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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  Enjoying the car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CMR - May 4 - 2:00 am

  So far, I have enjoyed my relatively new 1.8t Jetta 5M. The turbo is a blast, and it performs well with the manual transmission. I am glad I bought the manual as the automatic I test drove fished for gears. I also ended up with the sport suspension but I am not sure exactly of the difference in handling since I cant compare to a regular suspension. Having owned many Hondas previously, I feel as if the tightness of my VW is not up to what I am used to. Overall, I enjoy the Jetta and look forward to driving anywhere I can.

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  Great Looking Car, Terrible Gas Mileage - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By LosAngelesBunny - May 3 - 2:23 am

  My experience is a lot like Sharons. My decision was between the Honda Civic and VW Rabbit, and I ultimately decided on the Rabbit as I preferred the look and it seemed more fun to drive. I really should have put more stock into the gas mileage. I mostly do all my driving in the city - pure stop lights and traffic the whole way to work and back. Im seriously averaging between 10-17 MPG in the city. I cant tell you how stressed out I am about this. Instead of enjoying this gorgeous little car I loathe having to drive anywhere because all I can think about is the gas mileage. Ive been told there is a break in period but if I could do it again Id get something else.

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  Rocket in my pocket - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By Engulfed1.8t - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive car with zippy handeling. Not exactly a power hugry street beast but a refined scalpal. Easily upgraded for 50 more ponies all inside a little chip. Cult like fallowing with dedicated clubs and events. Oh, and a magazine (euro tuner). VW service is a little slow to respond but the car is built well on the outside and under the hood, Audi engineering.

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  Dont buy a Beetle/Jetta - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By The Rocket - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Read all of the other reviews because I have had every one of their problems. This car might be German engineered for the awesome motor and styling but the Mexican build quality with Mickey Mouse switches aint worth a peso. Unfortunately the only thing on this car that hasnt failed is the Check Engine light...Its still glowing strong!

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  I will be a repeat buyer - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By joyone - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. I had several great vehicles before this one but my Passat outshines them all. I have had no problems and the maintanance has been much less than I expected. The employees at the dealership that I got the car from are extremely friendly and always helpful. I know that my next car will be a Volkswagen. I dont have any complaints about this car.

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  Great for the money! - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Ready to Roll - May 1 - 5:16 pm

  Ive invested in an upgrade chip for my Volkswagen GTI. It now has 215 horsepower. There has been a significant improvement in the acceleration. K&N air filter helped too. This car has been all that Ive expected. If you want a Porsche then thats what you should buy. This is a bang for the buck automobile! Knock on wood Ive had no mechanical problems. Im 62" and I think it could use more leg room though.

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  German luxury on a budget - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By drjkalyan - April 30 - 8:25 am

  This is my first new car and I love it. It looks impressive with taut lines and geometrical shapes that accent the angular look of the new VWs. The car is decidedly large for the American market and can be a problem only in some crowded cities. Inside the cabin the interiors are excellent quality and material with symmetrical layout - maybe a bit boring. It has the best in-class rear seat legroom and boot space. It has adequate equipment as standard. Ride is a bit choppy on rough roads but is very well absorbing on usual city roads. Power is just about adequate and delivery is a tad linear. Engaging the sports mode creates more engine noise than speed. I love the tank-like build quality!

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  Make sure you get the maintenance record - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By bmlarso - April 30 - 2:00 am

  Had the can since it was new. Had to replace the MAF 4 times. ($250 a crack, but got them to cover all but $150 or it). Has to replece the computer and wiring harness because it was what was tripping the CEL for the MAF. Tires had to be replaced at 15000. Glove gox broken. Mirror adjuster broken. Break-away mirrors BROKE at a VERY slow speed. 46000 and the clutch is going and I dont drive it that hard, but it is fun to drive and the 500+ miles to a tank is always a plus.

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  Good Car but doesnt leave room for upgrades - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By kekoa1 - April 28 - 4:22 pm

  The interior is very nice and comfortable. I love the quality of leather. I inherited the Passat at 70,000 miles. I really wish it were turbo. I am going to put in a K&N CAI to give it more spunk. It does not accelerate quick enough for me. I wish I could do a turbo conversion on it but it would not be worth the cost. It is a difficult car to work on because you would have to remove so much of the front end to get to work. I am not looking forward to the 100,000 timing belt change. It will be very costly. No one likes working on these for fun. I like the tight handling. It needs more power. If I could find a good chip maker I would add one. Turbo is the way to go because you can modify.

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  Great Car - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ckeel4 - April 28 - 2:13 am

  I bought this car for my wife in late 2005. She absolutely loves it and will probably keep it for many years to come. I love the heated seats (also does great in the snow). Its size is comparable to an Accord or Camry. I feel it matches up better in fact with a BMW 3 series. It is remarkably similar to a 2002-2005 Audi A4 and the size of the old Passat. Very few downsides show through on the car. The driver compartment aggravates me as I like to rest my leg in the middle of the car, in the VW this falls right on a sharp edge. Also, the wheels are susceptible to scratches.