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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  Fun, Comfortable, Unreliable - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Robert - July 25 - 1:20 am

  I bought this car as a certified Volkswagen. I loved the look and the style. It handle and drove as you would expect a German car. Very peppy and responsive. Shortly after the purchase I started having electrical problems, windows stopped working, censors were going bad. The warranty covered all the work, although the dealerships were not easy to work with. At around 80,000 miles the car broke down on the road. Found out there was a recall on the motor that the dealership didnt notify us about. The whole motor was replaced under warranty because of an oil pump problem. After that the alternator went dead causing three more breakdowns. After many headaches the car is running fine, for now.

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  3rd time is a charm - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Suzanne - July 24 - 10:33 pm

  This is my 3rd VW Passat. I previously owned a 1999 & 2002 V6 GLS. With all of the VW incentives, I upgraded to a 2004 4motion GLX. This car is fully loaded and lots of fun to drive. The mpg has gone down due to the allwheeldrive. It corners nicely, driving is good in the snow. I had to "reflash" the software due to the 4- motion clunk. It fixed my problem, but have read about complaints from others. The power leather seats are way more comfortable than the manual cloth. This is the first vehicle I have owned with a moonroof, it takes some getting used to hearing all of the sounds from the outside. Sometimes it is startling otherwise great to get some fresh air.

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  Nice solid well thought out car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dallas - July 24 - 9:46 pm

  I have owned the car for 50,000 miles and have enjoyed all of them. The car is very smooth on the highway and also handles well and has good acceleration. I have had very good luck with all my VWs and this is no exception. My dealer service has been excellent. I am considering 1 of 3 different VWs for my next purchase.

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  Poor electrics - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Donny4 - July 24 - 1:20 pm

  The latest news on our EOS is that if we do not lock the car the NEW battery will go flat?? My wife forgot to LOCK the car which sits in the garage on Friday at 6:00 pm and tried to start the car on Monday morning at 7: am and the battery was dead. The dealership told her they cannot find any problem with the car. So for all of you out there with an EOS do not forget to lock this car as it is very hungry and loves to eat the power from the battery. PS My Mercedes is parked out in the snow and the cold is 4 years older than the EOS and has the original battery from new but starts every time plus I leave it unlocked. Go Figure

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  Jetta sport wagon 1.8T 17" rims - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rob ONeil - July 24 - 11:52 am

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  Major Issues - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ttrag - July 24 - 12:43 am

  I have had my car into the shop multiple times for issues with the computer and they can not seem to get them straight. Most recently I have had to replace the brakes (including the rotors). I was told by someone in the service department that this was very common and that there were a lot of "Unhappy Touareg Customers". I was basically told that I would have to spend $1,500 dollars every two years on the brakes with this car. To add to this...when I called into Volkswagens customer care department and was told that the problem was merely related to my driving habits. I have children or pets in my vehicle most of the time and I assure you that my driving habits are average at most.

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  Love Hate Relationship - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Disappointed in NJ - July 23 - 9:33 pm

  This car has been back to the dealer more times than I want to admit. Its cost me too much money to keep: replaced the catalytic converters, ignition coil, coolant sensor, radiator hoses deteriorated. I dont understand why a 3.5 year old car has this many problems. I thought I was buying a car that would last. Moving on to a more reliable vehicle.

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  2nd set of coilovers - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By NoneYa - July 23 - 2:09 pm

  so I changed my oem suspension to a reputable companys coilovers about some 3 or 4 years. OMGOGMGGOMG, the car handled sooo much differently and moooar enjoyable to drive.....even with a drop of about 1" or 1.5" car runs great on long drives...although a little more road noise....but thats fixed via the radio volume. Other than getting new tires....the oil change and small things Ive had NO problems w/my car....except the stupid door dings at the grocery store....

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  Constant Brake Squeal - 2007 Volkswagen Touareg
  By carb1776 - July 23 - 6:10 am

  I looked a many SUVs like the Tribeca, Sante Fe, CR-V and choose the VW because of the leg room and comfortable ride. With 4,900 miles I regret not buying a Honda, Toyota or Nissan. I have had a brake squeal every time the brakes are applied and the VW dealer says its normal and part of the brake design. Im embarrassed to drive anyone in my vehicle. $35,000+ is a lot of money to let a vehicle sit in the driveway. You wont find a vehicle with better comfort or handling but the trade-off is the brake squeal. Its annoying and I am filing a Lemon Law complaint if it cant be fixed. I wont buy another VW again.

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  teenagers are out of it - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By eric - July 22 - 11:06 am

  Before the Volkswagen Jetta had more fun and excitement for teenagers but now its like a family sedans so I am not too thrilled of the new arival of this sedan. Although I must say that its a really good fuel economy vehicle and its interior design is nice. The exterior design doesnt make me feel very excited. Overall the Jetta is an OK car and they should work now on bringing back the teenage theme back in the Jetta. It can be better I think quality-wise.