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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  VW Service Stinks! - 2005 Volkswagen Golf
  By milehighassassin - July 9 - 8:16 am

  I have loved this car. I bought it because I drive about 30,000 miles a year. I drive about 65-90 mph on average, depending on traffic. I average about 42 MPG overall. This car has great power, dont let the 100 HP claim get you down. The true power comes from the turbo-charged diesel, putting out something like 174 ft-lbs of torque. The ESP has been great, saving me once. My biggest and MAJOR complaint has been the VW service. They stink. They deny everything they can. My mud flaps are cracking from the snow and ice build up. Diesel prices also are about 50 cents a gallon more than gas, so do the LONG math if you think you are saving money. I save about $1.40 a week, when you figure the difference in fuel.

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  Factory defects from factory - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By luisdiaz - July 9 - 6:24 am

  Bought a new 2011 jetta se from day one car pulling and drifting to right. Dealer said it was out of alignment and rotated tires with only 250 miles on car. Still drives toward right side. Took in two more times, they said nothing they can about it. Tested another demo car same thing looks like a factory defect. Have filed for lemon law. Buyers beware of this factory problem it will eat your tires up. Miami, fflorida owner.

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  Fun on the road! - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By WinsletRose - July 8 - 1:26 pm

  Wow! As a Ford driver for many years, I was really hesitant to purchase a VW. But my husbands encouragement and only one test drive, I fell in love with the 2006 VW Beetle. It handles like a true sports car, with very zippy driving (5 cyl. automatic) curve hugging turns, and overall just fun to drive. I thought that it would be very whimpy after only driving 6- & 8-cylinder vehicles, but I was wrong! Its a true sports car! The tiptronic transmission is awesome too, you can feel the car shifting, which is a trip if you are not used to driving stick shift. Its a true stick feel, but with all the ease of an automatic. We have two kids and the whole family is comfortable in this car as well. Overall this is a fun vehicle!

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  Great engine/Gearbox shonkybuild quality - 2005 Volkswagen Golf
  By De Spear - July 8 - 10:00 am

  The engine is great and mates wonderfully to the DSG The car has plenty of torque and is responsive I am very disappointed with the quality of the materials used Car dealer service is very expensive. http://ontargetreviews.blogspot.com/2010/09/2005-vw-golf-tdi-20-comfortline.html

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  Road Trip From California to Montana - 2010 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Fred Christian - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Flew from NW Montana to California to buy this hard to find TDI Touareg.Quiet and comfortable interior for all day driving.Factory Bluetooth is so helpful!Passing effortless with the diesel with a ride like a cloud.Set the auto climate control and had total comfort in 105 degree heat.Got 25.5 MPG on a 1100 mile trip. Have been getting 21.5 MPG in town driving.This is a beautiful machine!

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  love, love, love this car! - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By lilcoop - July 8 - 10:00 am

  my first 06 GTI was unfortunately a bit of a lemon. i wrote a sad review titled love/hate relationship. we parted ways, and i subsequently drove 4 other vehicles in 9 months, but i couldnt forget the love i had for my GTI. so i gave VW german engineering another chance, and bought another 06 GTI equipped exactly the same as the first. i love this car! it has been totally reliable, required only routine maintenance (and the occasional recall stuff), handled long road trips and daily commutes with ease. its a blast to drive in town and on the highway. im so glad i gave the GTI a 2d chance. im now a VW convert!

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  5 yrs later...$8000 in maint. & rising - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ididlikevwjettas - July 8 - 10:00 am

  If you are going to buy a used vw jetta make sure to get extended warranty! Bought the car used at around 60,000 miles with warranty till 100,000 miles. Problems: internal engine problems-dealer replace whole engine, got used engine in-did not work, got another used engine-worked, secondary air system leak-replace cracked round plastic resevour next to oil pan-not covered by warranty, replaced all belts; due to noise, replace faulty ac compressor, coolant leak at thermostat housing. rear alignment is off: not adjustable, WTF! Just got new tires. must be bent suspension? thats gonna cost alot! Otherwise great performance, vr6 is quiet and seems at times "as if the engine is not even running.

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  Love it. Did my homework and am happy! - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By jazzbank - July 8 - 10:00 am

  For starters, Im not a racerboy nor a true sports car fan. I wanted a great balance of features, fun, and practicality. I did a ton a research before landing on the GTI (3 months worth!). Fit and finish are above the competition it really feels like an Audi or other premium brand. I can haul people or cargo and still accelerate quickly into any pocket on the freeway or sneak a parking space on a crowded street. It handles really well and is silky smooth if you use a light touch. It can feel a little jerky depending on the road, but overall a great ride. I dont know if I can ever go back to a regular sedan or compact. I decided on this after a lifetime of Toyotas and Hondas, but this is fun

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  Great Commuter Car - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Loki1098 - July 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car mainly for commuting duty (90% highway driving) as I drive 65 miles daily round-trip. The DSG transmission is extremely smooth and a good investment. The ride is smooth and comfortable at highway speeds. The combined package of high mpg, comfortable ride, good handling, safety features, cargo room, resale value, and $1300 tax credit made it a no-brainer for me. The only problem was finding one. I found the exact car I wanted, but it had the DVD/Nav. I decided to buy anyway to avoid the 3- 4 month wait of a factory order. Ive only been driving the car a few days, but I really like it dont regret the purchase. Feels more Audi-like than my 2006 BMW 330i.

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  Best of the Best - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Nicholas - July 7 - 6:20 pm

  I had this VR6 for 4 years now. I reviewed other reviews from other clients who owned it. Im lucky... Most have problems and being put in shop often. My VR6 has been running excellent for me with average of 35 MPG. Low profile tires (51 PSI), performace K&N air filter, full synethic oil, prenium gas, increases gas mileage. Ive pushed my RPM over 7,000 so many times and never had a problem with it. Ive topped almost 175 MPH with a radar used from a friend. All STOCK! It is a very fast car. Ive raced BMW M5 and beat him, he was an idiot, he had auto and I had stick shift and I won 500 bucks. hee hee. Best car Ive owned except for my old Dodge V10 truck.