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 little car! - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By NVServ - November 15 - 4:36 am

  I havent regretted for an instant buying this little guy. Other than some warranty work for an airbag issue, which was dealt with painlessly on my part (including a loaner car for the month we were without his services), he has handled beautifully and been trouble free!

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  Wolfsburg- A very, very fun Jetta - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VW freak - November 14 - 8:36 pm

  The Jetta Wolf comes with a 2.0T and has an amazing DSG strapped to its back. The two amount to a very zippy car that will destroy 80% of the cars on the road. The body is rather bulky, and hardly resembles the Jettas of yesteryear. I gave it a lower rating for reliability because the car spent a total of 14 days in the shop within the first 10,000 miles, but no issues to speak of there after. The interior is beautiful and high quality, but begins to make some squeaks when the temp drops. The standard tires get noisy after 15k. Some of the stitching on the arm rest and steering wheel is coming undone, may have something to do with 6 hours a day in the car. Overall a great car! get one

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  Missed Opportunity - Poor Quality - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By dfwtdi - November 14 - 2:37 pm

  Let start by saying VW designed this car for people like me at they got my attention. I went out and bought one. In favorite features I will list what I love but: In my 2012 Passat TDI I get a pretty loud fuel sloshing noise from the back. The dealership confirmed the sound exists in other 2012 Passat TDIs as well. This sound is at its loudest when the diesel tank is about 1/2 to 3/4 full; it makes loud thuds (diesel sloshing sounds). The VW service manager is very helpful but he says that is a design flaw and VW does not have a solution for it right now. He says may be if enough people complain they will come up with a solution. Besides this I have at least three different rattles fixed.

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  Dont buy one...youll be sorry - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By Constandina - November 14 - 10:00 am

  My volkswagen has been in the shop 5 times in six months for repairs. The door handles peel, the steering wheel column makes a scratching noise, the airbag had to be fixed. Also, customer service for VW is very bad. No loaner cars, inability to fix a problem on the first try...or to order the appropriate part.

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  So Far So Good.... - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Howie99 - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Car handles well, and the 1.8T is quick. Interior is well laid out. Monsoon radio is overrated. Overall a solid performer

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  Ill never have to pull into a gas station again - 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf
  By Craig Heiman - November 14 - 2:21 am

  I went from a plugin Prius to the VW E Golf. I could be happier. Its quick its fun and I can fit my sufboard in the car which is 7 10". Most importantly I dont have to ever stop at a gas station again.

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  Fatiguing to drive long distances - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gemigniani1 - November 13 - 3:10 pm

  Seats are and well shaped and comfortable for about 15 minutes, then you realize they are too hard and fatigue and soreness begins to set in. Road noise is prominent so between the noise and hard seats, the car is not one you look forward to driving long distances. The 2013 Corolla is considerably better for longer trips. I have not driven the resigned 2014 Corolla to see if it is still comfortable on long trips. Another undesirable feature of the Jetta is that the effort required to activate the power windows is very high. Ive never experienced that in an American or Asian car.

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  Great choice for a small SUV - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By RhodyVWOwner - November 13 - 11:20 am

  I just picked up my new 2009 VW Tiguan SE 4Motion! What a great little CUV. Yes, I compared it with all the other little utes. Really it came down to this or the Mitsu Outlander for me in terms of features for the money. That was a great car also, but just cant compare to the build quality or upscale feel of the Tiguan. If I was 20 again, I would go with the Outlander. Now in my 30s, the Tiguans the ride for me. It was hard to find one with the new Nav system (which is super cool) and the giant sunroof (also super cool), but I am glad I did. Has just the right balance of power and fuel economy, but it is a blast to drive. Drives a lot more like a car than a RAV4. Test drive one!

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  Reliable at first but .......... - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DC101 - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Good car at first but always consumed lots of oil, keep an eye on dipstick ! Windows have always been an on/off problem but car has been reliable until 120,000 miles at which point electrical problems (misfiring) started to plague the car. Had it in several times for same problem. Still not resolved, dealership(s) can not find cause of problem so car now deemed unreliable (broke down 3 times in 1 month on major highways). VW Customer care is totally worthless. Will not reimburse me for out of pocket towing and car rental costs for VW parts gone bad.

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  German engine-rng, Grt Dsgn, Headturner - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By xandre - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I traded Audi A4 for a Passat. Other than losing the name-plate and sportier handling (esp. stability at high speeds and on curvy roads) that Audi A4 offers, Im very satisfied with my Vee-Dub. It’s reliable, and built like the upscale luxury sedans. Materials quality is great. I got rear- ended once but the bumper bounced back out leaving no scratch. But the panel and other stuff inside the trunk were slightly damaged. I replaced everything anyway (including the bumper) since insurance paid. When I decide to change, I’ll most probably go for another Passat with more HP. I haven’t tried 4Motion yet, may be I should.