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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  Great fun but suspect electronics - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By shueybubbles - July 8 - 4:26 pm

  We love how this car handles and performs. The engine is responsive and the ride is quiet. The nav system is easy to use. Fabulous in the snow. Down sides: The flat tire sensor has been replaced twice because of persistent failures. The battery cable was replaced. Note that this car has a battery that cant be jump started or used to jump others. A stepper motor for the power steering was replaced because it was causing seize ups on tight turns. Overall Id say this will be a great short term car, but the reliability for this first year model is low and Im glad were leasing it just for the length of the warranty.

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  My VW CC, 1 year 3 months, 20k, since - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By rsyed10 - July 7 - 6:15 pm

  Ive purchase my 2010 VW CC 2.0L Turbo Sport, 6M, brand new and heres what i have to say. I purchased this car simply because of its appeal and it has been a fun and reliable ride so far. I hadnt had any mechanical issues, just regular oil change, etc. Interior is quiet. Performance and fuel economy is sufficient just above 2k RPM. It has a lot of standard safety features that give me a peace of mind and its one of those cars you just cant ignore. Great job VW designing nice combination of stunning design and sufficient performance.

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  Watch out for sludge - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Don - July 7 - 5:03 am

  I love my 03 Passat for its handling and performance. With that said, I have recently encountered the sludge issue. It is a issue that they leave out during the sales pitch. You only encounter it when it is time to change your oil. That is when they inform you that you must use synthetic oil because of sludge build up. My car is less that 4 years old and I have had to rebuild my engine. I followed the instructions from VW to use the more expensive oil and it still occurred before 140K miles. VW offered to give me a new engine, only if I supplied 100% of the scheduled oil change receipts. They asked for 26 and I could only produce 20. Therefore no new engine.

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  One Year Later--grin still plastered on face. - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By mjjackson76 - July 7 - 12:54 am

  Ive had my GTI (4dr, manual, 18s) for just over a year, and Im still enamored with the car. Its solid, speedy, handles amazingly well. Yes, could use more power, but I dont need it. Handling is what makes the car so fun. Ride is a bit harsh on bad pavement, but who cares? Buy a couch on wheels if you so desire. Stereo is fantastic but touchscreen is difficult while driving, shifter precise, engine note perfectly tuned and gas mileage good on the highway--26-28mpg on spririted freeway stints at 90mph; 33 best; 13 in city worst. Two issues: brake pad came apart at 4000 miles; rattles from pas. b-pillar at 8800 miles. No big deal--all replaced under warranty quickly. Cant wait for R20.

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  Fun, Not Perfect - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By NotABimmer - July 6 - 10:00 am

  My 01 Wolfie has also experienced problems with squeeks and rattles pretty much from day one. Dealer tried, couldnt fixem. Oddly enough, they have slowly gone away now. With 15000 hard miles the car seems to be getting better. Engine runs strong,tranny nice and tight, suspension still tight, but not harsh. The remote trunk release failed at 10000, but the dealer fixed it under warranty. No other problems to report. Basically, a really fun car, but still has the "econo-box" feel. It is not an expensive car, and it should not be expected to make you feel like it is. It doesnt. Only thing in common with my BMW is white paint.

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  Still Enjoy BUT - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By aemgli - July 6 - 2:51 am

  This is the nicest car I have owned. It is quick while getting good gas mileage. I said good not great 27city and 29hwy. That is about the best I have been able to get but for the power the engine has it is good. The DSG 6 speed trans is great . You can drive it in Normal , Sport , or Manual. Be warned to get that trans serviced is about $300 . The handling of the car is great. It will take turns and stops like you would not believe . I dont know how it all works but this car feels like it stops better then most small cars out there . This is were I am running into problems. I have been to the dealer about 10 times for problems in the 4 months that I have had the car for eng probs. 26000mi

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  Ugh. - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By E. - July 5 - 10:43 pm

  I am so frustrated w/his vehicle. I purchased this car used in 2006. It has been nothing but problems since day 1. I dont spend less then $1k every time it goes in the shop. Everything that could break, bust, freeze, etc. has. Ive lost numerous hubcaps (strange I realize), one day while driving the interior light switch just fell off, another day the glove box handle popped off & landed in the floor board. The interior fabric is like velcro, it literally takes me an hour to vacuum. Of course everyone thinks its cute...I remember when I thought that too, now Id love to drive it into a concrete wall.

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  Fantastic Upgrade from Manual Economy car - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By nrg921 - July 4 - 6:14 pm

  I was in need of something with more cargo space & towing capacity, but could still be an everyday commuter. I liked the control of manual transmission vehicle, and it was VERY hard to give that up. I found the Tiguan to have far superior handling, power, and responsiveness (when I compared to other CUVs) that I was willing to give up my manual . I still feel in control. It has the extra cargo space & towing I was looking for, fun and easy to drive on a daily basis, and the luxury interior I didnt know I wanted until I have & love it! With a good pair of winter tires, front wheel drive is all you need. Drives great in WI winters & MO ice storms!

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  Good, but not great - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By M & K - July 3 - 9:10 am

  This is a great looking car and its a blast to drive. But at 27,000 miles, it blew a head gasket. Then at 40,000 miles the rack and pinion steering was shot. I have had lots of interior bits break. The AWD tears up tires. All said, I cant wait to dump this car, Ill never buy a VW again. The reliability is on par with Ford. But the parts cost more. Ha.

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  Look at other alternative before u buy! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By wniece - July 2 - 9:30 am

  When I first saw the car I fell in love with it. Since then I wish I could divorce it! Horrible rattles, squeaks and poor workmanship. The car has already been in the shop for over 15 days here and there. I know VWs are known for their excellent craftsmanship but this car has loose dash parts, the black paint bubbling and peeling off of the unlock/lock buttons. Maybe mines a lemon, but I would never recommend VW to anyone! I just hope my bonus is big enough to trade this piece of junk in! Too bad something that looks so good is so bad!