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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  Awesome - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By JoAnne - April 8 - 8:33 pm

  I chose the VW Beetle convertible because my grandson loves the "Slug Bug" and wanted me to get one. Once I drove it, I fell in love with it. It is truly the BEST car I have ever had. Comfort, looks, reliability, performance is perfect. I hope we have beautiful weather here in MN so I can drive with the roof down. Love that Sun!!

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  Simply Awesome! - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By txst - April 8 - 9:32 am

  This Golf TDI is a lot of fun to drive and fits like a glove. The torque is surprisingly strong and peppy. I love the looks of this car inside and out. Who needs an ugly prius when VW offers this Golf with 45 MPG. This is the fourth VW I have purchased (I have previously owned a Jetta TDI, a Passat, and a CC) and this one just might be my favorite out of the four. I highly recommend this car.

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  Two New Passats - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Howard Phykitt - April 8 - 6:43 am

  The Passat TDI has plenty of pep for passing. Averaging 42 mpg to work and back (160 miles). Build quality and stability is as goog as a Mercedes. We liked it so much that we bought a second one. Radio on both cars in AM mode is raspy (seems like it is not on the exact frequency). My secretarys car which is a 2003 Passat has the same raspiness as our cars.

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  I love my bug but some complaints - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By paul - April 8 - 6:33 am

  I believe as a VW lover you kinda dont worry about some of the problems/I have realized after owning 3 VWs that they have a lot of electrical problems and you would think they would get the hint and fix these problems. But...I bought my 99 bug used of course and it runs great/fun little 5 speed/love the dash/hate the dang cup holders/I agree with other review they stink due to not being able to get anything in the cup holders and when you do the holder comes off with the can!/and also it just feels like it should have a arm rest/but I have 2 kids and Im surprised at how easy it is to get them in and out of the back/I do worry that it will tear up and I will not have anyone to fix it.

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  Cant wait to get rid of it! - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By TiredofVW - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I leased this Passat (having leased before)and was confident that I was choicing a top rated vehicle. Within the short two year warranty, the car was in the shop for various issues: rear cup holder broke, rpm needle jumps while stopped at lights, loud noise from wheel well when making tight turns. So of course once the warranty ended, more problems arose: check engine light came on for "no apparent reason," rpm needle jumps worse than before, foul smell if the heater is on, defroster doesnt work. I babied this car with the best gas, regular service, and garaged it. Im extremely disappointed and am counting the days to give the car back to VW.

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  jetta poor reliability - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mpe - April 8 - 2:00 am

  Nice car but, rear brakes and roters needed to be replaced at 25,000 mi., trunk hinge rpl, short in dash, side marker replaced 2x, temp sensor went, air bag short, back window regulaters rpl, nut on wiper moter released in rain, front door seals leak, front brakes and roters at 33,000 rpl, front o2 sensor rpl.

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  Great Middle of the Road - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By newPassatOwner - April 8 - 2:00 am

  The GLX is smooth but a little underpowered, very stable but a little soft with just a bit too much body lean to feel like a true sports sedan. The interior feels like a car $10K more expensive, although the power-heated- leather-memory seats could be a little more supportive laterally. The V6 is so quiet and the power band so even that the TipTronic is virtually useless...its very hard to "feel" the engine. VWs giving you a lot for your money with this car. The traction control prevented me from climbing a steep, snow-covered driveway...had to turn it off finally, but normally you dont notice.

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  Great car love 4 motion - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By BJP42 - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I have had for only 2 weeks but have been happy with everything so far. Very smooth 6 great great handling. Beautiful car in and out. Drove last nite in a ice and snow storm and remained glued to the road no slip at all.Great atention to detail interior is gorgeous. Only knock is the center arm rest storage is pathetic. But if thats the worst complaint, I can live with it. Lots of room Im comforatable at 66"

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  Worst Car I Have Ever Owned - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ron Franks - April 7 - 9:40 pm

  We bought this car for my wife and intitially we were thrilled - it was very cool and a lot fun to drive. After about two years and 20,000 miles the fun began - rear brakes, oxygen sensor faults, airbag switch faults, windows falling in the doors, cracked ignition coil harness (?), bad fuses, frozen doors in the winter, etc., etc., etc. I have owned many cars in my life and have never, ever experienced this sort of ongoing maintenance nightmare. I take care of my cars and never have a problem with investing $$$ to keep them running properly, but give me a break! Half of the things that went wrong with this car I had never heard of (and one of my other cars is a Saab)! Toyotas from now on!

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  Avoid VW 4cyl. Turbo Engine - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Michael - April 7 - 3:56 pm

  Engine poor. Once motor reached 100 miles, motor needed constant repair. Have spent over $3k on major engine repair. The wagon was intended for family with two children, but has proven to be very unreliable. Wife, toddler and infant have been towed several times from side of freeway. Mechanically, the engine is poor and unreliable, asked master mechanic "Would you drive this car?", he answered, "Me? No. The motor is no good, we see em all the time".