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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  German sports sedan at a very good price - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JohnnyV1 - April 17 - 11:26 pm

  I was in the market for a used Audi/BMW but I decided to buy a new Wolfsburg Jetta instead. I have to say that I am not disappointed in the decision because the car is very fun to drive. The shifting action with the manual is very clean and precise. The engine makes a lot of power when you stomp on the gas or you can make it conserve fuel if you baby the accelerator and keep a conservative shift pattern. Coming from an economy car, this Jetta feels very tight when going around corners or merging into traffic. I do have a few gripes. The sunroof even when closed is very noisy at highway speeds. There also does not seem to be a lot of storage space.

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  Bugbug - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Greta - April 17 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive, not enough power, dash too long.

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  My 1st VW and my LAST - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By louloulane - April 17 - 1:26 am

  Beautiful eye catching car. Too bad its not reliable. I have had to have it towed 3 times in 3 months back to the dealership. We bought 2 VWs on the same day, an Eos & a CC. The Eos has been such an unpleasant experience it will be the last time a VW is owned in our family. 1st time and last time for a VW for us. Ignition, electrical,turbo problems.

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  Ive Been Pleased...So Far - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CCDangie - April 16 - 2:23 pm

  I purchased my 3-year old 02 Jetta Wagon with only 5,100 miles on it and in ten months I have put 20,000 miles on it and have had no problems. The car is very quick and agile (VR6) and fairly comfortable for my 63" frame. Ive had no issues with the car other than the wipers sit lower on the windshield than the defrost vents. This causes them to freeze up in the winter. Also, the transmission is extremely choppy and never seems to know what gear it wants. Plus, the gearing is too short so my gas mileage is only around 23, which is not so good. All in all, its a blast to drive and I plan on keeping it for quite a while.

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  I THOUGHT it was the best small car! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By What Happened? - April 13 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased a used 1.8T six days ago from a respected VW dealer. I loved the ride quality, the safety rating, the performance and what I thought was excellent build quality and reliability. I was very wrong about the latter. Within three days of my purchase the sunroof started malfunctioning, the front suspension began to squeek, and within SIX DAYS, the engine malfunction light came on. AFTER SIX DAYS!?!

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  Love this Car / Hate the Cost - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By m dahl - April 13 - 9:00 am

  This car was made for me! Everything about it fits someone under 5 feet tall. I love the turbo motor, but the electrical problems have been very costly. That makes me regret this purchase. A VW rep told me they had subcontractor supply problems from 2000-2002. I could not find any info along those lines before buying the car and I certainly wish I had!

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  Good car...If You Have a Lot of Money to Waste - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kevin - April 13 - 7:00 am

  This car is fun to drive and all, but I dont know how much fun it can be if you see your bank balance going down so fast every time you go for a repair and you have to go for a repair just like you go for a hair cut. It may be its just happening to me, I dont know, but its very frustrating. Ive also owned a Japanese made car and it ran fine even until 100,000+ miles, without any issues until I sold it. The car is comfortable for long trips, luxurious, very fast and stuff....but all the money we have to spend on repairs just undermines the positivity. This is not a reliable car.

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  Great Engine...Poor Interior - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By knoll149pc - April 11 - 9:36 pm

  The engine has been extremely reliable and I have had no problems. The interior is falling apart with just the passing of time (i.e. chipping off of finish, glovebox handle falling off, armrest breaking). The engine, although reliable, is very loud.

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  Its a Keeper - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By SanDeigoTouareg - April 10 - 11:13 pm

  Its been almost 3 years with my Touareg... its a keeper. Granted, you cannot be a person on a tight budget for an SUV like this, but its worth every penny in price, maintenance, and fuel. I truly feel like I can go wherever my heart desires with the Touareg. Yeah, brakes and tires require changing more frequently than expected, but its a worthwhile trade-off for the performance and amenities on this SUV. Highly recommended. The key is to make sure you can afford to maintain it. If you cannot afford to maintain it, dont buy it. If you can, you will love it.

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  2002 Passat W8 Wagon - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By mda - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Was looking for a peppy version of the Audi A6 and was intreiged by the look-alike W8. The car rides and feels like an Audi but the W8 has little more zip than the A6. Otherwise, I love the Bells and Whistles that are standard equipment that are in the car.