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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  Love This Car! - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By vwLUV - September 15 - 10:00 pm

  This car is so much fun to drive. I find it difficult to stay under 80 mph on the freeway. It handles great! It also is very luxurious inside. It has a very comfortable ride. I had a 99 Passat before and the changes they made are great. Especially the cup holders. The Monsoon stereo sounds amazing. I love this car. Im extremely happy and satisfied with my purchase.

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  Love this car! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mark - September 15 - 10:00 am

  The car has a great feel on the road. This is my first diesel and German car for that matter and I am sold! So many little features in the interior, Im amazed at how much thought went into the little things. I still discover new features I never realized were there, years later. Ive also never needed to use any fuel additives for the winter and Ive never had an issue with Michigans cold months. At 50,000 miles, all four sets of brake pads still have more than 50% pad left and the pad wear appears even across all 4 wheels. This is a great car, you will never regret the purchase.

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  New R32? HOT!! - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By Nate Adams - September 15 - 7:10 am

  Just three days in and I am absolutely sure that this is best purchase in 27 yrs! We have had an 03 Jetta, and currently have an 06 Passat. I had bought a GTI in Feb but couldnt resist the all-wheel drive. But that is nothing compared to what I felt and heard out of that tailpipe! Deep, soothing sounds that send chills up your spine! Sport and luxury all at once? Great job VW. Just give us a manual next time please!

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  2 Month Follow Up - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Wheels8716 - September 15 - 5:16 am

  Ive had the CC for a couple of months now. The DSG transmission is great on country roads or highways with its quick up & down shifts. However - I would call it anything but smooth in the city. Jerky stops & starts, sometimes wont shift into 1st at a stop sign. This makes it lethargic once you get back on the gas and the cars in 2nd gear. Quick stops are sometimes scary. The transmission will give you a bit of engine braking, but then shift into a lower gear making it hard to judge how much force you should have on the brake pedal. Its a bit of a nuisance, but you learn to live with it.

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  Liked it so much we bought two - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tim - September 15 - 5:09 am

  This is a great car for the money, especially with the large discounts off MSRP (about five grand) that can be negotiated currently. Within a two week span, my college graduate bought an S model, and I bought the SEL for myself. We both like the car for its roominess, attractive and uncluttered cabin, technology (especially Apple CarPlay), great turbo engines, and gas mileage. We looked at a number of other cars in the same class; the Jetta was a quick choice because it feels much more "mature" than the others, and actually has a rear seat that grown-ups can sit in. The expert review makes a big deal about the cheap interior materials, but how often to you touch/feel the dash or door panels, and if you do, does it really matter if they are squishy or not? The leatherette seats are very comfortable, at a price point below the competitors leather trims. The only real complaint I have so far is the suspension which seems quite stiff going over speed bumps and rough pavement, and a little more interior noise than I am used to. The Jetta cabin is a great place to spend my commute and a lot of fun to drive, regardless of what the experts say about the interior materials and handling. I dont plan on taking it to the racetrack anytime soon, and Ill leave the twisty back-country romps to the professional car testers. Regardless how you may feel about VW, this is still a well-engineered German car - at roughly half the price of a BMW 3 series or Audi A4. Im still a big VW fan, scandal or not. Long live Fahrvergnugen!

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  VW for life - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Polaris - September 14 - 2:03 pm

  Always liked the Bug when I was growing up, so when it was time to buy a new car in 2006, we took a chance on the new Jetta. The car is awesome in every way. Looks, handling, reliability, everything. The car is built for people who like to drive, it is so fun. Got into a bad accident with it earlier this year, not a scratch on me, plus its fixed and like new. Love it!

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  German engineering - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By fisrstandlastjetta - September 14 - 11:03 am

  Not impressed by German engineering 10,000 miles car leaks oil, gas cap malfunction, interior vibrating. Fun to drive; race car feel with race car type maintenance. This car truly needs an owner who really loves it, sad to say soon to be a pre-loved? vw.

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  Cant afford to drive it - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Brad - September 13 - 9:40 pm

  This car has got a beautiful interior, nice looking, body not rusting, but my wife and I are scared to take it anywhere. It sometimes starts and sometimes not. The mechanics cant find the problem, this gets expensive. All repairs on it are expensive. Im a 200 lb man and not much room for me. I have a sore back and this car is very uncomfortable. My old beat up Dodge van is fine. Id never buy another VW. Its not dependable. We have put so many repairs in it already. I will ride my Harley any day, much more reliable

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  Where do i start? - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Gianni - September 13 - 3:11 pm

  The good: great performance, power, interior build quality, MPG. The bad: .......Expensive maintenance, engineering flaws abound.... HPFP not engineered to USA diesel tolerances. 7K $ repair, DPF (filter that once clogged under 150K miles cost several thousand dollars.) How do you engineer a car with known issues that are so expensive to repair? intake manifold went around 120k. Then the EGR problems and limp mode. I unloaded the car with 160k miles once the wastegate actuator went on the turbo. Oh yeah, good luck if your turbo goes..it will....another several thousand dollars. I know 2 others whose turbo blew before 150k. That is why i got rid of this money-sucking headache. Shame on you VW ! Lawsuits, and building a car just shy of a lemon. VW ...NEVER AGAIN

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  Still in honeymoon phase - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Floridian - September 13 - 12:10 pm

  I have now had my tdi one year and 35,000 miles. Still drives like new. I do a lot of highway driving and it is too easy to drive way over the speed limit (85-90) while still getting 35-37 mpg. Queen size air mattress fits in back for the dog. No downshifts required when driving up 6% grade mountain highways. Torque just flattens out the mountain. Driven very conservatively, I have nearly hit 700 miles to a single tank of diesel.