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 this SUV - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By SJ - August 23 - 10:23 am

  My Touareg makes turns on a dime, hugs corners and feels stocky and solid on the road. I can go up and down the steep icey hill to my house with ease which was always a huge concern and the reason I was looking for an SUV. My Touareg has surpassed my expectations. I love driving it.

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  An Audi in Wolfsburg Clothing - 2015 Volkswagen Golf
  By emoryeagle - August 23 - 5:33 am

  I needed a more fuel efficient and affordable vehicle to replace my 2 year old Mercedes GLK350. Our income was downsized and after a lot of research, I kept coming back to the Golf. I finally bit the bullet and traded for a Night Blue 2015 Golf TSI SE with standard equipment plus the bi-xenon lighting system. After just a few days with this car, Im totally impressed with the vehicle. Driving dynamics are impressive, well equipped, fit and finish are to German standards and the gas mileage is so much better than the GLK, plus no more premium fuel! It is fun to drive, punchy turbo power, bank-vault tight and roomier than what I had. I feel like Im driving an Audi with a 50% off coupon!

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  Built to drive and have fun - 2016 Volkswagen Golf
  By Dave F - August 22 - 9:43 am

  It took a 10 minute drive to fall in love with this car.... and Ive driven a LOT of cars. I didnt want to have anything to do with Volkswagen --- I wanted something that had a more reliable reputation -- but I suddenly find myself a devoted follower. The car is built to drive, to have fun and enjoy. Somewhere between the paddle shifters (makes the car FAST), technology and lighting packages, I just lost it. And Im still loving it!

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  VW DID IT AGAIN - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tim - August 22 - 8:46 am

  This is my 3rd VW Jetta. I owned a 2000 GLS 2.0 and 2004 GLS 1.8T. I never have had any problems with any of them. So far, I have 17000 miles on the 2006 and no issues. This car is quiet, no wind noise, the engine sounds great when you step on it, the transmission/clutch is smooth, excellent stero system sound, great heated leatherette seats, excellent climate control system, and by far EXCELLENT handling. My only complaint is the city driving gas mileage is poor compaired to my old Jettas.

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  Great car!!! - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Veedubliger - August 22 - 6:43 am

  Traded my RX-8 for it and dont regret my decision. It feels good to be back in the VW family. Missed owning a Veedub but the new GTI was worth the wait. It is a fun little car. It is easy to drive fast with all the torque. I keep having to remind myself that I dont have to rev the hell out of it like the RX-8. It has a top-notch interior and cool exterior looks.

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  Nice ride - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By kristi gorsuch - August 21 - 9:26 am

  I love my car. I think they could approve on the fuel consumption & the plastic dash covering around the CD player the paint chips off easy. Other then that I would reccommend buying the Touareg to anyone! I receive lots of compliments on the SUV!

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  Too Many Problems - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Phil Johnes - August 20 - 2:00 pm

  I recently got a call from my dealer saying that I had a couple of problems with my 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T. First, the vacuum line needs to be replaced at a cost of $178. Also, the car needs to be decarbonated at a cost of $198. Third, the brake pads and rotors need to be replaced - cost $440. Is this a joke? The only mistake I made was to buy this terrible car. I have already had a number of problems with it before this, including the ignition coils failing making it undrivable, a number of electrical issues, I have to replace bulbs twice a year. bad quality tires that are easliy damaged, and bad wiper blades that dont work well in snow / rain.

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  After Seven Years a Trusty Stead - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Doug - August 20 - 1:33 pm

  I bought my 99 V6 5-speed Passat in April 99 and after 120,000 miles, its still going strong. The engine delivers great performance and gas mileage (I get 30 mpg on the highway at 80 mph) and I love the 5-speed tranny. The interior, after seven years, beats many new cars in terms of quality, design and ergonomics. My only complaint is about reliability and cost of service. At 60,000 miles, I had to put $3,000 into the suspension for new control arms, a drive shaft, and brake sensor. At 90,000 miles, I had to replace the water pump and timing belt. Ive never heard of anyone having to replace control arms, let alone at 60,000 miles. They are not cheap, but Im love driving it and plan to do so for years.

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  Lease return or Purchase Offer??? - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By B & J Buffington - August 20 - 2:00 am

  After reading others experience with this car the decision to make an offer to the lessor or return the car will not be easy. There appear to be a substantial number of "lemons" in the 1998 model year. Problems since our purchase included a faulty A/C compressor, door regulator arm, and the battery.The lease "residual" is $13,400 and based on the current market valuation our offer to purchase will likely be roughly $9,000 (plus or minus $500). Like the Ford Focus this car has great engineering but inconsistent component quality and/or production assembly problems.

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  good car - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By fred1hart - August 20 - 2:00 am

  an excellent car, especially for the money. Solid, fun, etc