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 Car - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By OrangeBlood - June 4 - 8:30 pm

  This car is not only a speedy sport compact but a very comfortable car for around town driving as well as commuting. Dont get me wrong, I bought this car because it is flat out fun to drive but it also has tremendous gas mileage too. If you stay off the turbo, you can easily get 30 mpg on the freeway and 26 on the streets. I have driven a few tiptronic transmission cars but nothing that compares. Simply put the car in sport mode, grip the wheel and hold on, no turbo lag. I am a pretty tall guy, over 6 tall, but I can ride comfortably in any seat in the car. The color of the fahrenheit really polarizes folks. It is a love or hate thing but most people will tell you that this car is sharp.

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  My favorite car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By LC - June 4 - 5:33 pm

  The diesel is fantastic. Average mileage 41 in 3600 miles of driving. Everything about the car is fantastic. My last car was a late model BMW. I will never go back. VW design is fantastic and build quality and reliability are very good. Tons of features for the money. My favorite car.

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  Great Car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By JAU - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I have close to 80K on this car and have had no big problems. It drives great and is so much fun. I am definately going to look into another VW as my next car or SUV!

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  So sad about my bug - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By nomorebug! - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I should have done a little more research about this car before I bought one... I fell in love with this car the moment I saw/drove it. It was beautiful, roomy, and a very comfortable drive. I loved the seat warmers too! But Ive had nothing but problems since I bought it. The window control broke off, the gas door doesnt open all the time, the hatch doesnt open al the time, the turbo was having problems, etc. Im so glad I bought the extended warranty. The gas mileage is also very bad, 14-18 mph and it needs premium gas. I might as well own an SUV. I finally got rid of it last week.

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  dont buy this car - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By no farfegnugen here - June 4 - 10:00 am

  in the shop 4 times w/in 1st 6 mo for transmission problem, rough shifting - its an automatic. svc dept unwilling or unable to resolve problems. poor customer svc. had my car 5 days & i had to call THEM each day to find out if it was ready. on road trip, couldnt get car out of park & EPC light on, had to call 4 dealers before one would fit us in. latch on center arm rest storage broke, gas cap cord broke. cup holders in bad location in front of air vents & over control panel. condensate drips all over radio & a/c controls.

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  I love my new beetle! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By nicknmanda - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy driving my New Bettle it is so much fun!

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  Over Powered Go Cart - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By johnrushing - June 2 - 8:19 am

  Ive owned my Turbo S for almost 6 years and have loved every minute of it. I love the power the little 1.8t makes and how smooth the power comes on. I left mine stock up until last year and then started modifying it. I love the look on Mustang drivers when a little beetle pulls ahead of them. The handling is great, like its on rails, and the fuel economy is good. Before modifying the engine I got my best mpg of 32 mpg by driving no faster than 65mph and not doing any jack rabbit starts. With the mods I am still getting 29mpg. I plan on keeping the beetle and seeing exactly what type of performance the 1.8t has in it, have seen a few putting out over 350hp and still very drivable.

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  Happy So Far - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By New GTI Owner - June 2 - 2:00 am

  A blast to drive. Im getting pretty bad gas mileage (20-21 mpg) since the car feels comfortable in the 4000+ RPM range. The 200 hp VR6 is definitely smoother, quieter, and not as jerky as the 1.8T. However, I probably would have gotten the 1.8T if I could have gotten the 6-speed and climate control. I was disappointed to see that the final assembly was in Brazil as eveything I had read before that (including Edmunds) indicated that the final assembly would be in Germany. That being said, the build quality feels very good. I do think the car is a great value and would do it again.

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  Just cant get enough. :) - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DJReRun - June 2 - 2:00 am

  This is a more of a testimony than a review, but I would like to share anyway. The previous car I owned was the first new car I had ever purchased. When shopping, my goal was to find a fuel efficient vehicle that I could afford. So 115 horses and no frills was perfect for what I needed. In six years, your over all needs and wants from a car can all change. Now I was looking for a ride that had some zip, looked classy, was comfortable, affordable, safe, and just fun to drive. The Jetta GLS 1.8T met all these. I have only owned it for six months, but these last six months have been the most enjoyable hours on the road in my life.

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  I LOVE MY JETTA BUT IT HAD MAJOR ISSUES. - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Musafir - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Had to replace drivers side windor clips because the window fell in. EPC light came on because of a faulty brake switch. Karen Radley VW in Woodbrige, VA didnt charge me for the clips because it was covered by the warrenty. I dont know which warrenty. It expired at 24K. Sometimes around 3000 RPM in 5th gear doing about 80MPH the car stalls for a second. It recently started happening. I have never driven my car like a sports car. Have babied it. This shouldnt be happening. But I guess we all have the same Jettas with the same faulty/cheap parts in them. Good luck if you buy one.