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:

• 

  Seasoned Fahrvergnügen - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ashley Riley - July 4 - 5:57 am

  2006 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan 2.5 - Specifications 4-Door Automatic PZEV 2.5L FI Very Good Condition 4 D Sedan 88973 5-speed automatic transmission w/Tiptronic/sport mode/ overdrive 5 2.5L-FI PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle - A partial zero emissions vehicle is a classification in the United States for a vehicle that has zero evaporative emissions from its fuel system, has a 15-year (or at least 150,000-mile) warranty on its emission-control components, and meets SULEV tailpipe-emission standards.) Value Edition Silver EXT/Grey Leather INT EPA Class Compact (5 person seating capacity with huge trunk) MPG City 22 / Hwy 30 Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive Traction Control Steering Wheel/ Touch Control/Tilt/Telescopic Leather Heated/Bucket Seats Aluminum Alloy Wheels Gel Cell Battery AM/FM/Stereo/CD Changer-Stacker Cell Phone Pairing/”hands free” capability/Satellite ready Spacious glove compartment and console area POWER: Steering Brakes (Anti lock x4/Wheel Disk x4/Brake life 90% remaining) Windows Locks Mirrors (heated, with signal integrated lights) Seats Sun Roof * * * Air Conditioner Intermittent wipers Cruise Control Rear Defogger Keyless Entry Alarm AIR BAGS: Driver Front/Side Passenger Front/Side Front Impact Head Curtain Impact Tire Tread life (40% remaining) Spare tire Very sensitive instrumental panel, you will know if there is a problem, but, at times, a lit icon will appear when there is no problem. Acceleration is so smooth and swift; on Hwy, I need to set "speed warning" for speed increase is subtle, and at times ticket worthy! Very clean. Purchased for elderly widowed parent who can no longer drive; 86,800 mileage at purchase. [contact information removed]

• 

  gotta love german - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ed - July 4 - 3:03 am

  I test drove the VW 2.0T with the six speed manual and was sold. This has got to be the slickest drivetrain Ive ever driven. Exterior fit and finish are great and this is a really good looking car. However, you really have to love these cars to put up with the same old VW issues. I have 20K on the car and have had 3 oil changes, yet have had to add almost 2 quarts of oil over that period! Hello - this is 2006 not 1966! I have yet to find a valet or car wash attendant that knows how to set or disengage the stupid electric parking brake. A/C is inadequate if car spends any time parked in the sun. Dashboard rattles. This is my fourth VW since 1979 and some things never change.

• 

  VW Passat Nothing but problems - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By srijack - July 3 - 2:00 am

  I bought a new 2007 VW Passat on looks alone. The car has been in the dealership for repair on a regular basis. It didnt bother me when the car was under warrenty. However I just paid my last payment in July and the car went off warrenty a few months before. The engine light went on the day before Thanksgiving and I brought it to the dealer, the service manager called and went thru a list of problems. The list started with emissions problems, and ended with oil leaking into the engine. I asked to speak to the owner of the dealership and got a manager. I told him that I would like them to buy the car back because I do not want it anymore. Apparently they do not want it either. Go figure.

• 

  Good Car, but Traded it in Two Months Later - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By A. Kaplan - July 1 - 5:40 am

  I fell in love with the Rabbit when I first saw it, and probably bought it too quickly (especially with the great trade-in offer and the deal I got). After about 3,500 miles, I decided the car wasnt for me. I lost about $2,500 on the car but bought a fantastic 2004 Saab 9-3 lightly used for roughly the same price (what Rabbits are retailing for). I just didnt enjoy the ride, everything "makes sense," and on paper the Rabbit is a technical marvel, but its also not very fun to drive. Also, the gas mileage leaves A LOT to be desired. My new car gets 35 miles to the gallon on the highway and is faster, while the rabbit averaged 27 mpg on a 1,500 mile all-highway trip.

• 

  Wont purchase again - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ksdvm - July 1 - 12:56 am

  Have a 01, GL with 35K, enjoyed driving it until had a "computer and air sensor" problem. Dealer had my car for 2 weeks - poor communication/service. Should be reliable at 35K. I am selling for a Mazda. Do your research before purchasing. Hopefully improvements are being made with service.

• 

  Watch out for transmission problems - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Will - June 30 - 7:26 pm

  We purchased a this car new in 2004. We noticed transmission problems immediately driving at low speeds or coming to a stop: the downshifting was sometimes violent. The dealership was poor to respond and later acknowledged that there was a software update which they installed. The problem was solved for a couple of years. One day while taking off from our house, a special dash symbol light came on indicating that the transmission was in the safe mode, meaning it could be limped to a dealer. This was in Dec 2007. The repair bill for rebuilding the transmission module was $2300. In short, expensive upkeep cost, poor dealership response. Next car might be American made.

• 

  Maximum Features for the money, - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By TigerBerj - June 30 - 2:00 am

  More features than BMW & Mercedes combined.

• 

  1.8t = Solid Car - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By George S - June 29 - 5:46 am

  Put on about 50,000 miles, with a decent amount of reliability issues (windows dropping into door twice, check engine lights, leaking sunroof, failed ignition coil requiring tow, among others). With the turbocharged engine, Im going to make sure I religiously change the oil every 3k miles no matter what...cant afford to put money into the car now that Im off the 4-year/50k mile warranty. Otherwise, a great car overall. Not fast, but quick - and it can be made quite fast with basic mods, if one should so choose. Amazingly refined interior build quality, classy exterior looks. Has its rattles, but not a big deal. Fairly soft ride, though a bit of lean in turns as a result.

• 

  Be wary of VR6 w/ auto trans - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By . - June 29 - 5:23 am

  Bought a used 2001 Jetta VR6 automatic to replace a 2001 Beetle 1.8T 5-Speed. This was the 8th VW Ive owned (several GTIs, Sciroccos, a Karmann Ghia) but the first VR6, the first 4-speed automatic and the first with unexpected issues. Electrical gremlins made themselves known within the first 1000 miles we put on the car. First, it would occasionally refuse to start unless you reseated the battery-box fuses. Then the sunroof began opening spontaneously. The dealership wasnt able to sort the electrical problems, so I took it to my usual private VW expert. He rolled his eyes and said that VR6 automatics are notoriously problematic (though he had praise for the 2.0 and 1.8T manuals).

• 

  GTI GLS - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Sudz - June 28 - 10:00 am

  For drivin fast, you cant beat it, but sluggish in the corners and too many squeeks and rattles. Lots of goodies, very comfortable ride. Easy to customize and bump up the power - large aftermarket following for bolt on performance.