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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  Rocket ship - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Fifthgarrett - March 11 - 6:53 pm

  Second Day with my 05 Passat GLS Auto 1.8 T. Love it. The car handles like a sports car, feels solid and is quiet on the highway. Interior fit and finish is high qualily. 17 inch wheels grip the road. Tip Tronic, fun to accelerate onto highway. High Marks all around.

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  I love it! - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BALesq - March 11 - 3:16 pm

  I have owned the 2005.5 New Jetta since July of 2005, Option Package 1, and I love it. Its a lot of fun to drive, and the interior is so "fit and finished." If youre looking for a lot of options for a reasonable price, this car is worth looking into. I havent had any maintenance issues. The one thing I notice (my wife has a 2006 New Jetta), is that the transmission on my car is a little "jerky" shifting between gears 1 and 2, and sometimes between 2 and 3, compared to the 2006 Jetta. But, my older model has more bells and whistles for the price. The bottom line is that I love driving this car.

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  Perfect except for Tire Pressure Monitor - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Donn Weinberg - March 10 - 9:10 pm

  I love my Phaeton. It is great- looking, handles and drives beautifully, provides the ultimate in creature comforts, has the upgraded sound system, etc. My only problems have been two. The minor one: the fancy windshield wiper system had to be changed for a standard system, which works fine. The annoying one: after 4-5 times in the shop and two complete replacements of the tire pressure monitoring module, the system insists on flashing either a flat "tire" and/or a fault in the wheel -- this even when my hand-held digital pressure monitor shows equal pressures on the front tires and on the back tires. Still not right. MPG really is 22 if all highway, 16 in mixed driving.

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  A passion-filled ride!!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By surfsupp - March 10 - 10:00 am

  When we went shopping for a car, we were looking for a car with personality. We looked at the Accord, Camry, the A4, and the Passat. The Accord and the Camry were quickly dismissed for being so passion-less. Tough call between the Passat and A4, but we took the Passat and pocketed some extra cash. We continue to love the looks and ride of this vehicle after a month of use. Great car!!!

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  1 awesome ride - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By R Owen - March 10 - 10:00 am

  My wifes and I first VW, and definitly will NOT be our last. We absolutley love this car. 03 Passat, loaded with everything, 10 months and 15,000 miles later. No car in this price range can compare the handling, comfort, and fun. We still have our Honda Accord, and it doesnt come close to compare with the Passat. We Live in Pa., this car will plow through the snow. Cant say enough great things about this car. Its kinda funny, the couple bad reviews that are listed are extremely similiar with the wording, as if one person is trying to demean the car. Service has been great. Envious people constantly asking us questions about our car.

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  2 for 1 and a warranty too - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Edina Realty - March 10 - 10:00 am

  Traded in 1997 Jetta Gls 2.0 with chip and k&n air filter. Better performance and smoother ride. Havent figured out where to put TV/DVD/and GPS system from old car.Traded two cars for one with 1.9% financing. By the way diesel gas smells if you get some on your hands.

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  56,500 Care Free Miles - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By Brian Reed - March 10 - 12:10 am

  I am the original owner of this 2012 Passat SE 2.5 6A and it is still the best car I have ever owned. Everything it does is effortless. I am a big guy with long legs and sit far away from the steering wheel and yet my friends, also tall, can fit comfortably behind me in the backseat. Long trips or commuting, both are easily handled with this car. Now, to be fair, I have had one repair after the warranty expired. It was a software update for $50. Thats it. That is the total amount I have spent on repairs. This car is rock-solid reliable. The 2.5L 5 cylinder is an underrated engine in my opinion. It makes good torque down low and thru the midrange making for good acceleration off the line as well as passing power, when needed. Also, the car climbs grades, long, tall grades like they were flat. That is when I use the manual mode of the transmission, shifting it from 6th gear into 5th and letting the cruise control pull the car over the grade. It started its life in Utah and traversed those passes with ease in snowy or dry conditions without drama. MPG - That always seems to be the knock on this engine but I havent seen that. The worst MPG I have ever seen from this car is 24. Most of the time, I get 30 combined with 34 - 36 mpg on road trips. The car only needs 87 octane and just hums along. At 75 mph, the tach barely turns at 2,200 rpm. Seriously, this car is the total package - comfortable, power, efficient.

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  Much love here!!! - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By **Heather** - March 9 - 7:40 am

  I cant tell you how much I am impressed with this car. It definitely feels like it has more power than it actually has, and the handling is amazing. Lots of mods are available. The inside has alot more room than expected (and this coming from a mom of 2). The seats actually fold up like a jeeps would, so its quite easy to get in and out of the back. The monsoon radio is great. Im very pleased with my purchase, and encourage to test drive this car. I think youll be pleasantly surprised.

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  5,000 miles, so far so good - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By cadrm123 - March 8 - 9:39 am

  I bought this car this summer and so far have quite enjoyed it. It accelerates and drives well for a more family friendly car than my Audi convertible. The seat is comfortable, and I am getting between 30-31 mpg on the car. I have found that cabin space ample for my trips around town.

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  New Used VW Owner - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By lapink - March 7 - 4:30 am

  I made the switch from a BMW 328ci to a big (for me) SUV. I bought this car used and I havent owned it long, but Im already in love. I guess Ill have to write again when Ive put on more miles. It handles superb on the highway and in the snow. This car is smooth making it hard to keep it anywhere near speed limit. I looked at many other "high class" SUVs, but I had to go with the poor mans Cayenne. I felt spoiled by all the unbelievable extras in the V8 Touareg. Theres no way I could get this car new. It amazes me that a VW could go for so much, but used its a great deal. Plus, unlike other vehicles, its nice to have a car that few people have and get many compliments.