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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  Love the Bunny - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By j.ho - November 2 - 7:23 am

  Ive owned this vehicle for about 2 months now and couldnt be happier. I traded in a Toyota Yaris, and Im not sure Ill ever go back from German engineering. Its a solidly built, small car that comes with a lot of features standard (a BIG difference from Toyotas at the very least). My old car felt like a toy compared to this one. Not sure about reliability just yet since its still new, but I have high expectations from VW.

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  VW service sucks!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By PJohn - October 30 - 2:00 am

  VW Passat is a cheap version of the BMW or Audi. And this is what prompts most buyers to go for a VW and brag about their German engineered automobile.Its a very sporty and fun to drive car with a lot of safety features and classy interiors.The internal and exterior design and the body build is very good and this fools most people.They have cheap but "premium" Monsoon sterio system, too many electrical faults, fog lights and wipers that dont work.Too many reported problems about their ignition coils.And nothing to beat the horrible service!!!

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  I got this back in high school... - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By rilezz13 - October 29 - 12:20 pm

  I got my black Passat when I was a sophomore in high school. The thing I love most about VWs is the German prestige that comes with the car. Theres something about the way European cars carry themselves as they sail down the highway. I previously owned a 2000 VW Jetta that I absolutly loved. The Passat is technically a superior car, but I think Ill buy another Jetta in the future. If you are thinking of buying one with the turbocharged engine, you MUST MUST use fully synthetic oil and change it every 3 thousand miles.

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  Fell apart at 75,000 Miles - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By RP - October 27 - 6:16 am

  I absolutely loved my 2001.5 Passat until last weekend when it essentially self-destructed at 76,000 miles. Although Ive maintained it religiously, a water pump leak ultimately caused the timing belt to slip off while driving on the freeway, bending the heads and piercing the radiator. The repairs will costing about $5,000. My mechanic says its a design flaw and could happen again.

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  Totally unreliable. - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By Cheated - October 25 - 10:00 am

  Oil consumption issues requiring numerous visits to try to fix the problem (Still not fixed). Within a year computer mother board had to be replaced. The engine light coming on and off. After the service department "fixed" window issue, my car doesnt lock remotely and the automatic locks dont always lock after driving 15 mi/hr.The service department declared that it is NORMAL FOR VW TO REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY 1quart OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES! Both headlights went out at the same time, even though one light had been replaced 3 weeks prior. NEVER AGAIN AND I WILL TELL ALL MY FRIENDS AND THEN SOME!

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  Better than most - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jedberg - October 25 - 10:00 am

  I thought that my car had problems until I read about everyone elses. I had to do my rear brakes at 30K, but VW paid for it. My gears have been grinding since the beginning, but they tell me it is "normal". At 45K miles, everything works perfectly, now that I had my 40K service for $600. :( The worst problem I had was with Broadway Volkswagen in Oakland, CA. They damaged my car when I took it in for service, and when I called them on it, they said right to my face, "Yeah, we damaged it, but you cant prove it." I complained to VW, and they said they had similar complaints, but the dealership is still open. DONT GO TO BRAODWAY VW!!

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  Indigo Blue - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Michael99 - October 25 - 10:00 am

  Only had the car for less than 1000 miles, drives and feels very solid. Lucky enough to be in Germany while driving it, get to really drive it to its full potential. 1.8T is a very responsive engine, quiet on the Autobahn even at 100 mph. Fun car to drive, still in love with the blue instrument cluster. It is American Specs.

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  Suspension problem caus. prem. tyre wear - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tedd - October 24 - 1:23 pm

  Very pleased with the overall performance but rumbling noise on certain road surfaces is most disconcerting and appears to cause premature tyre wear. The dealer and his staff knew of the problem when I first approached them but VW will not acknowledge the problem as one which demands some beneficial attention for the customer. They say it is a .characteristic of the vehicle and are not prepared to fix it or offer compensation for the excessive tyre wear. I would love to hear from any other owners who have experienced the problem.

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  Best bang for the buck - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Steve - October 23 - 10:53 pm

  Highs: torquey engine, great interior design, amazing spec list standard, cost of ownership is very low. Gas mileage is pretty poor, but if youre concerned about gas mileage youre probably not even going to be considering this car anyway. The 170 ft-lbs of torque is apparent from very low in the rev range, and worth the trade with gas mileage as far as Im concerned. When compared to everything else $20k or less, the Rabbit shines through.

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  Jetta GLX VR6 - good but could be better - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dco - October 22 - 11:36 am

  Quality of material is excellent, craftmanship is less than perfect for the Mexico built models. Suspension too american and soft. Manual Shiffter too long and rubberry. Equipement of US car is unacceptable compared to european model which comes with AWD, 6 speed manual,201 HP and GPS for the same price.