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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  1 year report - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By pajeff - June 21 - 12:48 am

  After driving for a year and 20k miles heres my take on the Passat TDI. It takes bumps like a pickup truck, corners like a boat, and the technology of a car from 1990. Every time it rains the water rolls off of the roof and into the car when getting in/out or stopping at a drive-through. Is there anything good about this car????? Yes, the amount of space for passengers and luggage is enormous and I get the same milage as all those hybrids but I dont have to worry about a $7K battery swap in a few years. Bottom line buy if youre looking for space mad mileage. Plenty of other choices if tech or performance is higher on your list.

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  VW-PASSAT 2015 WOLFSBURG - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ashokkumar Shanmugam - June 20 - 12:24 am

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  Fun to drive mid-sized sedan - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By scj2 - June 19 - 3:50 am

  Ive owned the 2012 SE Passat V6 for over 1 month and have enjoyed it. Purchased as a CPO vehicle, it has great acceleration and a smooth ride. Plenty of leg room in the front and back seats. Car rides well, has excellent power for passing and navigation works well.

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  Another great VW - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By trav87 - June 18 - 5:50 am

  I bought mine used from a local VW dealer, and abuse the snot out of it. I autocross and do hill climbs with this car, as well as daily drive it. Normal wear and tear items get replaced, and regular maintenance keep things going strong. As with any used car, parts tend to wear out faster than new, so be prepared to spend money keeping them going. Do your homework and never buy a used car without having it checked out!

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  Hitlers revenge - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Shaunt80 - June 14 - 10:00 am

  I had bought this car thinking that it was going to be the greatest thing. Engine is perfect, handling is so so, but the reliability is pathetic. I have had for 1 1/2 years and have had it in service 11 times.

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  Nice Car - LOTS OF REPAIRS - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By thecarrie - June 11 - 2:00 am

  Really like the car for past 2 yrs. Lots of features for the price. BUT, several problems. Power windows break down in the door when rolled down (2 of mine did) - VW extended coverage. Several owners & myself had horrible smell for the first few thousand miles - smells like something dead. Temperature gage broke. Brake pedal switch broke 2x, got stuck because car would not go in gear! Check engine light on @ 26K mi, needs new oxygen sensor already. Shifts rough @ 2K RPM. Sometimes goes in rvrse 5-10 feet when in drive. Console chipping off. But other than unreliability, Id like it.

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  This car hauls ACE! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By B-bop - June 10 - 7:40 pm

  Thank heavens for my warranty. These cars are fun but fickle. At about 45,000 miles, the car had a very long case of the "flu." It was certified used, so I milked that warranty for over $4,000 in repairs. The maintenance can be an expensive hassle, though.

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  Annoyed - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By frustrated - June 8 - 6:46 am

  I pulled my Salsa Red off the lot only 7 weeks ago. The darn thing is falling apart. I am completely frustrated as it has been in the shop twice now resulting in me being in a rental for a total of 6 of the 40 days I have owned it. The Air Bag light came on within the first week. Now my Audio Jack disappeared into the console when I tried to plug my MP3 player in with the cable I just bought. The trunk liner doesnt match up with the body of the car, and there is a knocking at the bottom when I make turns and they are saying it is my trunk contents. TRUNK IS EMPTY!! I havent turned 1500 miles yet and completely regret my purchase. I think it was assembled by a 2 year old.

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  All About Style - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By tosram - June 7 - 12:26 am

  Since I bought this car I have had two problems with it problems and now I need to turn it in for recalls (more than one). Repairs on this model are expensive.

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  Transmission Kicks and other problems - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By bob481 - June 6 - 8:27 pm

  Transmission kicks and struggles over hills. Some people have stated that the transmission smartly adjusts to each drivers particular driving style over time. I havent found that to be true, been driving mine since November. YES, it makes a rumbling sound at 30-35mph. If you want to open ONLY the back windows while driving you cant, not without a brain-crushing noise and tremoring. Is this true of any SUV/CUV? Sound system is lacking. To my ears, theres a hollow, echo sound no matter how tweak it. And the radio, CD player, Satellite radio, and Blue-Tooth Audio Input all play at slightly different volume levels. Constantly adjusting the sound level. Ride is OK, but FAR from cushy.