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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  You gotta go with Turbo yo! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By G.I. Joe - June 17 - 7:44 am

  Must get turbo! Upgraded mine an a few other things. Although the good parts arent cheap, ya get what chall pay for. Make sure you have knowledge of the car or someone else does. So as long as its taken care of youll have one of the baddest rides on the road guaranteed!

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  Run! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By DBH - June 15 - 12:16 pm

  This has been the most unreliable car Ive ever owned. To put in context, Ive also owned a 71 Beetle and an 82 Fiat. I have babied this car, looks new, only 22k miles in just under 4 years. Been in to dealer approx 10x. Parking break 2x, steering column replaced, power windows, struts, leaks, recalls, air cond. smells bad, dealer wont fix. It squeaks & rattles like and old pickup. Had to replace tires at 19k miles and as I said, "I baby this". You look at the paint and it scratches. Now for the positives, if you only care about looks and German style, go for it. 3 mths left on lease, Toyota here I come!!

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  Get it fixed right - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Robert in Alhambra - June 14 - 11:10 am

  First, I can not understand why there are so many parts within the wheel bearing. That aside, my car has been a very reliable car. After 120k miles, I have replaced all of the ignition coils, spark plugs, struts, and a few other items. The importance of a reliable mechanic can not be made enough. The dealerships work - all of it ever made - had to be redone. No kidding. After I started going to an honest mechanic, someone who told me about certain gas stations, rather than replacing something that didnt need fixing, life was better.

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  Spewing black smoke from exhaust - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Clark (Hamilton) - June 14 - 7:06 am

  I just found this site and noticed someone else has the same issue! I assumed my car was a diesel and would emit black smoke so never panicked. It seemed to get worse so I asked the "simple" question at my dealer. They told me bring it in. Should be a simple hose replacement $150ish. 4 hours later. I come back to find my engine completely apart. The mechanic brings me back and shows me scoring on my fuel injectors and tells me my engine is shot! $7,000 estimate from the dealer to rebuild only the top portion of my engine and I only have 130,000 km on it! I intend to take this to the top.

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  Love this VW! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Coco - June 13 - 3:56 am

  I really love this VW and I was used to driving sports cars. It handles well and it took me little time to get used to the size. I have had some problems with the tire pressure monitoring system - it goes off now and then, but have learned to reset it. Also, I had a problem with the battery dying and being stuck in my garage and tow truck drivers not knowing how to start the car and having to drag it out of my garage. VW paid for the tows and the new battery. I now know how to "hot wire" it, so it shouldnt be a problem in the future. Even my dog likes the car!

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  50 MPG Baby - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By Ryan - June 11 - 1:26 pm

  This was the last year for safe Biodiesel use. Great car, keep it under 60, and get 60 MPG!

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  This car is a monster - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sbass - June 11 - 10:00 am

  While I love to drive this car, it is a repair nightmare. The car has only 33,000 miles on it and I have already purchased a new clutch and timing belt. Not to mention the myriad spooky electrical problems and the fact that the "emissions workshop" light is almost always on no matter what I do. Run, dont walk, away from volkswagen. The car is truly unreliable, and the service is awful. (My car was completely dead and they wouldnt even look at it for 3 weeks!)

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  Fun Car w/Flaws - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Moniquer - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Just finished first months lease on my new 2003 Passat and I must say I have mixed feelings regarding the car. Its a great driving car whos engine might be a might small for the transmission its mated to. The car has a rich European style interior with infinitely adjustable front seats providing superior comfort.

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  Nickel and Dime problems - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sreece - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Car is fun to drive, and looks very nice. At about 12K miles, I had the windows fixed (three times), things began to fall apart inside soon after. The seat height adjustment handle broke, the power mirrors quit working, and the gas tank opener switch fell inside the door. Fun car, but lots of small problems....I traded it yesterday for a 2003 Civic.

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  11 years and still a great car - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Pinky - June 10 - 6:10 pm

  I bought this car when it first came out and now, at 105,000 miles, it still runs great. A few repairs here- and-there, but great overall quality and driving experience. The mileage remains consistent, the look is still classic and I wouldnt hesitate to buy another.