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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  TDI - the Best Buy - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TDIman - May 11 - 1:36 am

  While the TDI engine is more expensive to purchase, the original great gas mileage - 49 MPG/HWY with the automatic transmission, continues to improve (now 52MPG/HWY). This car is quiet (running at 2,000 cruising at 70 MPH) and cleaner than my Passat 1.8T (approx.1,500 lbs. less CO2 pollution/yr.). This turbo-diesel is a joy to run and drive. It has great torque! The many choices for fuel just tops off its versatility (standard diesel, biodiesel and with a few adaptations, vegetable oil and waste vegetable oil).

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  Ended my winter worries - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Buzz - May 7 - 12:26 pm

  We exchanged our 2008 Mazda 3i in because as fun as it was to drive, it floundered on even the shallowest hills if there was snow on the road. My spouse was terrified getting to work, so our New Years resolution was to drive a safer car. We bought this pre-owned Jetta to replace the Mazda. WOW WHAT a Difference! This car is solid and we now realize what "hug the road" means. The stability of this vehicle is complemented this winter by the toasty-warm heated seats which almost makes me reluctant to get out of the car. Volkswagen clearly takes Pride in their Jetta and its design. Inside and out it is a wonderful choice. It could stand more storage space up front for CDs and such.

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  What a bargain - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By brandineu - May 7 - 8:06 am

  I was dissatisfied with my 09 Accord Coupe 4cyl-auto and wow what a surprise the Jetta Wolfsburg turned out to be. Excellent performance from a 4cyl. engine and very good fuel economy as well. The fit and finish is well above average for this price class vehicle. The sport suspension is firm, but not overly so. The leatherette seats are supportive both around town and on longer trips. The appearance of the interior suggests a much more expensive vehicle. Throw in a roomy trunk and fold down rear seats, I dont know what more you can ask.

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  Beware! - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By JoeA - May 6 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle performed very well after my purchase. But after maintaining this car it diminished in performance to the point where problems could not be solved. I believe it is a good vehicle but being a diesel may be its downfall. If you buy one, BE CERTAIN there is a certified mechanic that can service it. My performance rating reflects this.

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  a hard-to-beat combo - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By socalscribe - May 6 - 10:00 am

  this car, despite a 115-hp base engine, is a lot of fun to drive. it is comfortable, roomy, as safe as anything in its class. sleek styling. fuel economy is consistently 24-26 mpg, even in the city. ride is smooth; handling is great. the car does not accelerate quickly through lower gears, unless pushed, but once in third moves fast. cruises well at high speeds. the 2.0 base engine is said to be more reliable than the turbo, and with a stick its still fun to drive. leather interior and sunroof give this car the feel of others costing more; it compares favorably to the volvo v40. overall, its a sleek, safe, reliable, well priced, fun to drive car.

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  Meets all my requirements - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Peter - May 5 - 1:17 pm

  Car meets all my needs for roominess, safety technology, straightforward design and controls, comfort and quietness. However, at 4500 miles needed a front strut replaced. Carplay is buggy trying to listen to radio and navigate at same time. It wont run Waze. The turn signal light and blind spot warning are very close together on mirror and same color -hard to tell apart- not safe that way. Back up camera not bright enough when dark and rainy. Audible warning in backup should be standard with tech package. Overall its still the best choice for me after looking at all its competitors.

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  A pleasure to drive if you can handle - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mark - May 3 - 5:03 am

  Right off the bat Im going to just say in spite of many of the positives in this car, I would avoid it just because of the ridiculous prices VW charges for parts. Found my passat used with 69k on it, now at 120k. I have honestly spent less money repairing this than the Civics I have owned in the past. It hasnt been as reliable as a honda because I have had issues with power steering lines and electrical problems which made the car undriveable. I also always was someone who worked on my own car and this Passat has been a nightmare in that regard (every bolt on the car is a different type and different size and needs a different tool. its insane how many tools you need just to remove one par

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  Fun,fast,zippy 4 banger - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wvmechanic88 - April 28 - 1:02 pm

  Good little car. plenty of power and torque for a 2.0 gas engine. great gas econmy 30+ mpg. sporty handling.plenty of room for a small car. now for the cons. not that good in bad weather. cheap plastic parts. power windows have lots of problems. expensive repairs if you have a shop do them. traded in with 170K miles due to bad rust on body but she still run great.

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  My VW - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Betty - April 27 - 8:23 pm

  I have had problems with the skid plate on this car. Problems may have been related to excessive snow this winter. Board is flimsy and expensive to replace. Takes high test fuel which is very expensive. If something drops on floor and rolls under seat, very difficult to reach under the seat. Front bumper low to ground, can easily hit curb or snow bank and easily become damaged. Ride is very smooth. No major problems, just expensive to maintain. Had problem with headlights. During one year I replaced 3 headlights.

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  Great Car - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By orimai - April 26 - 6:56 pm

  This car is smooth, quiet and comfy. My wife, daughter and I are looking forward to getting out on the open road with this. This car breezes down the local freeway and streets effortlessly. Handline is precise\crisp and drives rock solid like a heavier car. The only real drawback thus far is the lack of bluetooth which is optional on Passat but comes standard in other cars. Other than that, it could use a bit more power, but for a mid size sedan the fuel economy and power are both excellent. Comfortable, plenty of leg room for a 65" driver with some to spare.