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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  DONT BUY IT!!!!!!!!! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lisa_Marie - August 1 - 2:00 am

  DONT BUY IT!! I have had so many problems with this car. The Transmission, window regulators, the serpentine belt (twice)---which caused my a/c, alternator, and power steering pump to go out. Which I was charged, b/c the car was at 24,400 miles. VW has no pride in their cars, just ask the service manager if they drive one.... I promise, they dont!!!!

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  Ticking Time Bomb - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By klc - August 1 - 2:00 am

  29k mi. Have replaced the transmission, AC..twice, window clips..twice (window dropped into door), climatronic ac thermostat, CD player, radio, cup holder, center console/leather arm rest..(handle broke), battery...(they used unsealed batteries before 2002 which leak in hot weather like here in Houston), and have reprogrammed transmission points...8 times (red lines and shakes car). There is 2 second delay when shifting from R to D. The brakes wear out at 15-20k mi and have no sound indicator so that you ruin the routers w/out even knowing it. This wolf in sheep’s clothing will take every dollar you have in repairs.

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  WATCH OUT! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By bobthesnob - August 1 - 2:00 am

  My car had a fair amount of miles on it when I purchased it so I assumed that maintenance would be a bit more expensive. Little did I know that everything on the car self-destructs at 50,000 miles. The interior is made entirely of plastic that breaks without notice (window switches, glove compartment, and arm rest compartment). Even the plastic brake light switches affiliated with the transmission release break (Ive replaced FOUR in one year!)! Watch out for this car! Its been in the shop about once per month in the 14 months that Ive owned it.

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  Best Buy!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By AO Schwarz - August 1 - 2:00 am

  Its only been a couple of weeks since I passed over the new 2003 Accord in favor of a 2003 1.8T Passat. So far, I have absolutely no regrets. Inital quality and performance are outstanding and its a joy to look at inside and out. The German look and "feel" are evident throughout this vehicle. The manufacturer recommends premium gas, which does seem to be necessary. Two tank fulls of mid-grade have provided a measureable difference in performance. Oh, well...its worth the extra few bucks in gas! FYI - My car is Fresco Green, which looks hideous on the VW website, but stellar in person.

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  Couldnt be better - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By toconnell - August 1 - 2:00 am

  Okay, so I bought a "new" Beetle in 2001. I have enjoyed every mile I have driven, from commuting in the city to long trips. It holds an amazing amount of equipment with the back seat folded down, and gets super mileage. Even loaded with my best friend, her dog, my dog, and gear for a weekend camping, the car can pass anything going uphill. A marvelous machine!

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  Got rid of it! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Ugh! - July 31 - 11:13 pm

  My wife and I were seduced by the looks and lure of the Touareg. We bought one without doing the research I normally do. It just looked so sweet. Well, we hated it...mostly for the TERRIBLE gas mileage. It was not comfortable to get in and out of, and the power of the V6 engine is weak. It doesnt even gome with standard power seats. Mine had a faulty back door and CD player, an underpowered engine on hills or passing, a fast clock (10 minutes a week) and when a tire was low, it required a VW appointment to reset the computer which kept telling me the tire was flat, long after I filled it. Also, the roof rack is a pain in the neck to use. Finally, this truck is unbelievably slow taking off from a stop, almost dangerously slow.

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  Great Car - Fun to drive! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Beau - July 31 - 9:13 am

  The Passat 2.0T is a fantastic, fun car! VW has come up with a winner this time. It has plenty of interior space and lots of trunk room. The Passat 2.0T has power to spare and does not diappoint during freeway driving. Its stylish exterior completes the package.

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  The Hybrid Killer.... - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jhb - July 30 - 5:13 pm

  Commuting 42 miles each way to work requires a good dependable vehicle with really good fuel mileage. So my choices were a hybrid or a TDI. There is no comparison, after test driving both, the TDI is the winner hands down. It has plenty of power with the turbo and the long term reliability of diesel. Why should you have to sacrifice your driving experience to save on fuel and for the environment? With the TDI you can eat your cake and have it too! It has decent power, tons of room, is well built even for a VW, and it is fun to drive, plus it gets well over 40 mpg...mixed highway and city. Im clocking in at 48 mpg, consistently. So whether a Jetta, or Golf..the TDI is a hybrid killer.

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  Great Little Car - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Carl - July 30 - 12:06 pm

  I love my GTI 1.8T. Although, I am a little disappointed in it. I had to replace the passenger slide-arm entry actuator, replace the ignition cylinder (Froze on cold days) plus some other minor demo-induced wear. Fortunately, it was all covered under warrenty. I bought my 2004 in March of 2005 with 60 miles on it. It handles great, has fantastic excelleration and looks regal (in Reflex Silver). The dash is a pretty blue and red mix.

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  Lumber Wagon - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Done - July 30 - 10:00 am

  The passat looks awesome. It has great performance. It is great on gas mileage. To bad it is not a complete package. The build quality is horible. 75k....New control arms..$2400...timing chain $1000.....Numerous Electrical problems....$500....fortunatley I sold the car...Looking for a car that has all the performance and great reliabilty BUY A MAXIMA....