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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  Dont be Fooled by the Hype - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Jeff A. - January 26 - 10:00 am

  The heated seats dont work like they have in the past. Dealer insists there is a temperature sensor in the seats to determine how hot the seat should be. Even with the air-conditioning on in freezing temperatures, the 5 setting does not work at all. Not impressed with the fuel economy in the cold months. Averaging 21-22 mpg in the city. Power windows have a tendancy to roll back down after youve rolled them up. Sluggish start after sitting overnight. There is a wind vibration inside the car if the sunroof is open and traveling less than 20 mph. Very annoying.

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  Terrible Never Buy Again!!! - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Amy - January 17 - 11:56 am

  This is the worst vehicle I have ever owned. I would never buy a VW again. The electrical issues are overwhelming. With 3,218 miles I traded it on a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I lost a lot of money on the deal because of all the issues with the VW Touareg.

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  Please dont buy this car - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By J.P. - January 15 - 12:50 am

  I bought this car used and started having problems with it a week afer I bought it. Ive had to spend so much money on repairs that I probably could have bought a new, reliable car instead. The windows always malfunction and fall into the doors. The glove box breaks, wiring is faulty, repairs are very expensive, AC compressor broke, lights always go out. It doesnt help that when I tried to have repairs done the dealership kept trying to return it to me without fixing anything or left tools in the engine.

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  Stay Away from Jetta! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Eric B - January 12 - 2:00 am

  Lets see. The window regulator has broken on both windows. I burn through tail lights and headlights as fast as I can change them. The light in the trunk stopped working a year and no one can seem to figuire out why. The volume button on the radio is broken. The cup holder in the dash broke and has been fixed. Stock tires last 35,000 miles. Emergency brake sticks when it is below 32F. Battery used water as quickly as you can re-fill it. Oil cooler went out at 49,000 miles. Spark plugs went bad at 47,000. Finally at 50,000 they have discovered I have a blown head gasket. Buy at you own risk!!!! Nothing but headaches.

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  Hopefully Youll Think Twice About Getting One - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By T - January 4 - 11:36 pm

  After being rear-ended Feb 2006 in my 99 Cabrio, I decided that I wanted a "new" car. Unable to let go of the convertible but unwilling to pay big bucks, I purchased an on-the-lot dealership-certified 02 Cabrio. This was a big mistake. I have had more problems in the last six months than in all the years I had the 99 model. I only have one vehicle, it has been in the shop numerous times, it can take days for repairs, and some of the "repairs" were not covered under the warranty I purchased. I have spent more, complained more, and been more frustrated with this car than with any other. I have reached the point where I am willing to spend the money to get a reliable vehicle...no matter who makes it.

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  ENGINE sucks - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By azwildbrat - January 3 - 10:00 am

  Nothing but problems since day 1...you cant have the sunroof open without cracking the windows because it creates this really annoying wierd noise. It eats oil like no other...had the engine replaced at 78K miles...Thank God for extended warranties because of all the crap thats gone wrong with it - O2 sensor, MAF sensor, drive belt, airbags, computer chips, headlamps ($65 each), wiper blades ($25 each), water pump, thermostat, coolant housing. My recommendation - DONT BUY....well thats unless youre thinking of buying mine.

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  I was BAMBOOZLED! - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jajackson - January 1 - 9:53 pm

  I am a very unsatisfied customer! I would not advise anyone to purchase this vehicle! The window sticker implies that the gas mileage is 26 city and 36 hwy. This is not true! Im lucky if I get 11 miles city and 15 hwy. Dont be fooled. The breaks on this vehicle are second rate. They squeal very loudly when the car is being backed up. When I took the car in for evaluation on both these two things, I was told that 1. Gas mileage depends on "how I drive"...and about the breaks, I was told that "there is nothing that we can to about the breaks squealing and that I would just have to live with it. Disk breaks will do that because of some element". Just say no to VW.

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  Save Yourself a Headache - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lemon Gurl - December 21 - 6:03 am

  Please save yourself a headache and a lot of money. I have had a 2001 VW Passat for almost six years. This car has to be the most poorly made, overpriced, unreliable car that I have ever owned. Everything is ridiculous - you spend so much money just to own the car, then (starting at 20,000 miles) I was having problems with the vehicle. Every dealership I have dealt with was NOT customer helpful, didnt care about the buyer, and VW does everything it can to rip off its owners. Get something more reliable with your money! STAY AWAY from Volkswagen!

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  My VW Lemon... - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By thiscarstinks - December 8 - 10:00 am

  This car is handsdown the single worst investment of my life. I have had SEVERAL headlight replaced before finding out (after the warranty expired) that the housing was bad. I have had my mass airflow sensor replaced (in hopes that it would end the shaking and stalling that occurred at least twice a day), and I have recently encountered transmission problems, that my dealer isnt helping with. Bottom line: I have pumped thousands of dollars into this car and I am selling it so as to avoid sinking any more of my hard-earned cash into this demon spawn.

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  Do not invest into this car. - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By AnnaM. - December 8 - 10:00 am

  When I first saw the bug,I can admit i was in love. As a college student,I saved every penny to afford this awesome looking car. I had to have the GLX-Turbo,leather and the fin.To be honest this car is the worst car built on the market. I have had my beetle in the shop for recalls over seventeen times. I have the dealership programed into my cell phone it is that bad. I pay for my car to be in the shop, on average I am only able to drive it two weeks out of a months. I highly suggest not to purchase this car.Unless you like spending time at the dealers service department.