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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  Finally a fun GTI again............ - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By daequitz - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Never thought Id own a 4 cylinder, but the stock 1.8T has every bit as much grunt as my VR6. This is my daily driver now. And with an upgraded performance chip - even more power on tap! Great brakes, gearing, seats, awesome wheels/tires, and suspension is just right. Bottom line, big bang for the buck. If youre looking for more bells and whistles, buy another model. This is akin to a drivers car.

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  Great Car Except for Service - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By johnirish - September 7 - 2:00 am

  My wife & I have very much enjoyed the 99 Passat. Weve found the 4 cylinder turbo to haveexcellent acceleration. Very good ride, comfortable seating, excellent interior space, good sound system (though the AM has failed.) Scheduled maintenance has been pricy in my estimation - $335 for the 40K checkup. The dealers service manager is obnoxious and not does not respect the customers time. A service appointment takes all day even though you are asked to arrive at 8AM. I was going to try another dealer, but have been told they are worse. Because of VWs "attitude" I doubt that I will by another Passat even though I consider it the best car Ive ever owned.

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  I love my TDI - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tarheel TDI - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Sorry it seems almost everyone else dislikes their Jetta. I have over 90K on my TDI and have never had a problem with my O2 sensor, transmission, electrical system, light bulbs, brakes, door ooze, or windows. MAF going bad at 85K and water pump wearing out at 90K are the only mechanical items that gave me heartburn. I empathize with the folks who have seasonal rattles in the interior as that is my only "major" peeve in a car that is fun/comfortable to drive and gets better than 50 MPG on the highway. Our other car is a new 2001.5 Passat which has over 30K of nearly trouble free miles. Our next car will likely be a Jetta TDI wagon or a Passat B6 TDI wagon.

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  Run, this is not for you! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Cindy - September 7 - 2:00 am

  With only 42,000 miles on the car it has been in the shop 5 times for the transmission. Talk about a lemon and YES I am checking on the lemon law.

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  First VW and will not be last! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sigem - September 7 - 2:00 am

  I personally did not have enough moola to upgrade into the higher models, but needed more room than the Jetta. The Passat GL was the perfect car for me. It had everything I needed and even more! The power is kind of weak, but for the price and the budget I was completely satisfied. I was also comparing it against the new Honda Accord and Camry but those look boring! I also want to add that the dealership I would highly recommend you guys to goto Lithia Volkswagen in Concord and meet up with Hoang. The didnt pressure me into any other models, and were really nice. So if your in the Bay Area, California go take a look at these guys.

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  FAST AND FURIOUS - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Irish eyes - September 7 - 1:06 am

  I have owned my VR6 w/ A/T since July 1999.This car is designed to be DRIVEN!! and believe me I have pushed it to the limits. I love the power and the performance. I enjoy the sound system and the interior lighting. During the first five years, I replaced the battery, a couple of sensors and rear brake pads. My window parts were replaced under warranty and my cup holder is broken. No other problems after 50,000 HARD miles. Now my check engine light comes on more frequently and I have more wind noise. I just had to have a coolant leak fixed and the engine cooling fan motors replaced. So far, the fun and performance of the car has outweighed the upkeep expenses but I doubt it lasts to 100,000.

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  A great all around car - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Howie Atkinson - September 6 - 10:06 pm

  Great car Love the 5 cylinder 2.5 sad to see it gone un the newer models. A great car for my petite Daughter!

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  Piece of Junk! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Krista - September 6 - 2:16 pm

  I bought this car so that I could have something reliable to get me from point A to point B. So long with reliable part, the first month I had it the car was in the shop. Since then it has been in 15 other times. First it was both oxygen sensors, 4 spark plug wires, my cadilitic converter, my serpentine belt, the passenger side window and other things that I cant remember. Now the transmission is going out like several other peoples Jettas. Do not buy this car! You will regret it!

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  A Lot of Car for the Money - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JoeGo - September 6 - 10:20 am

  Great car. Traded in a Subaru Impreza which I liked but the VW is in a different league. More like a BMW or Audi. The car is almost perfect, just a few minor details such as the sunroof dial should be illuminated, everything else in the car is and at night you cant see where the dial is pointing.

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  Fun car! - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By 604doc - September 5 - 2:30 pm

  This car wasnt even a consideration for me until a friend told me about it. I fell in love with the car on the test drive. Its comfortable on long drives, and just a hoot zipping around the city. Its hard to drive the car "easy", so Im not sure of the MPG yet.