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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  08 GTI - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Mark - October 23 - 12:50 pm

  I purchased my 2008 GTI rather than a Mustang. I wanted a sporty, fast car. My decision was made primarily due to increasing gas prices. This wasnt solved since the car runs best using premium fuel anyway. While the car was extremely fun to drive, the ride is stiff but should be expected. Maintenance costs are high as are costs for replacement items such as tires. At 10k miles it needed a 4 wheel alignment. I always drove the car easy, no curb hopping. Sold car at 22k miles due to notification from VW USA of possible problems with the DSG transmissions. Buy the car if you have money to burn on upkeep and maintenance. I went back to Toyotas, no more headaches.

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  Good car with a few problems - 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By JIm Goekler - October 22 - 6:00 am

  My wife and I purchased our 2009 VW beetle with anticipation of giving this car to our granddaughter when she turnes 16 in 2012. However a few problems changed our mind of giving this car to a begining driver. Changing Headlamp is very involved and not recommened for car owner. The procedure for this process is 8 pages long. Ground clearance is so close to the ground that 3 inches of snow ripped front skid plate from the car. The skid plate is made from very thin plastic and is not much use. I also struck a small wooden object approx. 3 inches tall while moving less than 2 mph. while parking the car along side of the road. this knocked a hole in my transmition.

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  Safety only - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By jenm - October 22 - 4:13 am

  I previously had a 2001 Jetta and was in a bad accident and walked away with a scratch on my arm. This made me a big advocate of the VWs. Then I bought my 02 Passat. It has been in the shop several times for the coils, the radio (which still gets limited am reception), brake light, etc. At 25,000 I had to replace the manual transmission. The dealer quoted $2000!!! I shopped it and got a new one for $1100. According to the dealer this was the only clutch that went out that early other than a guy who raced his car. I am a 32 year old cpa - I do not race! Regardless, I had a major out of pocket repair on a 2 yr old vehicle - never again!

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  "Terrible Car" - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By "please run away" - October 21 - 12:23 am

  i bought this car used with 125000 miles on it.The troubles started 2 days after i bought it. First the right cv axle and rigt after i replaced it, the left one went out. There is also a bad oil leak that i cant figure out where it is coming from. I also hear a whining noise when i turn my steering wheel to the left.. This car has just been a nightmare after just three weeks of owning it.

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  Value - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lawman1967 - October 20 - 6:29 pm

  This is a much nicer car than the Edmunds review gives it credit for. Sure, the 2010 had a (much) richer interior, but the 2010 was both smaller and (much) more expensive. I own and drive a 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 Sport, and bought the Jetta S for my daughter. The "wheezy" 2.0 liter does just fine, even with the automatic, and so far is getting 29 MPG in mixed driving. It is not fast by any means, but it is smooth, quiet and refined, with no trouble whatsoever cruising at 80 MPH or above. The car handles well, looks and feels more expensive than it is, and most importantly, is smoother, quieter and more comfortable than just about anything else at its price point.

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  2005 Volkswagen Passat GLS - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By skip - October 19 - 11:43 pm

  My 2005 Volkswagen Passat has a great ride. We have the 4Motion GLS model and we are pleased with the whole car, but wish the gas milage was better than 27 to 28 miles to gallon highway, but for an all wheel drive its fair on gas.

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  Love the Car but... - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By 2much2do - October 19 - 12:10 am

  My 2003 Volkswagen Passat GLX has good pickup, but the transmission shifts into 5th gear way too soon. Also, I have had problems with the front and rear ashtrays not working. Overall I still love the car. Its ride is smooth, it has good acceleration, clean lines, and is a very sharp car! The interior is awesome! I love the heated leather seats. It is very roomy, even for five adults. It also has great trunk space. It is easy to speed in, as the car just seems to float the faster you go. I have put about 15,000 miles on it with few problems.

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  Love this car - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By DSL - October 17 - 10:00 am

  I have been really happy with my 1997 Volkswagon Passat Wagon. The only feature that I dont like is the electronic locking system which freezes every winter. Otherwise, its a fun and good handling car.

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  Very pleased - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mesamie - October 17 - 10:00 am

  I love my Jetta. I bought it used with 18,000 miles on it. Yes, I had the problem with the O2 sensor, but it was replaced free of charge. I replaced tires and brakes. Big deal. Performance has been great. I do a lot of traveling and havent had any problems to date. (Let me knock on wood). I hope to replace it next year with a Passat. German cars have always been my favorites. Has 72,000 miles and runs like a top.

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  I look fly in my GTI 1.8T - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By lea - October 16 - 3:03 am

  I love my GTI its 5-manual love the way the turbo hits approx. 50 mpg to 80 and stops on a dime has the comfort as a 2006 lexus, I personally have two vehicles my other is ESCAPE 5- manual my GTI cannot compare to my other, I drive my GTI more than my escape. Its the way the onlookers around look at me flying in my ride.