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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  great vehichle - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ronald evans - February 15 - 12:03 am

  this a great fun to drive suv,the fetures this suv has are awsome,this car is made for a person that loves to drive,but bring your gas card,the fuel mileage is less than desirable for a vw

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  Drives very nicely...mediocre interior - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By DG - February 12 - 7:06 am

  I love the way this car drives. It drives better than most 6 cyl vehicles Ive driven. The interior knobs have a somewhat cheap-looking appearance. Overall a good bang for your buck.

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  second time around - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By stephen walker - February 11 - 11:13 am

  My first vehicle was a VW Jetta 4 door and the problem list was endless. I just purchased a 2004 Jetta Wagon after doing a little reseach and I must say what a difference. The engine is better, the convenience package is better and wow is it fast!

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  80k - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By chucky15 - February 11 - 7:03 am

  Got this guy new in 2010. I have put close to 80,000 miles on it since. For the price a great car. Fuel economy is amazing( especially if youre a mostly highway driver). Ive averaged 45 mpg in mostly highway driving. City driving gets 32mpg. The torque band is equally awesome. DSG is fantastic. As it is a VW and a diesel you can definitely count on annoying little things going wrong with the electric(AC went out, covered under warranty, O2 sensors died wayyy earlier than they should have etc). The one BIG issue I had was the High Pressure Fuel Pump exploding and destroying the fuel line. VW covered it as they know its an issue.Hope I can get 200k out of it.

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  450 miles and stuck in garage - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Gail - February 11 - 6:56 am

  I bought the car less than two weeks ago. Memorial Weekend - I got stuck in a parking lot with a parking brake malfunction. Cant see service for two day? I miss my 13 year old Toyota which had no mechanical problems.

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  Buy Japanese - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By schmidbo - February 10 - 10:00 am

  I guess I was expecting the same sort of reliability from this car that Ive experienced from my 1992 Toyota Camry XLE. The Passat is fun to drive - handles like a dream and has plenty of pep. But the mechanical reliability leaves a l;ot to be desired. In my opinion, the water pump and radiator should not give out at under 70,000 miles. My Toyota has nearly 200 thousand on the odometer and its going strong. The Passat will never go that sort of distance.

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  I am a little dissapointed - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By PhillyPA - February 10 - 10:00 am

  Overall, the car runs well. However, trying to perform basic maintainance (such as replacing a light blub) is impossible to do on your own. Had over 6 headlight bulbs blow out over a 2 year period, and VW does not seem to see a problem with the vehicle. They blame the manufacturer of the bulb. Had to take many trips to the dealer for this little inconvencience.

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  Turbo Difference - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Turbo/Boy - February 10 - 10:00 am

  The 2002 Jeta1.8T is an extremely quick car. I love the Jettas passing power. ruising on the highway I can switch my Automatic Tiptronic over to manual and downshift to 4th gear and fly around just about anyone. The styling of the exterior makes it one of the hottest looking cars out there, which might explain why there are so many of them on the roads!

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  Displaces Mosquito as Most Annoying Bug - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Wolf S. Berg - February 10 - 10:00 am

  The four sources of Beetle mega- annoyance: The non-negotiable light switch; the auto locking system that cannot be overidden for more than 15 seconds; the keyless remote that requires a flashlight to operate after sundown; the BIG ONE -impossibility of removing dust from the fly paper- surface dash and cloth upholstery. what a mess! All unimportant but a constant pain.I only have 5K miles for Cs sake.

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  My love/hate relationship with this car - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By katelin22 - February 8 - 6:30 pm

  About six months after I bought my car (my first car ever), the splash shield separated from the bumper and crumbled into a million pieces on the freeway. I took it to the dealer, and they said that my insurance should pay for it and that this happens all of the time because the European make of the car causes it to catch on US parking curbs. I went to my insurance agent and they said they werent going to pay for it, because it wasnt due to an accident. I had to pay $1800 in repairs out of my own pocket. I have since had problems with my drivers side door, and my brakes almost didnt stop my car on a hill. Expect to apply a large amount of pressure on your brakes to stop at high speeds!