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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  Glad Im leasing - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Almost40 - August 8 - 10:00 am

  I leased this vehicle for a 3 year term. During that time I really enjoyed driving my Passat. I got what I expected.The car is more elegant than the Japanese and American competition. The more you drive it, the more you appreciate the superb engineering, especially when you drive other competing vehicles. Its downfall is reliabilty. Do not purchase this car for the long term and expect it to be as reliable as a Japanese vehicle. It went in for numerous repairs (tie rods, water pump, engine stalls,heated seats twice, transmission stuck in park) and failed to start on several occasions. It also died at idle may times.

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  146,000+ Miles, Lots of Fun, but Headaches Too - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By pjkportland - August 7 - 9:30 am

  I have owned my 2003 1.8T 5A GLS wagon since new and now have over 146k miles. It really is fun to drive and has amazing cargo hauling space. But . . . expensive to maintain and gets only about 21 mpg on premium. Make sure you have a good mechanic. Mine is one of the best, and I still have a funky/random issue - a beep, blinking dash lights, then a power drop, as if the tranny disconnected with the engine. As much as I like driving the car, I think Im going back to Honda when old blue bites the dust.

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  I wouldnt trade my Jetta for the World - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By chknpotpie82 - August 6 - 11:13 am

  My Jetta is the most reliable car I have owned.

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  Never owned german car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Walter Mitty - August 6 - 7:50 am

  I bought my first German car and did not know what to expect. I am very surprised. The handling is outstanding, the color which is new is beautiful. The car is solid and handles like a dream. It has the no maintenance for 3 years which will save me money. If you cant afford a BMW this is a good choice.

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  4th Passat and the Best Yet - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By passatcrazy - August 6 - 2:13 am

  VW has always excelled at getting the details right. Nothing feels cheap, unlike my prior Infiniti, and everything is thought out nicely. You dont realize this at the dealership, or on the ride home, it comes to you with one thoughtful touch after another over time, ie. the chime to remind you to remove your key stops chiming after a minute since it realizes you must be doing something deliberate; you can turn on the radio without the key in. Fuel economy out of the gate 28.5 mixed, although driving easy to break in. Stop and go Boston traffic on a 25 mile commute and average 25.5. Average 26 mixed in heavy throttle (having fun) and 32 on highway at 75.

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  Love the car, but it has some flaws.... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By WolfsburgGuy - August 5 - 2:53 pm

  After three years with my 2000 1.8T Jetta, I eagerly climbed into my 2003 Reflex Silver Wolfsburg Edition Jetta with 16" BBS wheels. The car is TIGHT, instantly responsive and predictable, therefore safe in the way it handles. ESP has gotten me out of many tough situations on wet Florida roads. The ABS brakes work perfectly, maintaining driver control of the car. This edition of Jetta seems to have more turbo lag than my 2000. Still it is very quick off the line, gobbling premium fuel, and glides down the highway like its on rails at expressway speeds! It has a very precise road feel and is fun to drive!

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  Ups and DOWNS!! :( - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lura - August 5 - 9:17 am

  Do your research before buying! Its a good car in many ways!,, But everytime I think all is well, something else goes wrong with it!! Now, it wont shift into overdrive!! This is my work car, cant keep having it in the shop! Going broke fixing it. Any ideas out there on the overdrive issue??? Thx!

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  Save yourself! - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By EPureza - August 4 - 10:00 am

  This car sucks! Definitely not worth the money youll spend. Power window regulators break regularly, all four of them for $350 a pop. Power locks and alarm will malfunction, beware possibly VW services ploy so youll dump more money into it. Why even put heated seats, it only lasted less than 3 years and cost $600 to fix. Dont be fooled by its look! Save yourself!

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  Great Car - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tengage - August 4 - 10:00 am

  I have had two Jettas, a 97 and this 99. These cars are built for drivers. I have had no major problems with my 99. I had one window fall off the track, a mass air flow sensor (replaced via recall), and had to have the coolant tank resovoir replaced. All were covered under my extended warrenty. In total, Ive spent about $180 on repairs in the 5 years Ive owned it. It burns more oil than other cars Ive owned, about a half a quart every 3000 miles, but I drive hard and my old Jetta was the same. One complaint is that the front bumper is shaped like a hook and will latch on to a curb and not let go.

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  great car - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By raven1959 - August 4 - 10:00 am

  Great car with one reoccurring problem. It’s been in for repair 4 times since I hit 20k all four times was for check engine with an emission workshop message. Repair cost average $175.00 for ‘vacuum hose crack’