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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  silver jetta - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bandit91411 - January 22 - 2:00 am

  I have had not one problem with my car outside of the first day I took it home. I drove off the lot with the reverse light on and it stayed on. I had to return to the dealership to have it repaired twice!!

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  luvmybug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By krislvsbug - January 20 - 10:00 am

  So far so good. I have had a few interior issues ie: Window sensor briken after first mont, passenger side reare seat handle broke off after little use but dealer very easy to deal with and issues not large enough to upset me. Get more people stopping me and talking about my car. Even my husband loves to drive :)

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  Needs to be more of a VW - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By RAS5 - January 19 - 2:20 pm

  This is a nice van and I am happy with it for the most part. I do wish the two following improvements arte made. 1) needs to be a bit sharper on handling and have a more european ride 2) where is the wonderful 3.0 TDI engine to improve economy?. I bet sales will double if that engine was available.

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  Replaced Cayenne S with V10 TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Lee - January 18 - 10:23 pm

  When our 2004 Cayenne S had nearly 100k miles, I bought a 2007 Dodge with 5.7 Hemi to tow with. After one off-ramp at the speed I considered normal in the Cayenne, the Dodge had completely spooked and disappointed me. I found a 2006 VW with 5.0 TDI and bought it with 29k miles. Very satisfied with it, especially mileage (15+ city, 23+ Hwy, 19.0 overall, and 14.3 towing a 5800 lb race car trailer!) Also, it had air suspension that hadnt been available in the Cayenne S when we bought it. Very good. Finally, backup camera is wonderful! Can hook up trailer on first try. Only negatives. The Nav system is pitiful, and no tire pressure monitor in this one. Audio good, not great.

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  Bad Lock Modules - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By peanutmm - January 18 - 4:16 pm

  I am now having to have a second doors lock module and possibly latch replaced. The right side went out and was replaced 6 months ago and now the left rear passenger side went out and ahs to be replaced. Problem is warranty is out because of high miles I drive. car is only a year and half old. Overall, a great car. Just be sure if you drive high miles to get them to promise to cover warranty issues i.e. electrical as the lock replacement is 500-1000 per door.

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  Burns too Much Oil - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Oil Burner 2 - January 17 - 10:33 pm

  This car drives great and has been very reliable. I bought it new in 2000, but since day one it has used at least a quart of oil every 1,000 miles, which could be dangerous unless you know it. The dash lights around the temp and fan switch quit working after a the first few years. The front bumper grill pops out each time you bump a parking block. Im tired of replacing the lost grills, even thought theyre cheap. Otherwise its been a workhorse I can count on.

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  NEVER AGAIN!!! - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By JBoston - January 16 - 2:00 am

  I will never again owned a VW car, I had to replace all four tires before 25,000 miles and Breaks when I mostly drive on the car on the highway. Now i need to replace the Secondary air pump and the combi valves. This car is more of a headach than anything else. I am currently looking to get another car.

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  NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CMURDA - January 16 - 2:00 am

  I was so excited to buy a new vw, but that excitment faded quickly. The coils in the engine are defective. Volkswagen will only replace them as they crack so you are forced to send your car to the dealership everytime it breaks down. They do give you a rental but I had a rental for over 2 months because they had so many problems with other cars that the coils where on back order. This was not the service I was expecting from vw. I also had been complaining about my drivers side window having problems and they said there is another manufacture problem but they will not fix the problem untill the window actually breaks and slides down into the door.

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  survivor - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By whodafunk - January 16 - 2:00 am

  vw survived a pretty good broadside from a big old econoline. car needs lots of work, but, driver, me is still walking and wasnt squished like a bug in my beetle. i was a messenger/currier in this vehicle and drove it 12 hours a day, stop and go, harsh city driving, these cars are reliable and safe and fun.

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  TDI mileage - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GJASR - January 16 - 2:00 am

  It appears I cant fill the tank completely, the guage never hits the 1/1 mark. Dont know why. Also, Im averaging about 425 miles between fill ups(well not to the top). Any ideas? Vehicle has 2.5k. Will mileage get better at some point. Do no have a heavy foot bu do travel at approx 65 mph.