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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  Mines been wonderful! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By agarcumaa - June 12 - 6:33 am

  Im guessing that happy customers like myself have been too busy driving and enjoying instead of writing reviews. However, Im getting ready to sell my Jetta and felt a need to chime in. Most people I know who own these, love them. Mine has been wonderful, with no more problems than what I would expect from any car. The interior is very nice and the quality is overall, outstanding. The worst problem Ive had with my Jetta has been other people hitting it with their car doors while parked. The power of the 180 hp turbo is a lot of fun. The 5-speed manual transmission could be better, but its still a lot of fun (it feels "rubbery"). I am now a big VW/Audi fan and will truly miss this car!

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  A terrible buy - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dan G - June 11 - 9:53 pm

  I bought this car and within the first month I had to replace the mass airflow sensor, later I found out this was the fifth time it has been replaced. Body quality is poor, and engine lacks power. The car is now sitting broken after several thousand dollars of repairs. Do not buy this model Jetta. This was a BAD year.

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  ALWAYS TROUBLE BYPASS THIS CAR! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Renee - June 11 - 3:30 pm

  The day after I bought the car the passenger seat got stuck laying flat (my daughter was laying down for 5 minutes while I went into the bank). The electrical system continually goes bad and the car will not start. 2 years in I had to replace the air conditioner. The trunk broke two weeks after I bought the car. I back the car up out of the driveway and it continually stalls out. The oil light never comes on even if the oil is low. I have to replace the headlights and back lights every other month. The Dealership is horrific and I never go there because I am treated so poorly. I pray everyday for something to not go wrong with this car, because it seemingly does.

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  Just Validating Other Reviews! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Grant Sterling - June 11 - 11:16 am

  First the good: the ride is great, smooth, comfortable, and fun to drive. It gets great gas mileage on the highway (30+MPG). I love the leather, heated seats, triptronic transmission, 60/40 folding seats, theyre all very nice. The bad part is the quality! I have driven 35,000+ miles in three years. In that time have had to replace both CV boots, one drive axle, window regulator, side view mirror control, dashboard air vent, turn signal/hazard switch, and two sets of rotors and pads (expensive even when I did the work myself). In comparison Ive owned a 91 BMW 525i and still have a 98 4Runner with 145,000 miles, both great vehicles. Sure, they required maintenace, but nothing like the Passat. I definitely would not recommend this car!

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  VW Phaeton W12 - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By northsteel - June 11 - 10:00 am

  The best car I have ever owned. Previous cars BMW 750il, Lexus LS 430.

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  I like this car - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By joe p.e.g. - June 11 - 10:00 am

  This car has been great through the years. Its fast too. Lotta pep. Way the nicest car in its price range.

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  2001 Jetta GLS 1.8 Turbo - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steve50 - June 11 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I just bought the 2001 Jetta a couple days ago. Its really her car more than it is mine. So far we love the power of the turbo. The leather is pretty comfortable and the exterior looks really sharp. We love the sunroof and the heated seats.

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  Sorry I bought a Toureag - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Lauren8148 - June 11 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has caused numerous problems for me. The technology is constantly misinforming me of things. For instance, the tire pressure monitoring system tells me my front driver side tire is flat. A big exclamation point is constanly on my screen. The tire has been checked and is perfectly normal. My advice is....give Volkswagen a few more years to perfect the gliches in this vehicle before you buy one.

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  Makes you look real smart! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By VolvoOwner - June 11 - 10:00 am

  First drove one as a Volvo service loaner and liked the firm handling. Excellent engine response and good turbo kick. Found 1.8L had sufficient pick up. The cool styling sedan is definitely a head turner on the road and the metallic blue finish (better than the other 4 shades of grey/silver) is a real knock out. Simple, sleek looking alloy wheels. The front leather seats are comfortable and the steering wheel has a sporty but rich feels. Monsoon CD sounds great. A very smart German buy as opposed to wasting $ on a locally assembled 3 series, which is inferior in terms of ride, comfort and handling.

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  Passat Wagon what are you waiting for - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By glbose - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Weve had our Passat wagon for a year now. We drive about 25,000 miles in a year and we are very pleased with the performance, gas mileage and the fact that my wife feels very safe driving. Its exact tracking even at high speeds and crisp maneveurs and its solid feel (like driving a vault0 make the Passat an excellent choice for a family wagon. We have the 1.8T turbo 4 cylinder and never want for power to pass or to merge. The faster the engines revs the more power you feel. I am totally and completely satisfied.