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:

• 

  Poor Mans M3... - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By the car guru - October 29 - 11:46 pm

  I used to own a 99 M3...so I know what I am talking about when I say this new GLI from VW is "a poor mans M3"! What I mean is, a new BMW M3 retails for over $50,000. The GLI can be bought (well equipped) for around $25,000! This car performs as well as most would expect for the price. Its powerful 2.0T engine gets you going fast right off the line every time. The spectacular DSG transmission is state of the art. (why hasnt Porsche stolen it from VW yet...Ill never figure out?) When you want to haul four adults economically, but in style and with a sporty nature to your ride...consider a GLI. Its the best Jetta of the bunch by a long shot! And a great overall bargain sports sedan.

• 

  Used car test: 2002 VW Passat GLS Wagon - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By carb5 - October 29 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a CPO 2002 Passat GLS 1. 8T Wagon in April of 2004 for a cross-Canada trip heading west from Ottawa to Vancouver Island then North through Dawson Creek B.C. (mile 0 of the Alaska Highway) and further north to Great Slave Lake (above the 60th Parallel) and back. The trip totalled 17000km and took 205 hours according to the trip computer. The Passat swallowed all of our gear and never complained through a daily average of 6 hours on the road at speeds anywhere from 30 to 75 mph. We averaged 36mpg over the full distance in 32 days. Nothing went wrong. A flawless trip in a car that left me extremely impressed. Id buy a new one in a heartbeat.

• 

  Ahhhh! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Bakwalker - October 29 - 10:00 am

  This will be a very short happy review: After 6 months driving this vehicle I am still in love. Simple, elegant, fun to drive, solid as a rock, comfortable. I am looking forward to an ongoing affair with this car.

• 

  Nice Execution VW - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mlsadvis - October 29 - 10:00 am

  I traded a 97 BMW 540i 6-speed for this car and am very impressed. The BMW was fantastic, no question, but heavier and less tossable. Was looking for a smaller, more nimble car. Looked at the BMW 330i, Audi A4, Acura TL. 330i was $40K, the Audi $39K and the Acura a bargain at $33K. So...not enough bang for the buck with the BMW and Audi. Horrible torque steer with the Acura. For $24K I have a vehicle with great perfomance, ergonomics, space and visual appeal. Time will tell regarding reliablity and build quality. For VW enthusiasts, this Jetta is a 337 GTI. You will love it. Also, if interested, a new chip will make this a 225 hp, 250 lb/ft rocket.

• 

  250k! <3 my bug. - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By dulciepoo - October 29 - 12:35 am

  My parents bought this car at 60k, gave it to me at 120k, and ive driven it up to 250k, and its still going. Ive had some issues, of course....its a car. Heating/cooling fan went out, clutch replaced once, windshield wiper fluid stopped spraying? cheap interior. Still, it is time I look for another car, and I am looking at VWs. Expensive repairs, but a VW will stay running forever. Do not pay $60 for your headlight. I bought the bulb for $12 and a small mechanic did labor for $8. Find someone else to do repairs! Youll pay 1/3 the price that you did at the dealer. Just make sure he/she knows what theyre doing.

• 

  Beautiful, but Ugly Gas Mileage - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By snowboarder - October 28 - 7:56 pm

  Overall I love the truck...but I am finding some of the features difficult to use like the trip computer and even the a/c. The Volkswagen Touareg drives awesome though and makes up for the few shortcomings stated above. I havent taken it up to the mountains yet, but I intend to go up next weekend and I will write another review at that time. Oh, I almost forgot about the terrible gas mileage 13 mpg. VW needs to offer the Touared in front wheel drive to improve the gas mileage.

• 

  Fun to drive, keep your walking shoes - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By George H. - October 28 - 6:20 am

  Great visibility and fast, fun ride. Be prepared with your cell phone--mine has quit running twice, needed tow, took about a week to repair each time. Trunk wont unlock 80% of the time with either the remote or inside release and one of the remote key fobs just quit working. This review is from the owner of a 2005 Mercedes SLK (so I know fun to drive) and a 2006 Honda Ridgeline (so I know high quality). Before its out of warranty Im going to get something else--another Beetle if the JD Powers and Consumers Reports ratings improve. This beetle replaced a 2001 model I bought used; that one never broke. In fairness, this is a very early build of the new model.

• 

  Waaaay better than previous vehicle (Honda Insight) - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
  By pacific_nw - October 28 - 4:29 am

  I used to own a 2010 Jetta SE 2.5 5-cylinder & a 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid, & this car has certainly been the best of both worlds. VW has fixed the previous issues that I had with the remodelled Jetta (most importantly, the IRS) & this car gets the advertised mpg that the TDi claims (42 us hwy mpg is almost dead-on from our 2000+ mile road trip up and down the west coast.) It is such a great road trip car. It has all the power you need to go up hills that our Insight pathetically would cry about and it has great interior/trunk space. The DSG has been the best shifting transmission Ive had. A must buy if you are looking for inexpensive/fun to drive/fuel economy. Interior also easy to clean.

• 

  Amazing Value - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Atlanta Buyer - October 27 - 5:56 pm

  The Rabbit is by far the best inexpensive compact car available. I tried them all, and nothing compares to the solid body, secure handling, safety equipment, and controlled ride. The 4 door is very well equipped for the price with 6 airbags, heated seats, 10-speaker CD-changer audio system, 4-wheel anti-lock disk brakes, and the quality interior materials. I added ESP and the 16" alloy wheels, both of which contribute to improved handling. I have not owned the car long, but there have been no problems. My last Golf went 4 years with nothing but routine maintenance, so Im hoping for the same with this one.

• 

  And now the negitives - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By will not buy another - October 27 - 1:00 pm

  I have posted when I first bought this car. Mostly all positive. Still a good car, but I will not buy another. I drive hard (80 to 85 mph) on the highway as my commute is 70 miles round trip to work. My mileage is average 28 mpg which is ok. Things that disappoint me.. 1-a/c in glovebox, but no light. 2-can not open drivers door and lock from inside (without key). 3-can not sit in the dark with only radio lights on. All lights including bright driving lights will be on. 4-hatch lock locks on its own free will (when your not ready) 5-outlet and mp3 jack in glovebox (useless location) 6-no quick release to let seat down. The twist knob is poor choice, as I like to lean back. 7-expensive maintenance.