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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  Quirky with a Great View - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By gruvass - September 18 - 2:00 am

  Youll ride high in the saddle with a Eurovan in your corral. Takes premium gas, entry/exit is a bit awkward, only has one slider but oh, the view. We love the German fit and finish and the caverous space, especially without the rear facing seat in our MV Weekender model. If youre looking for a top handling model pass on this one, but if you have touring and camping in mind this is one of a kind.

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  Too Many Problems - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tigerroux - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I havent been too pleased with the many various problems Ive had with this car. Brand new, the biggest problem being a replacement of transmission, rotors, broken rear view mirror,a security system problem, and sticking drink holder mechanism. These were all fixed by a very good dealership, but all of this happened before the car had 5,000 miles on it. It doesnt give me a warm and fuzzy feeling on the reliability of what might happen next. The other thing Im not too happy with is the gas mileage. I think VW could do better.

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  Great car, fun to drive - 2013 Volkswagen CC
  By kyotonigel - September 17 - 3:19 am

  I absolutely love how my car drives - the V6 engine has powerful acceleration and the car feels very sporty which I like. The car has a lot of spunk. If you want a sports car feel with many of the features found in a luxury sedan ---the Lux V6 is the way to go. It is a very attractive car and I get a lot of compliments when driving it. People are always asking what it is because of the unique look.

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  Driving it for a month so far - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By writergeeknh - September 13 - 3:10 am

  My first SUV. I agonized over it because of the mpg. I needed a bigger vehicle, but something smaller than the CRV/RAV4 - also with a nicer interior. I tried to love the CRV because my Civic was such a good car, but couldnt. VW is built much better. The steering freaked me out a bit at first but Im getting used to it. I dont understand why at times it feels disconnected from the car. It does drive like a car and I like the boost from the turbo engine. Headlights from larger vehicles no longer shine in my rear view mirror or to be deluged by water when larger vehicles would pass me on wet highways. Hopefully my love will continue to grow and Ill feel better about getting such low mpg.

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  First and Last VW - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By GrnPassat - September 12 - 10:00 am

  I was reading some of these other reviews and had to add mine. I bought my Passat new, granted it has 85K on it, but I have had more problems with this car in the past year or two. New stereo (twice), Door handle broke (twice), plus other little pieces have "fallen" off. Volkswagon does not stand behind their products at all and the maintenance is a small fortune if you go to the dealer. I have finally decided to go back to a car that is reliable for the long term. Honda, I am coming back!!!

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  Overall, a great car to own - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By erik12 - September 11 - 11:13 pm

  I bought my car with 11,000 miles on it, sight unseen from a dealership out of state. I wanted the 4Motion (I live in Colorado) with the sport package, which is a rare find. Aside from several hassles/repairs during the first few months of ownership, its been a great vehicle overall. The sport package is a bit too firm, in my opinion, but will corner on rails. Problems have focused primarily on electrical issues, all minor. Maintenance is expensive on the big V6, though. Its power is considerable, the bells and whistles are awesome, and its just very solidly built. The wagon has room to spare, and more. I came from an Audi A4 wagon, but needed something bigger. This is basically a bigger A

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  Annoyed - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Kristin - September 11 - 1:10 pm

  I bought my Eos this June and its been in for service three times, twice for leaks. They still have it and have had it for 22 days straight claiming the part is being made in Germany. It’s the summertime and I cant even enjoy my top down. This is the first VW I have ever bought and will most likely be the last. The service department has no idea when my part will come in, I find this ridiculous! I also have a problem with the back drive side window, sometimes when youre closing it, it goes back down. This car has caused me so much problems.

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  Great bargain german vehicle - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michael - September 9 - 1:20 am

  I am pleasantly shocked at how much I like this car. I am coming out of a high power sport sedan and thought I would miss the power and handling. However, the Jetta handles as well as any of the three BMWs I have owned - almost as good as my M5. Torque steer is nonexistent. Pickup in sport mode is very good for an in-line 5 cylinder. I actually preferred the performance of the SE to the Wolfsberg edition (Turbo 4 and DSG tranny). I am very pleased at the performance results for such an affordable car. Interior build is pretty good. The touch screen audio controls make the interior pop. I wish it had more creature comforts, but for the money, I cannot complain.

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  A fun to drive minivan? Yes! - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By martsro - September 8 - 6:00 am

  Weve had our Routan for a little over a year and 21K miles later it is still fun to drive. So far we have not had any repairs other than the free scheduled maint. Have had several issues with the automatic doors not wanting to close. Very frustrating!! Factory Bridgestone tires are horrible. Will probably need to be replaced within the next 5K miles. 4.0 V6 has plenty of power. No trouble merging into highway traffic. Fuel economy isnt the greatest in town (16mpg). Average around 19 mpg in combined driving. Averaged 23 mpg on a trip from tx to in. Kids love it. Plenty of storage thanks to the in- floor storage. Tons of cup holders. Third-row seat is a little cramped, ok for kids.

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  Great Car - Only minor complaints - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Pat K. - September 7 - 10:00 am

  8 months and almost 10,000 miles. Great acceleration and handling. Cargo capacity is phenomenal. Lame cupholders. The leather is stiff and feels "vinylly." Monsoon sound is great, but I have speaker wire rattles in at least two speakers. I also have a rattle in the dash, giving concern for long-term durability. Rear knee room is also underwhelming, but adequate for adults on short trips. The Jetta Wagon GLS, 1.8T 5A delivers what it promises - exciting driving and the ability to carry a suprisingly large amount of cargo. Pat K.