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:

• 

  2013 TDI First Drive - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By emarsh7 - January 14 - 3:00 pm

  I just picked up a new 2013 TDI Passat with the automatic. Heres my impression after the first few hundred miles. I discovered motor sports in the late 1960s. Back in the day I was a drag racing fan and lover of Detroit muscle. Budget constraints got me into riding and racing motorcycles and that changed my priorities for a car. I get my performance rush from bikes and airplanes. Cars have a different mission, one that requires reasonable power, solid handing and enough comfort to drive for hours. My Dodge dualie turned me on to diesels. when a friend gave me a ride in his TDI Jetta, I appreciated its quiet torque and efficiency. That led me to buy a Passat SEL with the automatic.

• 

  Pretty happy with this car - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Gediminas - January 13 - 12:46 pm

  I bought this car in 2000 with only 34k mi. I am very hard on cars, and this car has stood up to my "abuses". This car wasnt perfect, though; the crank sensor and cruise control went out on me. Gas mileage is pretty good, but could be better. Unfortunately, I was involved in an accident in 2002 and the car was never the same. The rack boot and front axle needed replacement on 2 occasions, and the heat shield rusted off. Tires were wearing unevenly, and after the latest repair bill (which involves all the above), I have to say goodbye to this venerable car. Outside of those issues caused by the wreck, the only thing I had to do was change the oil and this car was ready to go. Ill miss it.

• 

  Fun and efficient - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By Viking Golfer - January 13 - 10:00 am

  When I needed a second car, I tried a number of used cars, but I fell in love with the Golf. When I returned it back to the dealership, I had a huge grin on my face. :) I love how they at Volkswagen let me test drive it alone. It had all the features I wanted, at an affordable price, and it is fun to drive. The choice was simple. $13K, brand new.

• 

  Good stuff - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Robert94114 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I have not had any problems with this car. The only pet peves I have is the cup holders and the reverse takes so long to shift the gear on the automatic.

• 

  LUNARS PASSAT REVIEW - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By LUNAR509 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I FEEL YOU GET MORE THAN EXPECTED FROM THIS MID-SIZE GERMAN SEDAN. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE DRIVE MUCH BETTER THAN THE BMW 3 SERIES, THE VOLVO S60, AND JUST AS GOOD AS THE AUDI A6. WHICH, FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT KNOW ITS BUILD ON THE SAME PLATFORM AS THE PASSAT. IN MY OPINION, WHY BUY THE AUDI A6 FOR ABOUT $6500.00 MORE WHEN YOU CAN GET THE SAME CAR WITH THE SAME FEATURES FOR LESS.

• 

  great car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Paulyzz - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car brand new fully loaded. Have only had one problem with coils, but was replaced under warranty. My wife drives it and loves it. I plan to upgrade with a chip once off warranty, but it has pretty good power stock. Love the quality of the car, even though it costs a bit more than comparable sedans. Would recommend the car to anyone. One dislike is having to replace the stock tires after 20,000 miles, and the 17 inchers are pricey. Otherwise, love the car, and I plan on looking at a GTI with the 1.8T for myself.

• 

  How i love beetles - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By klassic - January 13 - 10:00 am

  i lovethe cute , groovy, sence of it

• 

  Great Car But..... - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By jtmma - January 13 - 8:11 am

  Purchased this car in 2010 with 67,000KM from VW as a pre-owned certified vehicle with a 40,000KM or 2 year bumper to bumper warranty. It has been exceptional for me during this time. I am now at 200,000KM and have serviced it regularly as required. I still enjoy the drive as I commute up to 2-3 hours daily doing sales. However, just had a major recent issue. My transmission quit completely out of nowhere. It is a self sealed unit and very difficult to service, nor does it say it requires any routine maintenance. This is a $4500 issue to get a factory repaired/replaced transmission from VW. Luckily I had a friend who rebuilt and swapped it for considerably less.

• 

  Great Ecomomy Car - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By millervez - January 11 - 4:16 am

  This is the first new car I have owned, and for the most part I have been very happy with it. My only complaints are associated with the build quality, and the electronic features. I had 3 warranty repairs (glow plug wireing, airbag wire harness, rear windsheild wiper wireing). Do you see a trend? The Monsoon stereo stopped working, and I had a glow plug go bad. Total spend to date on repairs, just over $200. I still love this car, despite its little problems. You really cant beat it with anything in its class.

• 

  rear brakes go fast - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dewayne - January 8 - 8:26 pm

  great sound system