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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  Assessment - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Althea Stennett-McDo - August 19 - 12:03 pm

  This vehicle has been most reliable however we have been experiencing water leakages associated with the radiator resulting in the need for the gasket to be changed. I would like to sell same and need to have an idea of the cost. Vehicle was involved previously in an accident.

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  VW Passat 1.8T Sedan - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By G-Love - August 16 - 10:50 am

  We have loved the styling of our Passat and it drives like a dream. However, we have made numerous repairs to the vehicle and it is very expensive to fix. In fact, we had serious initial problems that were covered by warranty, but VW was unable to obtain the needed parts for nearly an entire month (this was late in 2001). We had a terrible experience dealing with VW Customer Care. Not at all what we expected from a German car company. Its a beautiful car and a great ride, but Im not rich enough to own it.

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  VW Hits a Homerun - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Jaime Mendez - August 16 - 8:53 am

  Not having owned an SUV before, I didnt know what to expect. Well, Volkswagen surpassed my expectations. This vehicle is a charmer inside and out. Everything about it feels sturdy, from the seats to the leather covered steering wheel. It has a smooth and quiet ride with very good visibility. This vehicle is a good value for your money.

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  A LOT OF BANG FOR THE BUCK!! - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Andrew Collins - August 14 - 3:02 pm

  Having owned nothing but Toyotas for the past 5 years, I was skeptical about switching auto manufacturers (if its not broke, why fix it?). But I can honestly say that for the price, I cannot imagine a better car. The 1.4 TSI gets GREAT gas mileage and has way more punch to it than its competitors. I was downsizing from a 2015 Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum because I had to start commuting further to work and needed better MPGs plus the $675/month car payment was killing me. I went from getting an average of 21 MPGs to getting 36 MPGs and the payment was more than cut in half. Having said all of that, I should be up front and disclose that I went from having the mack-daddy of vehicles to having a VERY basic car. But for $16,300, I got a HUGE bang for my buck. The technology package features Apple Airplay as well as another feature for Android users that allows the driver to use the USB port to mirror certain phone apps with the vehicles radio display. So if you dont have pockets deep enough to shuck out the extra bucks for navigation, you can now use your iPhone map app on the display in your car. Its extremely helpful and charges the phone while its plugged in as well. The 1.4 liter turbo-charger will be plenty of pickup for the size of the car. In fact, Im not sure why they continued the 1.8 TSI this year because the difference between the two is negigible, in my opinion. The 1.4 gets better gas mileage than its big brothers as well. I wasnt impressed with the acceleration of the Toyota Corollas and Honda Civics, to the point that I almost thought they were a safety hazard, a huge selling point for the Jetta. The Jetta has the same old boring, German dash that it and the Passat have had for years. Theres nothing spectactular about it. If you have never owned a VW before, itll take some getting used to and unfortunately the owners manual isnt much help. But the layout is very basic, something that I really like about the vehicle. I hated how the Civic was laid out with its radio controls slanted towards the driver and the Corollas features were forgettable. The Jetta also has a larger trunk than its competitors, something thats very desirable if you have to haul things once in a while. All in all, Ive been very pleased with this car. The higher-end versions are even more impressive, if youve got the pocketbook for them. But for something basic, I cant tell that it gets much better than this.

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  Overall College Car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ryan57us2009 - August 13 - 7:13 am

  Ive had my Jetta for almost two years. I tried to drift once but I forgot I had a FWD so I smashed a curb costing me 2,500 $!!! I love switching into step-tronic or w/e its called to give that extra kick of acceleration. Great on gas but It is a girl car so society says but w/e. Really interesting bass in the car too! never thought my Jetta would be bumping bass that good.

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  Simple, Elegance and Comfort - 2017 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sam Millare - August 10 - 3:03 pm

  Roomy, simple design (inside and out), the quietness of the cabin, friendly user interface (very straight forward for all the controls), the backseat is really spacious (with air vents and USB charging ports), so as the trunk, the back seat is foldable to give an extra storage for more items.. The 1.8T base engine is powerful enough for a long drive or just on a day to day driving to work. Though the gas mileage isnt the greatest compared to any mid-size sedan on the market. Comes with all the safety features, the steering is smooth as well. The acceleration is kind of odd. But overall, I like my VW Passat. Simple yet elegant design.​

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  A work in progress - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By mike12321 - August 9 - 1:33 pm

  Too many problems still unresolved by VW

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  New 2011 Touareg - 2011 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Michael - August 8 - 2:00 am

  My last 3 trucks were two Land Rover Discoveries and then the LR3. I was ready to trade in after five years and surveyed the landscape of real trucks - LR4, Sport, Armada, Infinit - you name it. I drove the Touareg and decided to go for it. It has good truck sensibilities, but drives like the Cayenne. It is comfortable and more economic than the 11 mph LR4.

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  Disapointed - 2010 Volkswagen Routan
  By Uber - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Drives and rides well for a minivan. Motor and transmission seem OK. This van has had many recalls and just stopped tonight all the lights / electronics went out and the motor died. We drifted off the road - it restarted. It already rattles / fan belts squeak Drivers side window doesnt work. DVD screens block rear view mirror. Feels cheap. AC really isnt cold for a brand new car. Something is wrong with the tuning the fuel economy is not nearly what it is rated for. VW put lipstick on this pig. Do more research before you buy one.

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  Good Car, but not the best. - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By willelm - August 6 - 5:53 pm

  My wife lovesthe VW Golf, which is good because I just sort of like it. Its the perfect size for her and she loves the way it drives, but I wish that we had gotten the turbo. Some things seem very weak, even fragile, like the door handles and cup holders. The important things though are solid, like the steering and brakes.