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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  Might Want One - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By G G G - May 21 - 1:50 am

  Still looking. I was set on the Acura 3.2TL or Nissan Maxima. Went on a test Passat 1.8T test drive. Cant get this car out of my mind. I absolutly loved it. The 2 cars I mentioned have 250+ HP but the VW just seemed like more fun to drive, and I love to drive.

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  German common sense vanishing - 2015 Volkswagen Golf
  By Brian - May 20 - 11:46 pm

  Some design aspects of the car are now driven by cost cutters at VW. Lets take a look at some things simple....starting with the door hinges! They have shrunk dramatically compared to my 2013 Jetta hinges. Door detent stops are pretty useless and you will easily hit your door on the car next to you in a parking lot. Seats....creaking and popping from the backrest of the drivers seat is getting quite annoying. Oil changes look a bit more involved on the EA 288 engine due to the filter location. The dash icons have shrunk in size....you may need reading glasses to see them! Headlights are not as powerful as on my Jetta, high beam is pretty much useless. Get used to hitting your head when exiting this car....you need to be agile to get in and out. Hidden door key slot is not user friendly....ref Jetta again. Interior light buttons hard to find in the dark....four buttons in close proximity. The dash illumination reflects in the side window. The exterior mirror demisters only operate at under 68deg F.....not good for humid Texas mornings that start out at 8O deg F. Exterior mirrors have suffered due to fashion/aerodynamics taking over functionality....they are too small....ref Jetta again, much better! Performance.... pretty good but does get caught out below 1800 rpm....very noticeable turbo lag. Economy....good so far. Mark VII Golf has grown apart from its predecessor. Im not sure where VW are going with these design changes apart from cost cutting. Safety wise, add as many airbags as you wish but make visibility better starting with the door mirrors. I am thinking a lot has to do with the adoption of exhaust treatment equipment that has driven costs up and profits down.

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  Im a VW lover...but! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By jimbousman@yahoo.com - May 20 - 10:00 am

  Ive had 8 or 9 VWs over the last zillion years. Ive had everything from beetles to busses, GTI/GlIs to Passats. They were bullet proof and cheap to fix. And then theres my 99 wagon. Love the car. Love the ride. Love the look. Love the toys...but do not love the cost of maintenance. When they tell you it is a bargain Audi they forget to tell you that Audi’s ain’t cheap to fix. Pay $500 to fix the ball joint, and $65 for a windshield a wiper relay and it’s trying to tell me something. I now have 106K on the clock and plan to sell it. Hate to sell it but this car is definitely not a high mile risk. It’s a shame!

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  VW Beetle-Air Conditioning problem - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By R. Ehret - May 20 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the car 10/01 and in 6/02 discovered the air conditioning didnt work. Neither the dealership nor VOA would do anything about it. There were 2 major leaks-one in the AC Compressor and one in the Evaporator Core. Cost to fix $1800+. The warranty was only for 2 yrs. or 24,000 miles and I was told I was JUST out of warranty.

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  Fun, Fast Car - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By mwoodward - May 17 - 8:16 pm

  I have had no problems with my New Beetle. The Turbo can really throw you down the road and it makes driving fun again. I bought this after a friend told me that she loved her Beetle and had no issues. She went out and bought another convertible Beetle not too long ago.

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  My Blue Beauty (tourmaline blue) 2018 Altas - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Audrey Hammer - May 13 - 10:02 pm

  l LOVE MY 2018 ATLAS! I love everything about it! The look, style, color, comfort.... everything!

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  Brokenwagen - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By Unhappy driver - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my VW new and have had numerous problems with it. Since the warranty expired, the problems have continued. Check engine light is always on; rear hatch relay went bad; overhead light completely broken; dash lights out. And now the car hesitates and will sometimes lose power, going into a "limp mode" (EPC light comes on). Service cannot diagnose or replicate the problem. The company is not addressing the pattern of unreliability with the consumers. As much as I like VW performance and styling, I would not buy another one and I advise others to avoid them.

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  the jetta - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By seanh - May 13 - 10:00 am

  the jetta was an awesome perchase its was a huge amount of fun to drive but vw still hasnt gotten the normal things correct. like engine coil packs and window regulators witch are a hastle but worth the amount fo fun i have driving my car

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  Disgruntled In Denver - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DisgruntledInDenver - May 11 - 10:13 pm

  This was my dream car. I bought it used,(certified pre-owned), but it came with no warranty. The car drove great for a year and a half and around the summer of 09 I noticed several little changes in the performance of the vehicle. I brought the car to a VW garage and explained that I was having issues with the acceleration, as well as a ticking noise that came from under the hood while idling. The car was also making a loud whining noise as I accelerated and the engine thermostat light kept coming on. $6500 later and a new transmission, timing belt, water pump and tensioners, the car runs great. My only thought was, $6500, really? This is not a car for young people in college. Expensive!

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  Good Price, beautiful interior, but car has issues. - 2013 Volkswagen CC
  By world_travel1 - May 10 - 5:31 pm

  First of all the gas and break pedals are freakishly close together - they almost overlap. Second of all, at very low speeds (such as bumper to bumper traffic) the engine feels like it as about to stall as you alternately tap the gas and break (it never does but it shakes a bit). Third the window needs to be slightly open when the door is opened and it is supposed to happen automatically but it often does not (as people getting in to the car just grab the handle and pull before the auto down feature kicks in). Fourth, you cant not hit your head as you get in the car. The window sill is too low. Fifth, you cant tap the horn, it gives a full second of honking even with the lightest tap.