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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  OH NO!!! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jonathan38 - January 17 - 10:00 am

  My Jetta only has 368 miles on it and (already) the power windows, the map lights and the power locks stopped working! I read the reviews about the 2002 models and the horror stories about the windows falling into the doors never to return. I figured by now the manufacturer would have its &^%$ together. Come on VW...Stop drinking on the assembly line!!!

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  Do Not Buy....:( - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By inthaps - January 17 - 10:00 am

  There are serval issues that will come along with a owning a Jetta. The car is one of the most unreliable car I have ever owned. Malfunctions-power windows, transmission, water pump, sound system, engine coil. I hope this review will help you choose your vehicle wisely. I wish that I would have done more research. Do not be fool to believe that all VW owners are truly happy. Ask the opinion of those that are near the service department of the dealer you may choose to visit. They will speak the truth and not steer you in the wrong direction, since they have first hand experience.

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  The Real GTI is Back - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Nick S. - January 16 - 11:53 am

  Ive had my GTI for almost two years now, and its easily the finest car Ive ever driven. There were so many duds that followed the 1983 original, but Volkswagen finally got serious again about this iconic model. The engine is the star here, propelling whats not a light vehicle with gusto. It pulls from below 2000 rpm, which means theres virtually no turbo lag. Great car for darting around Manhattan traffic, but the open road is where it shines. Buckets of torque make passing a breeze, and the VW is unflappable at high speed. Overall reliability has been surprisingly solid. Fuel economy has been atrocious.

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  Nothin Betta than a Jetta - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Darryl - January 15 - 11:53 am

  I love everything about this car. It handles great and has outstanding acceleration when you need it. It has a very comfortable ride and is very fun to drive.

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  Looks can be deceiving - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By johnnyhatesjetta - January 15 - 12:53 am

  Read all the sites before you buy a jetta!! I know I made a mistake, dont let it be you. The car looked awesome. Got more than a few compliments on the road. It had more than adequate performance with a 200 v6 and 5 speed auto. Nice sounds from the stereo when it worked. Loved to cruise at very high speeds.

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  Fun car, hate the check engine light - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Vdubber - January 13 - 12:36 pm

  I bought my Jetta two months ago and have put about 2000 miles on it, it had 93000 when I bought it. I love the looks of the car and the features are second to none in the small car realm, the heated leather, sunroof, radio controls on the steering column, its very fun to drive and fairly economical, it gets around 31 mpg, my only complaint is the check engine light, no matter how many repairs, it will not go off and stay off. $530 later Ive decided to let it be on. Sometimes I get so mad about it but then I drive the car and remember why I love it, its fun to drive, more classy than civic or corolla... did I mention its fun to drive?

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  So far so good - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vwandsaabfan - January 12 - 3:07 am

  I recently purchased this car as a practical everyday driver and I am loving it. It is not very powerful, but the 2.0l does well enough. The manual gearbox is wonderful and is very fun. The car handles surprisingly well. I am happy with the fuel economy (average 29.5) and so far have not had any mechanical issues. There are a few squeaks and rattles from various places in the interior, but other than that the car is very clean. It is almost at 100xxx miles and still runs like a champ. The heater is also excellent in this car, which is important as I am from Wisconsin. I have put about 3xxx miles on so far and am very happy with this car.

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  Happy to be back with VW again - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By flbntz - January 11 - 9:40 pm

  I had a 1973 VW Super Beetle, my first new car, and, due to driving around with five full size guys in the car, bought a used 69 Ford Thunderbird coupe, the party mobile, Regretted not keeping the VW longer, really solid, well-built car, and fun to drive. Bought a 2010 Toyota Prius in December 2009, and traded it on a 2010 Golf 2dr gas AT 3 months later, due to lack of driving enjoyment when the cool factor of the Prius wore off, and everything became about gas milage with it, which wasnt as good as they advertised. They said it was due to it being winter, and the gas motor needed to run to run the heater, but they donttell you that before you buy it. Fahrvegnugen! Like my VW.

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  Love my Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Echad7 - January 11 - 4:40 am

  I checked out this website before I purchased my Turbo two years ago. Reviews were so good, I took the plunge and have not regretted it one minute. I love my Passat. Handling is awesome, comfort is excellent. I make sure it gets its regular maintenance. It has 40,000 miles on it and not had any problems. Hope it stays that way!

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  Better than expected - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By wingate - January 11 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car at the insistance of my wife who spent her teen aged years in a VW bug. I expected a crampled interior and poor performance but was plesantly surprised. Get the turbo!..just dont look under the hood...this car can only be serviced by a VW electronic engineer!