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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  Solid, Reliable Car - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By Justin - June 4 - 2:12 am

  I have now owned my Passat for nearly 5 years now. I have to say that this car has been very reliable. I have had no maintanance issues, there have been a couple recalls but for very minor things that I would have never noticed had I never received anything in the mail. I truly recommend this car for someone who wants something that is reliable, roomy, and affordable.

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  Good mileage...defective interior parts. - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Thebtls - June 1 - 10:00 am

  Interior is covered in a plastic like material that peals off. If if wasnt for the 43 MPG I would turn it loose. The mileage is the only redeaming feature. Arm Rest latch has broken 3 times, cost $58 to fix at dealer cost...so that remains unfixed. Factory car mats are garbage. Cup holders can not be used at all. If you do use the one in the console, it cracks...all four are cracked now. If you spill coke or coffee, it eats away the finish on the cups...

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  Very pleased Jetta Owner - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JVCINLV - June 1 - 5:10 am

  Well I bought this car a few months ago and so far I am very pleased with it. It is the first car I have owned in a long time that I can actually say is fun to drive.

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  Great car....BUT! - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By dinoscc - May 29 - 11:34 pm

  Have almost 20k miles on my CC. The car has incredible performance all while routinely getting about 30 mpg - have gotten as much as 38! However, there are issues when accelerating from dead stop which can be dangerous - if you dont press the gas just right, the car will stall or bog down on you for what seems like an eternity when making a left turn - DANGEROUS! Car has manual tranny, and yes I know how to drive! The car even sputters when holding the pedal steady and driving, so not sure if its an issue with injectors/turbo/or computers or combination. Id love to buy this car after lease is over, but if dealer cant fix it at next service, Ill be letting this car go - would be a shame.

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  An actual POSITIVE Passat review - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ob1wan - May 29 - 1:20 pm

  I am posting to give a favorable thumbs up to my Passat Wagon, which I purchased new in June 2002. Sure it has had a few mechanical failures, and the usual maintenance any car needs. But other then that its been very reliable, practical and fun to drive. A couple of the issues I have had relate to CV boot joints tearing (normal) and the passenger seat heater going out. I agree that headlight bulbs do burn out more often then normal and that regular maintenance prices are a bit higher. However, it has been and still is a blast to drive, I have great fuel economy (27- 30 mpg, being a wagon is a huge bonus and it beats the compact SUVs or Crossovers any day of the week. Its a keeper until the end.

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  Affordable Fun - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By Louie1 - May 29 - 10:00 am

  Great little car - sharp looking red with a black top and black leather interior (very hot in the summer). The extra paid for the GLX is worth it! I purchased the vehicle while living in the mountains - perfect handling on those curvy mountain roads. However, now Im back in the big city and feel intimidated in my small five-speed. Back to an SUV for me!

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  German Engineering? Yea right!!!! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By goingback2 - May 29 - 10:00 am

  I dont even know where to begin...At 10000 miles a brake light switch went out not covered under warranty! Then at 25000 battery went dead and thanks to VW for the special size, that was a nice $200 bill(again not under warranty). I have battled with the power window switches that are tempermental, the auto door lock at 7mph that works half the time, the drivers side window that doesnt want to go up, the gas door that wont latch and have I mentioned the horrible rattling and vibration at any speed over 25mph? The interior pieces are notorious for falling off. This car turned to junk after 6 months of ownership.

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  Though not perfect.... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By New York - May 29 - 10:00 am

  I got mine 2003 model a week ago. I was very satisfied until I heard a buzzing sound around 2500RPM coming from the engine bay. The sound was so loud that I had to shift before I reach 25000 mark. So I took to the dealer, they started looking for the sound source for couple of minites and found that the oil pan was loose. After a simple tight, the sound was gone....

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  Looking Good in My Lady Bug! - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ladybug - May 29 - 12:40 am

  I love my chick car. I look good in it. Taking the top down is awesome in the warm weather, and it drives well in the winter too. It has impressive head-room and I can almost stand up on the floor of the backseat. The trunk is tiny, but who cares? Put your groceries on the passenger seat. Ive had it for about a year now and have had no mechanical issues at all, gas efficiency is pretty average, and its overall pretty low maintenance.

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  Still a Good Car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TSmith - May 25 - 9:36 am

  I have owned my Jetta Wagon for 8 years now and have 115k miles on it. This has been a good car. I tend to drive cars into the ground and have completed this mission with several Toyotas... so I know good cars. I have had a few problems with the plastic handles on the glove box and arm rest. They have been replaced. The door seal tends to freeze the door shut when left over night in very cold weather. Other than these small problems this has been a carefree car. I know two other people that own this same wagon and they have had the same luck with their cars that I have with mine. Consumer Reports did a very poor job of reviewing this car. I would recommend this car.