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:

• 

  No More VW for me! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ali - October 12 - 5:16 pm

  I really dislike my Jetta! I bought it brand spanking new with four miles on it and its been a headache from day one. Ahhhh, the list of problems (and these are all in the first two years) includes a check engine light that never turns off, the glove box door fell off twice, the arm rest broke twice, the button to open the trunk inside car wont work, the drivers door wont lock with the remote, the drivers window motor broke five times, and all of the other window motors broke twice EACH! My windows broke so many times that VW repaired them even after the warranty expired. I will honestly never buy another VW. Its a cute car, but it is put together with spit and everytime something breaks it is EXPENSIVE. I am looking to trade it in real soon!

• 

  Passat = Fun - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Steve - October 11 - 1:50 pm

  Ive had my Passat for 2 months and 2,000 miles. I love the combination of performance, quiet, comfort, distinctive look, gas mileage (26 combined), Monsoon stereo, luxury and great fun factor (5 speed manual). This car is smallish on the outside but roomy inside - a perfect combination of bigness while not being big. This contributes to a true sport sedan look and feel. The 6 year old finish looks like new. The V6 is so quiet I often have to watch the tach to know when to shift. The interior is superb - real wood trim, comfortable seats, plenty of room for four adults plus spacious trunk. It has lots of nice touches, like hold the key in unlock position and the windows open! Its one of a kind.

• 

  R32 #939 - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By HSE - October 10 - 11:46 pm

  Currently, I have no CDs in the CD changer, no iPod connected and Sirius radio has yet to be activated - the exhaust note and engine resonance are (simply put) addicting! The motor has a lot of grunt. It has a good amount of low end torque and, once the horsepower catches up, it just keeps pulling and pulling! The AWD Haldex system is great. It doesnt struggle one bit - just tight, neutral handling. VR6 + DSG mate extremely well. Fast AND smooth; how do they do it?? The interior design and ergonomics are top notch. Theres a very thin line between VW and Audi nowadays! What can I say about the exterior? Its gorgeous. Very upscale/mature, but you can tell it wants to play.

• 

  Domino Effect of Early Problems - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Allan - October 10 - 6:40 pm

  Really good car that I researched thoroughly but because of early electrical problems that required diagnosis by 2 shops and a VW specialist, domino electrical problems occur frequently. I have to say that my dealership has been excellent so I continue to be patient.

• 

  2 weeks in - 2013 Volkswagen CC
  By lotsofpaper - October 10 - 5:44 pm

  Traded in my 2009 370z for this car, really like the interior quality, its amazingly great. Everything is solid no issues with anything. The power is of course severly less than my 370z but was becoming increasingly tired of all the teens racing me or trying to keep up. Anyway I wanted something that reflected me a lot better and this sedan does it. S mode with DSG is very good for a 2.0 engine! Very quiet, smooth, and a looker especially at night from the rear cars will slow down and stare at it. If you want something less common get this car its solid. Skip the sunroof its 3K more and it only tilts 1 inch (not worth it, for me). Love driving it!

• 

  Former Toyota owner - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Joey nash - October 10 - 3:50 pm

  I am reluctant to sing praises just yet. As a former Toyota owner, I expect a lot out of my vehicles in terms of reliability. I did not expect to buy a VW, but in keeping a promise to my daughter, I let her pick. We bought the car and afterward, I searched the internet for opinions (backwards, I know). After the initial panic, I have realized that most of the reviews on any car are negative, since people with no gripe tend not to bother at all. That said, if this car gives me no problems mechanically, it will be my all time favorite. I did not know anybody made a car that got 30 mpg+ and would go fast. Fun to drive and the design seems to be well thought out. Feels like a fighter plane.

• 

  GLX Vr6 - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By RCA - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I have read many of the negative comments about the Jetta. It looks like the most of the problems are in the initial build quality. I am the second owner of this car and it has over 70k miles and for the price(used) you can not beat what you get. It is tight rides well and is an absolute blast to drive. I owned the 850 GLT before this car and the repairs on a european car and the cars like the Jetta are not cheap. Maybe if the negative drivers would buy a ford focus or something like that they would not be so shocked by some of the repair bills. After all you are buying a BMW type car check out the repair bill on those...

• 

  Volkswagens First Audi - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Braden - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I currently own an Audi A6 and need to buy a SUV that was over 6000lbs (GVW) for my business so I can take the Bush tax write-off. My Audi dealer tried to persuade me to go with the Porsche Cayenne, but I didnt like the interior. The Porches interior is awful, nothing like the Touareg which is nicer than my A6. I also looked at the BWW X5, but it was too small, and pricey once you load it up with the V8. I struggled with paying 48K for a VW, but this SUV is nearly perfect, its like driving an Audi (car). The build quality is impecible, the ride is much smoother than the Porsche and the cabin is very quiet. The safety features are great.

• 

  LOVE IT - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By VWLOVER2 - October 9 - 10:00 am

  AFTER TEST DRIVING ALL SIMILAR STYLES AND PRICE RANGES, THIS CAR WAS THE ABSOLUTE BEST FOR THE MONEY, IT HAS ALL THE EXTRAS. THE COMFORT & THE RIDE ARE INCREDIBLE. I TELL EVERYONE I KNOW

• 

  Love this Passat! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By VW Lover - October 8 - 4:46 pm

  This is a great car and it should be at this price. Optioned out, its not cheap, but its a car with great performance, even with the 4-cyl engine, which is what I have. Its fuel economy is good, the car is roomy, it has great built quality and awesome looks. I wish the steering wheel was power adjustable or easier to get to the adjustment handle. The navigation system is pretty easy to use, even without the owners manual. The sound system is great, and I love how easy it is to use the sunroof with the rotary knob. Its rear and side visibility could be a tad better, but it has great front visibility. I love the turn signals in the side view mirrors and the heated mirrors and heated washer fluid nozzles.