the instant you let go of the brake causing no take-off delay. I added the Helix sub-woofer/amp (about $900 installed) and it has completely changed the character of the entertainment system. iPhone integration is fantastic, especially map integration. Speakerphone is so good that I hold hour-long conference calls in my car and nobody knows Im in a car. The longer I have this car, the more I realize all the things it does correctly, and all the things the other guys, including Toyota and Honda havent figured out yet. Cruise control, gas gauge, speedometer, odometer, and MPG calculations in the trip computer are actually accurate - especially not over-stating the MPG like just about every other trip computer Ive used (and Ive rented a LOT of cars). If the car does not have any major issues by the time my 3-yr lease is up, I may actually buy it out.

• 

  Golf TDI (DSG auto) - 2013 Volkswagen Golf
  By thedude12 - July 17 - 5:16 am

  I purchased this car strictly for fuel savings and putting a lots of miles. The car far surpasses the rated 30mpg/city, I get routinely over 35mpg city. This is a heck of a car, well built, quiet and quick, very well equipped as well. I got the 3 year free maintenance. and a 0% finance for up to 72 months through Volkswagen financing. I also got the car for $500 below invoice so I know I scored. I am currently saving about $150.month just on gas alone(diesel), I am doing over 1000 miles/month and like I said the savings are significant.