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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  Cool Car-Mechanically unreliable - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SM - September 11 - 10:50 pm

  Driving the Jetta was fun, but I found that it was the mechanical issues that bugged me. I bought this car with 36k miles on it. I had no problems for 5k-10k miles then everything went. I had to replace the sway bars, because they rusted, I had to get new front brakes and that cost $615 bucks =0( It also wont start when its 0 degrees or lower. I took it in 4 times and the dealership had no idea what was wrong. My battery was checked and was fine, everything was fine they told me. But it wasnt. I jumped ship and got a Scion TC. I love it and it starts in frigid temps. I loved this car, but hated the fact that it was mechanically garbage!

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  Car is unreliable, CS is pathetic - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By mminch - September 6 - 7:03 pm

  Have had the car three years. The first winter we had it, it did not start on 2 occasions. Both times the dealer did tow it, but could find nothing wrong. We were told misfires. On two other occasions the engine light when on, we took it in, and they told us misfires again. The battery also failed, but the dealer replaced it. The warranty recently expired and the engine light has come on, the repairs have run about $500. In total the engine light has come on at least 6 times in less then 60,000 miles. Very safe car when it starts, very unreliable. Our local dealer takes no accountability, their favorite sayings are "Im sorry" and "I dont know" when I ask what I can do.

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  Think Twice - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Disgruntled Admirer - September 4 - 2:00 am

  My cars "control module" (read: brain) malfunctioned about 5 months into my purchase and I was quickly enmeshed in the most bitter customer service battle of my life. The car was cutting out on hills (a problem in San Francisco) and I was made to feel like a hysterical idiot because the dealer (not Lithia) could not diagnose the problem. They promised to pay all my rental car costs (about 5 weeks worth) but only paid for a fracion in the end. Also: other cruise control stopped working, window failed and consistent rattle (from shoddy finish and the vibration from the deisel). Also, the felt-type upholstery is a lint magnet.

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  Junk in the Trunk - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By Muligan - September 4 - 2:00 am

  People... Save yourselves! I went with a VW Golf because of their historically good track record. Let me tell you, history did not repeat itself here. The dealership I purchased the Golf from forgot to install a block heater (which is required for our cold winters). I have had the radio replaced twice, difficulties with the windshield wipers hoses, passenger window falls, heater fan replaced, and most recently the airbag indicator light has malfunctioned. Not only has the car been a piece but the dealership I have had to deal with has been very difficult. I think that car sales are boosted by a clever marketting scheme.

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  98 New Beetle - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By vwfarris - August 30 - 10:00 am

  Sturdy, fun to drive and responsive. The NB is a pleasure to encounter amid the overdone body styles. It has fairly serious lack of quality in the electrical components. Switches, coils, fuse blocks and fans are of less than acceptable quality. If you can do these repairs or have a trustworthy technican available you will love it.

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  VW not very customer oriented - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dotts - August 30 - 10:00 am

  Overall, my vehicle is excellent. Good engine, great fuel economy (~46 mpg), well-designed. However, on three separate occasions, my window fell into the door and would not go up. This was covered under warranty, but nevertheless, was inconvenient. I called VW customer care to complain, feeling that they owed me an explanation and some special compensation. They were not willing to give me even a cupholder, despite my inconvenience. Buyers beware! VW doesnt stand behind their product!

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  Brand new Tiguan already in the shop - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By tiguanowner - August 29 - 2:13 am

  Already worried about my new Tiguan. After 800 miles of very gentle driving it started making a horrible metal clanking sound in the engine area. Dealing with 24-Hour VW Roadside assistance was also very disappointing. Thought 24 hour service meant that you get a tow within an hour of your call, but according to my experience it means you may not get a a tow for 24 hours. Took at least 3 phone calls over a 15 hour period to finally get a tow truck to my front door. Now car has to sit at the shop over the weekend because it got checked in too late on Thursday. Despite all of this I really love the car and hope the problem is minor. Will follow up with the diagnosis.

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  My badass vr6 Volkswagen Jetta - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ben - August 28 - 1:30 am

  I love my Jetta vr6 2.8 liter its fast Im going to be adding a turbo to it the only thing about it is that I do not like about the car was replacing parts that expensive hard to find for the vr6 otherwise the car is great to drive looks nice on the road with all the fences stuff that I put on it hard to find the right suspension system to lower my car now I gotta replace the clutch after 182000 miles on the car but the cars been great to me never had major problems so now is time to give her stage 1 racing clutch and a full air suspension ride behandle bility and replace my 17 inch low profile rims and tires for 18 inch low profile rims and tires my wife hates the car because I love my car more than I love her Thank You Volkswagen I wish you made another vr6 in the newer model with the sunroof I would buy it in a heartbeat but now I will not give up this car no matter what even for new one even if you gave it to me for free I still would not trade it in for seems to me every time I go by the dealership somebodys always offering money to buy my vr6 they said its hard to find and very rare in this condition special all the things Ive added to the car to make sure dress up beautiful and fast its hard to give up something that you built by hand

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  Unreliable at 100 miles - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By nytig29 - August 27 - 10:51 pm

  Brand new 2012 VW Tiguan S 4Motion from Open Road VW of Staten Island. I DO NOT recommend this dealer for sales or service. Buying experience was ok without any surprises so far but the AC stopped working 5 days later at 100 miles on vehicle. Brought in for service and these are their excuses: #1: machine to diagnose doesnt work, #2: need to order part and cannot tell you when it will come in, likely 3-4 weeks. #3: now got part but something else is wrong and cannot release car, cannot tell whats wrong yet, etc. They havent even given me an estimated time of completion, neglect to call back when they say would call back, they just dont care. I do not trust them with my car.

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  Love My Passat - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rick M - August 26 - 3:06 pm

  I bought it used, and its a great car to drive! Very comfortable for long road trips, and the trunk is massive! In the two years that Ive owned it, Ive replaced the rear brake rotors but no other big repairs. I hope to get 200,000 to 300,000 miles before I retire it!