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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  cupholder/cd player - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ap - September 22 - 10:00 am

  FYI: If you have them install the cd player below the radio component, I find it is easier. It still is far from perfect though.

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  Turbocharger Intermittent - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Longfellow - September 21 - 5:36 pm

  To start off with, I like the styling of the 2005 Volkswagen Passat GLS TDI. I also enjoy the TDIs fuel economy. However, the Turbocharger stops working intermittently. I have had the car back to two different dealerships on five separate occasions to repair of the turbocharger. The cruise control disengages intermittently, as do the daytime running lights. I too, have experienced the inability to remove the ignition key from its slot on the steering column several times. I still do not know why that has happened. The front seats bottoms are a bit short in length and there is not much padding under the leather. You can feel the closed cell polyurethane foam that lines the seat bottom upon ingress and egress.

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  Dont Buy One - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tom - September 20 - 9:53 am

  I have owned VWs over forty years and this car has been the worst. Over the five years I have owned the car Ive kept up the required maintenance. When it needed service it was done, when things broke I fixed them, no short cuts. I have cv boots failing with less than 40000 miles, an expensive repair, over $400. I had the water pump fail at 64000K, over $1000 to repair. I had to take the car back twice to put the car back together correctly. VW refused to back the car because it was out of warranty, so much for loyalty. And now the car dropped an exhaust valve 73000, the repair is over $4200. VW did come to the plate and offered a "final offer" of $2200 to help pay the repair bill.

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  I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME....SOONER - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JenN - September 19 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, DAY 2 I EXPERIENCED WINDOW CLAMPS BREAKING THEN 1-2 WEEKS LATER THE RADIO WENT, THEN THE TRANSMISSION, NOT COUNTING THE 3X THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION COILS & THE 2X IN 2 MOS THAT THE BATTERY DIED AND THE OTHER WINDOW CLAMPS BROKE I HAVE HAD THE CAR NOW 2 YEARS, IT HAS BEEN IN FOR SVC 9X. MAKE SURE YOUR BOSS DOESNT MIND U LEAVING WORK EARLY AND COMMING IN WHENEVER U FEEL LIKE IT & MAKE SURE THAT U HAVE ANOTHER CAR AT YOUR READY WHEN THIS ONE DECIDES TO BREAKDOWN.

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  Just another SUV I suppose - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Xyrius - September 18 - 12:30 pm

  I suppose I had higher expectations since my other vehicles are classy sedans or coupes. Going from a sedan or coupe to one of these SUVs is not something a "driver" would be happy with. Its great for tossing large objects into, but even then, a minivan is better suited to people that want to haul stuff, including people. Otherwise, its just another "L" on wheels.

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  Great City Car - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By charles huff - September 17 - 3:26 pm

  I traded in my 1993 5-speed Golf for a used 2003 VW Golf 2-door hatchback, auto, 2.0L,silver, and WOW what a car. Its handling is great. It is very comfortable to drive. It makes city driving less of a stop and go nuisance as it is with a stick. The smooth transmission just glides all over the city. Its handling on the freeway is like flying an airplane. This car is easy to drive and park.

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  Big trade-off - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TC - September 17 - 2:13 pm

  We bought this car new in 2001. Since then, it has been in the dealer countless times. It has gone through several MAF sensors (expensive!), some turbo work, and plenty of recalls. The interior seems cheap, although the gauge color scheme is a nice touch. It has surprisingly sporty feel in the corners, especially for an economy car. We have the TDI version, which regularly gets 50-55 mpg. I would buy this car ONLY for the mileage, since it has more than made up for the cost of repairs over time - especially with gas prices these days.

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  Good car with some problems - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Brian00074 - September 15 - 11:30 am

  This is an excellent riding vehicle with decent power and good looks. The data display and heated seats are great features. I had two strange things happen with this car. First was minor. The chrome strip along the rear door pulled away somehow and took paint off the front door the next time I opened it. It happened on a very very cold day and I suspect some water froze behind it. The second thing was much more serious. I got home one night and tried to back into my spot but the car would not move. Turned out that I needed a whole new transmission, which Kelly VW replaced with no hassle. Its running well but making a strange noise after rolling a few feet. Im taking it back again.

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  Will not buy another VW any time soon - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By td - September 13 - 6:20 am

  My wife and I love the styling and comfort of the car, but have been extremely disappointed with the massive number of electrical component problems on our Passat. In my family, VW always had a reputation for quality, at least as long as I can remember. However, this car has not lived up to the VW rep. The day after we purchased the car, the fuel gauge sensor failed. Since then its been an uphill climb. The remote trunk opener failed, a break sensor failed that caused the ABS and Airbags to disable - another service call. Heated seats burned through the leather on the drivers side and actually caused 1st degree burns on my wifes leg <-- This resulted in a recall later. Etc., etc., etc

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  2006 Passat 3.6 - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rick - September 12 - 8:50 pm

  I test drove a 2.0T Passat a month ago and have to say I was impressed overall. I really wanted to look at the 3.6L and got to test drive last week and it was a THRILL! On pricing, if you load with similar features, the price isnt that much more than a comparable Japanese vehicle. Where the Passat differs is the available 4Motion. Also, the wagon comes out in the spring. Thats what Im waiting for... a 3.6L 4 Motion Passat Wagon (I dont like the height stance of any SUV). Outside of the Subaru Legacy / Outbank, theres no competion and the Subies are less expensive because theyre far more stripped down.