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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  nice car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wisco06vw - October 4 - 10:46 am

  Great car so far. Extremely fun to drive and my friends love it. Only problem I had was the power went out in my drivers door and had to replace the harness, but the warranty covered it.

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  What a Mistake! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Karen - October 4 - 10:40 am

  When I purchased this car new in 2003, it was my first experience with a Volkswagon. I now now it will be my last. The first month the starter went and I was without a car for days. I unfortunately continued to bring the car to the dealership and never got out of there under $1000, even for routine service. The recalls have been numerous, and my pants actually caught fire with the lovely heated seats prior to the recall. I recently replaced an axle, and now I am told I may need a new transmission. I dont even have 80,000 mile yet. My back doors do not unlock, the handle came off the glovebox, the alarm no longer sounds when I leave the lights on, the sunroof gets stuck open, ....on and on..

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  Great car for a great price! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kahlua - October 4 - 10:20 am

  We purchaed a Jetta Wagon GLS 1.8T 5-speed. The steering is excellent, with some body roll evident, as we didnt get the Sport Suspension, but its still manageable. The shifting is precise, and the car is QUICK, and stable at high speeds. We got every option you could get on the GLS except for the sport Suspension package, and still came in at $21.5k even. For a car with this many options, thats a GREAT price! This car needs nothing else to be a great and fun car for a small family.

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  I love my VW Passat! - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sienna47 - October 4 - 1:03 am

  This was my first VW and will likely not be my last. Since buying my car new in 2000 and putting just about 135,000 miles on it, I have had no major issues with it at all. Yes, repairs are a bit costly, but with regular maintenance, my car has been pretty much problem-free. I intend to hold onto this car for a while simply because its such a solid, well-built car.

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  VW HAS A DEFINITE COIL PROBLEM - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jerry - October 3 - 9:30 pm

  I have been down the coil road with VW. They will not admit that it is a major problem with their car. I have almost been stranded twice with the coil problem. Once I was at the dealer & they told me I would have to wait until the following week to get it fixed. It is a really simple thing to replace . I called a friend (Mechanic) & he knew right away & told me to buy a coil at the dealer & he talked me through changing it. It was a trial & error method because I didnt know which one of the 4 was bad. It turned out to be #1 coil. 2 weeks later # 2 died. I replaced it & the other 2 & have solved my problem. I hope the new ones are more reliable! Also had to replace a front axle

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  Engine Sludge/Awful Quality - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By GT - October 3 - 6:56 pm

  I have 8 2007 Passats that I use as TaxiCabs. 3 engines and 4 transmissions have already gone. Granted, we put alot of miles on it, but the turbo engine just does not stand up. Computer requires multiple visits to the dealer for reflash and these cars are absolutely draining the company wallet. Ive always owned Audis and VWs and never had so much trouble. Absolute money pit.

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  2004 VW Jetta TDI - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By John Ades - October 3 - 5:23 pm

  A fun car to drive.It has lots of acceleration for normal highway driving.The fuel economy is wonderful at todays prices.I have gotten as high as 49 mpg on a trip,and always get at least in the low 40s.Slightly pricey,but nothing except hybreds come close to the fuel economy.

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  9 Months old and outside door handle breaks off. - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By gjoes - October 3 - 4:52 am

  Well this is irritating and one of the reasons I had reservations about buying a VW, weird little things breaking, knobs falling off, etc. I had a new Jetta in 1998 and my trips to the dealership for little things were endless, including the starter going ont within 6 months. I was assured all of these issues were taken care of, and obviously theyre not. Once the door handle was in my hand (not on the car) I noticed that it is actually plastic. Plastic? Hmmmm. I should have kept my Jeep.

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  Dont believe the hype - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By IhatemyJetta - October 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 98 dealer-certified Jetta in Jan. 2001 for about what I would have paid for a 2001 Corolla, thinking I was getting a better car. And in terms of comfort and handling, I was. The positives end there. This car has been a nightmare. Transmission (automatic) died at 54k; the powertrain warranty was only good up to 50k, so the dealer politely informed me that I was screwed. Cost of a new trans: $3,000. Car still doesnt run right: Jerky, inconsistent shifting and acceleration, runs hot, idles rough, burns through coolant. Dealer insists with a straight face theres nothing wrong with it. In short, a total piece of crap. Never again.

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  Poorly built - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By andreas2000jetta - October 2 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has tons of tech bulletins for costly repairs. Our problems in the first 25k miles include: **Bad Clear Coat, damaged first week of ownership - fixed after complaining to vw a few times. **Engine knock/tic that is reduced with an oil change every 2-3k miles. **Musty Smell coming from padding under carpet - told it is an $850 fix related to this poorly built car **Sway bar link came loose at 22k miles. **Rear brakes on this stick shift down to 10% after 18k miles. Front brakes are at full padding.