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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  Few comments - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By celeste - October 21 - 2:00 am

  This car has lots of pep and is easy to drive. Its interior design makes the most of a small car.

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  Economical wagon - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Davey - October 20 - 11:16 am

  This car is best on the highway, where it gets great mileage and the firm seats remain comfortable for the whole trip. But as a city car Im not so sure. DSG transmission can be annoying. At 30MPH it wants to be in 5th with engine @ 1100 RPMs. You can shift it yourself though. Mileage drops from 45 on the highway to 25 in the city. Nav /radio system has glitches and sound quality is mediocre. Cargo space is really impressive for a car this size.

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  Throttle body problems - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dawn - October 20 - 5:53 am

  Problems with throttle body within months of purchase. Car on third throttle body. Extreme loss of power on freeways and uphills. Two near accidents. In last 4 months, it has been in an authorized repair shop 5/6 times with thousands of dollars worth of repairs. Contacted VW corporate 5 times. Never asked for new car or rental for inconveniences, just requesting a safe reliable car (like mine). V. disappointed with VW customer service more so than vehicle.

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  The 4 Cylinder Jetta Sucks! - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jewel2 - October 19 - 11:10 am

  I have not had this car for a year yet and Im already having problems. Like other owners, I have electrical problems with check engine lights coming on, coolant lights and all seem to be "fine" when checked by mechanics. Also the transmission sticks when driving. It sometimes jerks when trying to accelerate going uphill. My drivers side door squeaks when I open it. Ive lost a hubcap and on a rainy day the tires slip. Also the fuel economy sucks on the highway as well so Im left wondering, why did I buy this car?

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  Probably the best in its class - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By newbie - October 19 - 7:40 am

  Needed more build quality. Overdrive with automatic transmition is annoying

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  Good Overall, Some Problems - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dave Nadeau - October 18 - 6:46 am

  I just turned 80,000 miles on my Jetta TDI. Overall, Ive been very happy. The mileage is unbeatable, and the turbo works wonders in the mountains here in Colorado. Some of the other owners comments are well taken however. My suspension squeaks. Part of my panel lights are intermittent. The suspension is too soft, which means poor ground clearance, which means the plastic under the oil pan eventually gets beat up. The passenger side door handle requires two pulls to open. Other than those issues, the car has performed quite well, with minimal maintenance.

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  You wont regret your purchase - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By eapj - October 18 - 3:26 am

  Great car! Not the fastest hot hatch but definitely the most livable. Not as boy racer as the Focus SVT I once had but with 4 doors and better manners, this one will be a keeper. I was waiting for a 4 door GTI but didnt like the looks of the last model; this one looks and drives like a much more expensive car. I have owned a number of VWs and havent had any quality or reliability problems so I expect the same with the GTI. Friends are amazed that this car cost what it did and a few have remarked that it just looks fun

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  Best Car - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Shorty - October 16 - 9:26 pm

  I bought my car about 5 months ago and nothing has gone wrong with it. My 97 Trek has Air Conditioning, Cruise Control, CD player (aftermarket), Power Sunroof, and Anti-Lock Brakes. The car is really fun to drive and I really like the manual transmision and clutch. The only thing I dont like is that there is a short little high pitched squeak when I first begin to open the sunroof and it lasts about one second.

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  Problem free for 50K miles! - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By rcboater - October 15 - 8:46 pm

  Bought my car new in May 2009. Car is now five years old, and weve put 50,000 fun-filled miles on it. MPG is pretty good, too. On the highway, I get 32 MPG. In my mixed suburban driving, I will get about 28 if I drive normally, but have gotten as high as 35 on the same route by driving conservatively. My car has never leaked- but I paid heed to the advice on the owner forums to lubricate the roof seals annually, to keep them soft and pliable. (Thats a 20 minute job.) Ive had NO issues with the mechanical aspects of the car-- to date, the only thing outside of regular scheduled fluid changes was new rear brake pads at 31K miles.

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  Poor Workmanship - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jaybird11 - October 15 - 10:00 am

  My Jetta has been in the shop about 30 times in the year I have owned it. The plastic pieces in the interior have all peeled and had to be replaced. The replacements have begun their peeling now. My passenger side seat fell apart, and has been to the dealership and upholstery shop 4 times. The seat is still broken, and was inoperable for over 2 months. I would not wish my Jetta experience on my worst enemy. DO NOT purchase a VW.