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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  Love the Mileage - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bubba Johnson - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Fantastic mileage with the diesel engine!!! Best in class. Problems: 1. The coolant sensor died @ 35000 miles & that is not covered by the warranty. 2. Clear coat on the hood is poor and is easily eaten away by dead bugs. 3. Passenger side door lock actuator does not always open all the way. Have been waiting for a replacement for 6 months.

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  Inferior Interior - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kahn - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Its like driving a huge "lint brush"!!! Anything article of clothing worn sticks to the seats & the doors! I have complained repeatedly to VW Customer Care, to no avail! VW offered to send me a "Kit" to help deal with the problem (Kit=(1) lint brush and a rag)...go figure! I asked if they had received complaints?...the operator stated, "No." I asked, "Why does VW conveniently have a kit available to deal with a problem they say does not exist!??" The answer received was so ridiculous, I cant even remember what the response was!!! Not only is it annoying to have to continuously clean this car, but its embarrassing to have to explain why the interior looks like CRAP!!!!

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  Love it - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By satoshi - September 3 - 10:00 am

  I got my black Jetta 1.8T GLS last Friday. It is so much fun to drive and it looks so beautiful. Got the sport luxury package: 17" alloys, sport suspension, and a power sunroof. These cars are built in Mexico, and I dont really trust Mexican quality control. It worries me. The Jetta 1.8T GLS is definitely more bang for the buck than a BMW or Lexus. Its not as nice as those other cars, but Ill be paying off the Jetta in 2 years instead of 5 years for the IS 300. I dont like that the acceleration curve is not very smooth. You have to be careful with all that torque or you are risking whiplash. I also wish it got better gas mileage. (only 22/29)

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  Great Car Except... 2 Things Drive me Crazy - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By jax20 - September 3 - 7:46 am

  Im writing this review because I just got backed into. And if the blasted horn were to work when the car is turned off it would not have happened. What I want to ask you Mr. Hans Designor is why must the hatch lock everytime it is closed? How is this a safety feature? And how in the world is it safe to be unable to use a horn when your car is turned off? A paranoid hypocondriac grandmother could not design a more annoying electric locking system.

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  This car sux - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Maverick - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the car used and for the first week was very happy. During the second week of ownership the check engine light came on and the emissions workshop indicator. After repeated visits to the dealer, the problem was unidentifiable. They replaced the MAF sensor and did other work. Fortunately the car was under warranty. However, a week later the check engine light went on again. After driving the car for a couple hundred miles the light went off again. Ever since then the light comes on and goes off whenever it wants. The car is not worth it. At the first opportunity I plan on dumping the car after 6 months.

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  Unhappy Camper - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jimbo Jones - August 29 - 8:13 am

  Much nicer car than the previous model in every way...fit and finish and quality of materials is second to none..unfortunately, have owned the car for 3 weeks and it has been in the shop 3 times (still in there after 6 days)...the first time was after the first 5 miles...with an undiagnosed problem

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  if only... - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Javy - August 25 - 10:00 am

  I bought this certified car 2.5 years ago. I really like the quality, the milage and how it drives. Like any other car it needs to be mantained, maybe a little more than other makes. So if you are thinking on buying one, ask other owners where you can get good service in your area. And try to stay away from the dealer as much as you can if you want to get professional service and if you dont whant to spend your kids college fund.

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  VW Jetta 1.8 turbo - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steve053 - August 25 - 10:00 am

  I bought the Jetta primarily for my wife, but Ive been doing a lot of the driving and I love the way the car handles. Its fun to drive and I love the turbo and the gas mileage. Overall, were very satisfied so far with this car.

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  Practical but Troublesome - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By ShrinerMonkey - August 25 - 9:46 am

  The Passats excellent driving dynamics and a premium cabin cannot make up for its horrible reliability and incredibly poor dealer service. Even with regular maintenance which is extremely expensive because of synthetic and proprietary fluid requirements and expensive parts, this car has still had numerous part failures in only 60,000 pampered miles of driving. I love European cars but they are too expensive to own.

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  The Jetta that couldnt be killed - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DJ - August 23 - 6:36 pm

  I purchased this car new and have put almost 200,000 trouble free miles on it. The fit and finish of this car is on par with anything made currently and with minor suspension upgrades has been a blast to drive. It may not out accelerate most cars in a straight line but it corners great. The only major repair was the transmission which nuked at 159,000 miles, but I didnt expect to have it last that long. I would reccomend this car to anyone looking for a inexpensive, fun, reliable, economical, great looking car. It would be a safe first car for a young driver. Someone buying a used one should check service history and make sure window regulators are in working order.