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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  reliable & fun - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By jordi - June 27 - 2:00 am

  this is my 4th VW. great city (small enough) and highspeed-highway car (tracks great; once up to speed you can stay at high speeds for extended periods). large when compared to older golfs. only a few problems along the way - not sure if this is because its one of the few german built golfs. manual windows helped me avoid regulator problems and recall. online sale was hassle free.

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  great little car - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By vw topless - June 27 - 2:00 am

  this is my second convertible i love this car !!!!! it drives great

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  Lemon - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Cindy Dustin - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Too many hours spent in the shop to repair/replace electrical problems, check engine light problems, oxygen sensor and brake sensor problems.

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  Fun car so far - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bee1000e - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Driving my Jetta has been great-the engine is wonderfully responsive, especially in 2nd & 3rd gears. Powerful enough to have fun, not so powerful that I get into trouble. The interior is of great quality, but the ergonomics arent great - stereo and HVAC controls are a stretch. Seat could be more supportive. Dealer has never been able to completely fix a passenger side window glitch.

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  Take the service contract - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By willdineen - June 27 - 2:00 am

  It must depend on where and on what day your jetta gets built. I see that some of the reviewers think this is a good car. Well ours isnt. It get very poor gas mileage for a 4 cyl car. We have already had the tires replaced at 40,000 mi. and the brakes had to be replaced at 27,000 mi. The plastic section below the grill has come off twice. The car is noisy and has no power. It does look nice.

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  my jetta - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By karmann21 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I love my jetta!! this is one solid and reliable car! I will never go back to any domestic brands. they have great service. never had any problems. the engine is powerfull and fun. I deffintly recomend this car!

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  Best Car Ive Owned Yet. - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By tommymercury - June 27 - 2:00 am

  So far, my Passat has been a joy to drive. Its dimensions are perfect; not too small and not too big. Although for my 63" frame, I could use just a little more room. I have had few minor annoyances: sporadic buzzing in dash; creaking suspension noise when exiting the vehicle (I only weigh 180 lbs.); squeaky brakes. Ive had two of these problems checked out by the dealership, but was not fixed right by the dealership. The brakes still squeak and the suspension still creaks. Im not too concerned with the buzzing in the dash, since its muted by the stereo. What a great bargain for a German car. Thanks VW for a job well done!

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  VW Jet - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mark1980 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Good car that looks great! The car drives like an expensive German car but cost half the price. The 5-seed manual transmition is a must it gives you the extra proformance punch. Steering is responsive a little understeer is noticable while cornering at high speeds. Enough power to make a pass in 5th gear and 4th will over through most anything.

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  I love this car! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By kimwk - June 27 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Beetle. Got rid of a 2000 because of 3rd child on the way and hubby insisted "I" needed something bigger. I have a 2004 BMW 325i wagon that he now drives. I dont miss it a bit (well, maybe a little). I LOVE this car! So do the 3 kids!

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  Burning Oil - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By discouraged3 - June 26 - 1:07 pm

  I bought my Passat Komfort new 2008 and was very excited because I had just traded a 2007 Passat Wolfburg limited edition with no problems. After driving this 2008 passat for 50,000 the vehicle engine shut down engine light came on and I stop to checked the oil and the oil stick was dry. The vehicle was towed to the dealership because I was told not to drive it and they said the vehicle had oil but not reading on the stick and the car only get around 600 miles to a quart. now i have to check the oil often before the oil changes. The car now in 2011 is buring oil as fast as I add oil. It make me sick to know I paid 30,000 for a vehicle and now have to check the oil during every fill up.