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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  LOVE IT!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By J Dunbar - July 3 - 7:10 pm

  When I still had this car stock, it was awesome, the sport suspension, the power. Even though only 200 ponies, it was still very snappy. I have since put a chip, exhaust, intake and some higher performance sport suspension and love the car even more. It is def a sleeper and no one has any idea what the little sedan is capable of. HIGHLY recomend it. And since it is a 24v VR6, and VW only made them for about 2 years.. should hold pretty decent value for enthusiasts.

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  Adequate basic transport - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By Vladimir - July 3 - 5:47 pm

  Dont delude yourself into thinking that you are getting "German engineering" on a budget because a lot of corners were cut to make a car this cheap. The engineering design thought is there, but its betrayed by utilizing plastics instead of metals, and Brazilian assembly. This is most evident in the elegant, but squeaky interior. For the price, this car serves a very good purpose: a small yet spacious, relatively comfortable, nimble, easy-to-park city commuter that needs minimal maintenance considering its German origins. The 2.0L non-turbo engine is reliable for a VW, easy on gas and acceptably quick in the city when combined with the equally reliable 5 speed manual transmission. I got this car in 2013 with ~80,000 miles on it, and have since put on another 35,000. Maintenance-wise, I have done the predictable, reasonable maintenance that has included oil changes (Rotalla T6) every 5,000 miles, timing belt, battery, engine mount, strut mounts, sway bar bushings. There has also been a small amount of unexpected maintenance, that is a result of design faults: original water pump with plastic impellers upgraded to metal impeller model ($70), coil pack cracked leading to misfires in wet weather ($120), low pressure power steering line cut by the nearby radiator fan ($15), thermostat failed ($30), center muffler rusted ($180). Future repairs include: grinding starter in cold weather, abnormal wear on rear disc brakes. Apart from the power steering line that almost left us stranded in middle-of-nowhere, Maine, the other repairs were not very urgent and not overly expensive.

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  Great Car - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By poopoopeepee - July 3 - 6:37 am

  This is a great car. My car is at 38k miles and the only problem Ive had is weak break pads, but that can happen to any car. It is extremely smooth to drive. It has delayed steering, a great suspension, smooth shifting, and a VERY quiet engine. Im pretty young, and I drive manual transmission so I think that the quiet engine is a negative quality of the car, but that is a great thing for a lot of people. And the inside is amazing, I havent had a person sit in my car and not give me a compliment. With heated seats (not leather), electric Everything, and plenty, i mean PLENTY of room in both the front and back seats, it feels like a $30k+ luxury vehicle. (only paid $14k)

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  Loved it & now hate it - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By thomasz - July 3 - 12:40 am

  We bought it after our 01 passat starting having problems (bottom pan fell off while on the hwy). The car is great when you do not have any issues. Our passat has been in service for repairs 12 times or more in 3 years. 4 of them I needed to be towed. Had fuel system problems, a/c went out twice (we live in Texas), check engine light blinked several times totally disabling the car (once over x-mas holiday), replaced rear axle beam due to old one bending, & now the oil pressure light came on and showing signs of sludging (found out that sludging is a big problem with the 1.8T engines) and might have to replace engine. We have drove across USA with it and it is unreliable on any type of trip.

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  Fun California Driving - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By hollysmc - July 2 - 1:53 pm

  Ive loved my Volkswagen Cabrio. Its fun, easy to park, gets good gas mileage, and has a great sound system. It has all the things you look for in a sporty convertible.

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  Best Car for the money - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By bjreich - July 2 - 10:00 am

  If you are looking for a sedan look no further, this is by far the best sedan you can buy for the money. Just a word of advise, if you are in the Northeastern Ohio area, check out Dave Walter VW in Akron. This is the best VW dealer in the area. I have never had such a pleasant car buying experience.

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  Fun car to drive - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Stephanie L - July 2 - 10:00 am

  The experience at the dealer wasnt so great, but this car is definitely worth the money and trouble. The car looks like a luxury car, but the price is not. It produces great power (190 horse power), and it has a great look that makes some heads turn. I have had my eyes set on this car since the first time I saw it on the road.

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  A fun Car - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By donm - July 2 - 10:00 am

  You will not be disappointed in this car!! Great acceleration, handling and ride!! Get your hands on one if you can.

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  wow, I cant believe I got one - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By dazednconfused - July 2 - 10:00 am

  Lady luck gave me a big fat kiss when I landed this puppy... Every dealer except Advantage VW were jacking up the price of the 337 by as much as 3000. I got it for the MSRP. They are selling just the contract to buy one on ebay for 6100! Anyways, it runs great as expected and it looks cool as heck, my only complaint is the turbo lag at low RPMS. I guess I could fix that with aftermarket stuff but I dont think I will mess with anything..Its great the way it is.

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  Forget Audi - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Doster - July 2 - 10:00 am

  A great car even for a big guy. Plenty of legroom. Yes, the cupholders are terrible, but I dont care. The manual tranny is great and the engine is totally responsive to even a light foot. Definately a keeper. Engine and tranny noise are non-existant in the cabin. Going from an American vehicle to this car is like going from dark to light in comparison...tight and controlled! Hopefully, the fun will live beyond the 2 year/24000 mile warranty.