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:

• 

  Two cars one month and now water? - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By syopspwnz - June 7 - 2:00 pm

  I got my car in May and after 300 miles the engine had to be replaced due to a hole in the upper oil pan (isnt that the crank case?). Fast forward a month of hell and I ended up getting another new car. Shortly after getting my second car it I had water issues and a funky smell slowly developed. It wasnt till I took it in that I ascertained it was due to water leak in a body seam. It spent two weeks in the shop at the dealer before being fixed. Mean while in both warranty situations Ive driven a crapy toyta camry. Can you say numb? If this is average reliability I want out NOW. Id gladly have paid the premium and eaten the gas mileage difference for a subaru wrx at this point

• 

  oil sludge buildup - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By satisfied tm - June 6 - 1:00 pm

  I have only a few problems with this car. Currently have 24k miles. Ive heard from other Passat owners after 44k mi. "the sludge" can occur. VW sent out a letter about this problem. Use synthetic oil. The turbo produces excessive heat. Brake light switch replacement and MIL light which required a sensor replacement, are the only problems Ive encountered.

• 

  TDI Performance - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BT - June 6 - 1:13 am

  This car gets excellent fuel millage. It gets anywhere between 33 and 35 mpg around town and 45 to 53 mpg on the highway. The best millage comes when driving 55 - 60 mph. This car is fun to drive. It has plenty of power.

• 

  third times a charm?? - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By 5peedornospeed - June 5 - 10:06 pm

  my mom has had Jettas as her past two cars (a 1997 with 170,000 and a 2002 currantly with 100000 on it) both cars have never given any problems out of the normal range of expected maintanence so i decided on the 2008 jetta s as my next car. so far im very impressed, i got it with 54000 miles on it and it now has 62000. i have only owned the car a month. the first week i had it i took it from RI, to NC to CO(phish) and back to RI. the car isnt old enough for me to judge reliability but so far everything seems solid and the car seems very well built. i will update this review once i have put some real milage on the car.

• 

  TDI - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GWJ - June 5 - 1:10 pm

  Great car that averages close to 50 mpg. Could be easier to work on simply things like headlights.

• 

  Curts 2006 TDI / DSG - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CAATS_Man - June 5 - 4:13 am

  This was my first VW purchase. I test drove new 2003, 2004 & 2005 Jettas but the interior was just too small for my requirements. Besides more room I also wanted the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) to go with the PD Diesel engine. When the 2006 New Jetta became available in the spring I was prepared to order, almost. I found that the options I wanted - interior colour and rear seat airbags - werent available until June but then I waited a bit longer due to "build quality" issues. I ordered in late August and took delivery on 28 October but I feel the wait was worth it.

• 

  CV Boots and Axles - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Miami, Florida - June 4 - 10:26 am

  Three years old with 22,000 total miles. Vehicle driven less than 3 miles to work and back 5x a week. Personal use only. Overall, happy with styling and performance, features. Highway mpg is 30 plus with air on. Original Continental tires had to be replaced at 19,000 miles. CV boots outer and inner and both front axles replaced at 21,900 miles by dealer with free parts but we paid labor of $195.00. After 4 new tires, balance and wheel alignment at 19,000 miles, vehicle continues to pull right. Dealer says its normal. Rear brakes needed and done when boots/axles replaced. Rotors cant be turned because VW does not manufacture with enough tolerance to permit it.

• 

  Cute Car - Fun to Drive - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AB54 - June 3 - 6:33 am

  I just signed the lease on my car last week. So far, it has been great. Its cute and fun to drive. It is my first new car, so I am enjoying the new car smell :) I traded in my Acura 3.2 CL Type S, so I do feel like I am missing a little bit of power. The Jetta seems a bit sluggish. Still, I am really excited about the car. Super sweet!

• 

  Not Impressed - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Pashizzle - June 2 - 11:56 pm

  Really wanted to love this car. Ive been doing Honda and Nissan forever and wanted to experience some German engineering. Be careful what you wish for - its been in the dealer longer than Ive had it, literally, for drivetrain vibration issues, throttle lag and mysterious tranny behavior. I hope VW can make this car what I expected it to be, a German engineered high value performance sedan. I may have to go back to Honda...

• 

  Tires/Suspension - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By vman - June 2 - 4:40 pm

  Fun to drive and excellent winter driving vehicle. Problem: Tire cupping and road noise after 5-6000 miles. Have had tires replaced on two occasions, two alignments and at 32,000 miles VW now says they wont fully warranty the tire issue. Issues not fully resolved yet!!