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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  Electrical nightmare - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By bugdom - December 19 - 2:00 am

  Our Bug has driven well but constantly has warning indicators that go bad - first the airbag light and now the check engine light. The worst part is that every time the dealer fixed them, the problem recurred within 24 hours. Now we cannot pass the emissions testing simply because of this issue!

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  Simply outstanding! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Nateg - December 18 - 6:53 am

  I bought my rabbit on 28 Feb 08 and I now have 5,000 miles and its ready for its first oil change. In my opinion, VW didnt just change the badge name, but the entire car altogether. Ride is very comfortable. I could ride cross country and not feel stiff. The performance is just right and I feel like Im in a tank with its safety features. I plan on starting a family soon and I think the rabbit is our new baby carrier. :-) Fuel Economy isnt so wonderful(a 150 hp car should get at least 30-32 mpg not just 25 mpg). Im also getting some rattle right at the air vent above the radio on the dash and by the drivers side rear speaker.

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  Expensive Upkeep - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Passat - December 17 - 6:33 pm

  First off, emissions workshop showed up during our warranty, but Volkswagen jerked us around, and we have paid at least $2,500 in three separate attempts to unsuccessfully repair the emissions issues. Now it also has ABS brake problems and both of the front windows dont work. The cup holders are jammed/broken, the rubber handles are peeling, both front turn signal lights broke off, the side-mirror control broke off. I swear integral parts to this car are made of brittle plastic. You are forced to pay a premium for synthetic oil and premium gasoline. I thought VWs were great cars but I was thinking of the VWs in the 80s. It does drive pretty well, but I am worried about making inspection AGAIN.

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  "Best car Ive ever owned" - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By GOLFACTOR - December 16 - 3:06 am

  Cant wait to get another one. This model type IV is made right up to 2004, so there are tons of used ones soon to be available in the coming years. My next one will be a silver GLS 2.0 8v 2dr 5 speed leather, heated seats (Maine) and a full 32% window tint. Lowered 1.5" with custom wheels or Audi replicas.

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  Nice Car - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By 00AUDIA6 - December 13 - 10:00 am

  The Touareg is a nice car, Very elegant interior. The rear visibility is better than in the cayenne, as well as having the same engine and transmission for $10,000 less, but was still a tough descision. The Navigation system is nice how it gives voice prompts, but nag screens for safety become annoying to passenger. Park Beepers too sensitive. With all of these good things, there were still setbacks. Phantom sunroof would only go in direction of selector (wouldnt stop) when at target (weird!). Mileage was around 12 for several months the Xenon Lights will occasionally go out and rain sensor faulty.

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  Overpowered ;^} Underbraked :-( - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By BanjoMike - December 12 - 11:40 am

  My last two cars before this were Porsches. I wanted something practical and fun. The GTI fit the bill. Out of the box the GTIs handling is sporty but not overly reasurring. The shocks seem a bit soft. But when pushed hard it really does very well. It is predicatble, powerful, controllable, tossable, and fun. The limiting factor in the performace is definately the brakes. Extended hard driving will lead to noticble brake fade. It will seat adults in the back seat comfortably; has lots of cargo space; has power everything (almost); and is FAST. The GTI proves to the US that a hatchback can be a luxury car! Finally the motor. It just loves to go. Its all about the tourque! Wow.

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  Awesome Style and Drving, But - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dandy Andy - December 11 - 6:56 pm

  First-time owner here...and Id have to say VWs are pretty shabby. I love the design and the color pattern that I have. Urban Grey exterior, black interior, with the indigo and red accent lights inside...it is just beautiful! However, the car has given me minor troubles and the customer service is shady, at most. Volkswagen parts are hella expensive, wiper blades cost like $100, are you kidding me? and $200 for a darn headlight? I guess thats the nice thing about a German car, expensive maintenance. But I definitely love the tight turning abilities and how it goes 0-60 in like 7 seconds. Ill be going 60-70 and it feels like Im going 40-50, its a smooth ride all the way.

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  Nice little car Little Tight inside - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CJL - December 11 - 12:50 am

  So far so good. Car is FAST. Little tight in the back seat but a real fun driving machine. Car handles great and is quick off the light however have a hard time keeping the tires from spinning. A very solid performer.

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  passat lemon - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By jgl - December 10 - 2:00 am

  I have driven this car for two years, gives a superb drive, lots of room and easy to handle. I have had continual problems with the radiator, engine leaks, ball joints, rotors, and overall engine problems. Gas mileage is poor. Car is just unreliable.

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  cute but unreliable - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By gil - December 10 - 2:00 am

  owned my GL (auto) for 2 and a half years. Its a fun car to drive. But it constantly has some kind of troubles. First, the cable of the fuel filler has been fixed twice. Now its broken again. The windshield wipers kept making bad noises even though I had it adjusted/filler changed every time I went to a dealership. I finally solved the problem by changing the whole blade sets with those inexpensive ones from Walmart. Ironically, dealerships could not solve it! Third, engine light was on and signal light did not work once.Last, the engine consumes oil. Worst, the dealerships wouldnt even mention it when you bought the car.