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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  HIGH fuel economy+LOW quality=Little fun - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Daddy-D - February 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car because of TDI engine and fuel economy. Worst car I have ever owned. 26K miles and more than 7 dealer visits! check engine lights, rattles and squeaks, moldy smell from AC after 1000 miles. Rough running engine-idle could not be fixed to date. Too much body roll. Buy this car only if you drive a lot and need the 45+ mpg fuel economy and dont care about crisp handling. Low interior build quality level (rattles and squeaks). If you live in cold climates, beware: heater doesnÂ’t produce significant heat until about 5-10 miles of driving due to very efficient engine. Too small for child seats.

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  Whats not to love? - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By socalduck - February 2 - 2:00 am

  Purchased new in 2000, this car continues to please. Biggest regret was not getting the leather seats; with two young children, cleaning the upholstery has been a chore. A small rattle has developed in the RF passenger door, but otherwise the car is as solid as the day we brought it home.

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  Terrible Wretch of a Car - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By dansmiles - February 2 - 2:00 am

  This is a terrible car! The worst I have ever heard of! It breaks all of the time. It keeps on getting recalled. Also, every time a headlight goes out, I have to take it to a dealership and pay someone $80 per hour to have a mechanic install the new headlight, because you have to have a special tool that not even my regular mechanic has. It cost me $50 to have a $5 headlight installed!

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  Whats up with the Homelink? - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By 4mydawgs - February 2 - 2:00 am

  After waiting 4-1/2 months for the car it is now sitting in my garage, they couldnt get the combination of options/colors I wanted. Had to settle for less accessories as well as a different color interior and exterior than I had originally asked for. The car is very nice, powerful, but my previous car was a 2000 Beetle GLX and it is a little disorienting looking for the clock and the speedometer when switching vehicles.

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  2004 Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By GSF - February 2 - 2:00 am

  We have owned and enjoyed driving the Touareg for 6 months. No problems. Just had the 5000mile check-up/oil change. It took a little while to get used to the feel of driving, the brakes, and the controls. Its not a sports car....but a very well thought out and well built SUV.

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  From Audi to VW? - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By nhttman - February 2 - 2:00 am

  Once I drove this vehicle, all doubts of VWs commitment to style, luxury and power went away. The 310 HP V8 is a welcome difference from most "luxury SUV" V6 or high cost V8 option

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  iloveit - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By anotherjettadriver - February 2 - 2:00 am

  My second Jetta, this one a turbo, theyre great! You can park them anywhere and theyve got lots of fun gadgets.

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  Good Buy For The Price - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sergio51 - February 2 - 2:00 am

  About a year ago I was looking for my first car out of college and obviously didnt have terribly much money to my name. During my hunt for cars that could fit a sensible budget and still look good while performing well, it was clearly evident that the Jetta was the way to go. Coming from a lead- foot, the 1.8T was fun for about six months then I wanted the V6. Still a fantastic car though!

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  Beware of the Jetta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ownerofjunk - February 2 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Volkswagon in the shop five times in the last two months for it leaking coolant at aprroximately 21000 miles. They have replaced the heater core, radiator, water pump, head gasket, and resevior cap. They have only managed to slow the problem. I contacted Volkswagens customer advocates, and they refused to give any assistance. They advised that they would only continue to honor the terms and conditions of the warranty. Keep in mind that at the time Im writing this, the car is back in the shop AGAIN! They say Volkswagens are safe cars. Its because they dont run long enough to become involved in an accident.

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  Jetta GLS 1.8T 5M - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By swamper - February 2 - 2:00 am

  The 1.8T loves to run and is worth every penny for the Sport, Leather and sound packages. Im still getting compliments from young and old about this little Platinum Grey beauty. The car is still on-spec after 20K+ miles and getting 27/31 MPG. The ride, 5M and brakes feel a bit tight at first however it all pays off when you just have to get out of way. The ESP is absolutely amazing and keeps the car stuck to the road rain or shine. Excellent overall handling. No other cars compare on price, features and performance.