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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  The Best Car Yet - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wombat - February 8 - 11:56 am

  Overall the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 1.8T is an outstanding car for a an unbeatable price. It delivers great performance for a car that gets 33 mpg. I had the engine chipped by APR and it was like new (215 hp & 247 torque). this car has excellent handling AND ride for a short wheel base car with a sport suspension & 17" wheels (its a bit stiff, but not bad). it had just the right equipement and was $5,000+ cheaper than any competitor. The original Michelin tires are a poor choice for this car. Tire Rack has much better choices for less money. So far, it has held up very well. The only issue has been a rattling drivers window. Everything has been flawless for 50,000 miles. VW service depts have been less than stellar.

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  Solid Car...Falling Apart - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Robin - February 6 - 7:36 am

  When I first bought my 2000 Volkswagen Jetta I was excited about how well it handled and how solid it felt on the road. That might have a lot to do with the fact that it is so low to the ground, which at times makes it tough to get out of. My biggest concern has been the electrical problems and incidental repairs: the window fell out, the drivers side window motor broke twice, the catalitic converter was recalled, the cup holder broke, the glove box broke, and the trunk light and panel lights are out.

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  Wish I had stepped up to a GTI - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By jordan23 - February 5 - 10:20 am

  In general, Im pretty happy with this car. I had a problem with a rattle at the top of the dash, but the dealership fixed it without charge. Quite a bit of tire noise-probably the 17" wheels. The door mirrors are quite small so you have to adjust them perfectly-used to hate this but not anymore. No reliability issues at all. Handling is very solid-buckled down generally, but a bump in a turn will upset the chassis. Great safety with all the airbags and traction/stability. The cabin feels very open with high roofline-very nice visibility. Comfortable even for the long haul. Generally a joy to drive. At this price point the Rabbit cant be beat. Would like power/DSG/handling of a GTI though

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  Might as well buy one - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By lschw - February 4 - 5:16 pm

  Got a 2006 GTI after my 2004 GTI was destroyed by lightning. I dont like the non-linear response of the turbo, but after two years and 16,000 miles I no longer care. This GTI is more powerful, faster, and much roomier than before. Gets 23mpg in town and the low 30s @ 75mph with cruise. In mkIV GTIs the ESP (traction control) would slam on the brakes at the worst possible time. No longer. VW has transformed ESP into cornering ecstasy. Take a corner too fast, it scrubs off perfectly. Step on the gas in high speed corners, some wheels accelerate and some brake, the car digs in, and away you go. Only a computer can calculate and respond fast enough to do that. Just amazing!

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  Fun To Drive! - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By H.L - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I had my Passat for 2 years and still love it! It handles well and has lots of room in the backseat and trunk area. I am a design student and have the need to carry a great deal of projects. Not a problem with the seats folded down! The only two issues that I have with the car is that I had to replace a tire on the car to the tune of $450.00. Just one tire! Also, if I had it to do over again, I would have spent the extra $2K and purchased the V6. The 4 cylinder is not responsive unless youre at higher speeds and the turbo kicks in.

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  Fun drive - Mediocre reliability - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kmm - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car for my son back in May- 2003 and I must admit that it is very fast and a blast to drive. The car handles and performs well except for a bit of turbo lag. Interior is adequate. Having been spoiled by Japanese quality, I was dissapointed with unreliability of the car. Since buying it 5 months ago, it has been in the shop 5 times - 3 little things like a broken trunk lock and twice for dead batteries. The volkswagen dealers been very good throughout however, providing loaner cars, etc. Overall we like the car, but would suggest you consider the trips to the service dept.

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  Best bang for the buck, but misses on MPG - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sallywagg - February 3 - 8:27 am

  I bought this car for one simple reason: CHEAP! You cant beat the price for the size and standard features that this car has! The only issue is that VW really missed the mark for fuel economy and the crappy tires really hurt its performance potential. However, this is the PERFECT car for a beginning driver or daily commuter!! It is truly the easiest car that I ever driven! Even though the engine is very underpowered for its size, the lack of power keeps you out of trouble from stand-stills and the stability/traction controls keep you in check once under motion As much as I love this car, I gave it low numbers because, to keep it cheap, VW sacrificed the quality of this car.

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  Really enjoyed this car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Christian Wade - February 2 - 11:33 pm

  I owned my 01 Jetta Wagon for years and really enjoyed it. It was pretty trouble free but there was some maintenance that had to be done to keep it that way. The gas milage was great and it was fun to drive. Lots of room in the back of the car and that was great since I have a very large dog. I thought that the rear seat was fine for kids but tall adults would have a tight fit. Some of the coating on the interior parts was weird. It was rubbery and would scratch off. I also found that the sunroof drains are a constant trouble. They arent hard to fix in the front but the rear are a pain. If you buy one of these cars know when the timing belt was done. Very important. I sold this car recently as I bought a Vanagon and didnt need two cars.

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  Great car! - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Jackie - February 2 - 1:36 pm

  So far I love my car! I bought this after driving a 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser to 330,000 miles, but needed a more fuel efficient car for my commute @ 90 miles/day. This has been a great little car, I average 50.5mpg per 15 gal tank - highway and city driving combined. It has a decent amount of pick up and go and its a TON of fun to drive! The only real complaint I have is that it isnt completely sealed and it whistles > 45 mph, it doesnt leak water,just bothersome. The seats fold pretty flat and the cargo area can hold ~3 large bales of hay + 3 bags of feed with room to spare and the back seats are pretty comfortable even for people over 6. Id buy another for sure!

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  I Love my VW but there are problems - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By KimBea - February 2 - 10:00 am

  I love my Volkswagen but there are problems. Its fun to drive, looks good. I love having a station wagon. People often think its a more expensive car. I did have to get my engine replaced after about 50,000 miles. Fortunately, It was under warranty and I had documents to prove that I had my oil changed properly. YOU MUST PUT SYNTHETIC OIL IN YOUR CAR AND GET IT CHANGED AT 3,000 miles. You have to baby it. I know have to make sure I check my oil and add some. I use a trusted mechanic rather than the dealer. I go to the dealer and buy the part I need (including bulbs) and have my mechanic install it. I save money and time. Im not sure I would buy another VW, but I love my car.