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:

• 

  Is it Mexican or German? - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By JD@NYC - February 13 - 2:00 am

  2002 VW Passats overall fit and finish is beautiful in and out. The 1.8t, is horrible. Turbo lag galore. This is not the engine for this car. Increase liters, horsepower, and torque, drop turbo and add smaller 6. I too had the starter coil replaced after only 2k. Are VWs really made in Germany or Mexico. Mechanical problems are not relegated to the Passat but other VW models as well. I lease a 99 Jetta VR6 with new body style and didnt have a problem with it. I found out it was made in Wolfsburg. Please tell us where are they made now and why reliability has gone south. Im stuck with this engine for 3 1/2 more years.

• 

  Decent value for the money & a fun drive - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By recruiterone - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Happy that I chose the 2.8 6 cylinder engine. Unless you use a performance chip in the 4 cylinder turbo, this is the right engine to go with. The styling and ergonomics of this car are great. Plus, its fun to drive. The German engineering stands out over Japanese cars Ive owned in the past. However, I only have 30k miles and I treat my cars like gold. Ive had annoying problems with the electrical system and the trunk. These should not be reasons to make trips to the dealer in a car with so few miles.

• 

  2002 GLI VR6 - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jkv - February 10 - 6:06 am

  Bought this car practically new from a private party. It had only 28300 miles on it and was in excellent condition. The car was loaded having 17" rims with Michelin high performance tires along with sunroof, premium sound, smoked tail lights, etc. the car is amazing to drive with the sports suspension. Has excellent handling and good performance from the 200hp v6 engine. Im a very happy man.

• 

  Jettas are Fun - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By oldtribefan - February 8 - 10:00 am

  34000 trouble-free miles. Great mileage, fun to drive. Shifter is a bit notchy. A very good car.

• 

  lucky man... - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lucky_in_SD - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I had this car for only 3 months when I was struck from behind at 55 mph while sitting at a stoplight. If Id been in my previous Honda.. I wouldnt be here to write this. The Jetta held up like a rock. It was over $8,000.00 in repairs and I watched over everything like a hawk. Needless to say those countless hours of nitpicking the dealer have paid off... My car is as tight and clean as the day it was new. The car has been pretty much flawless, knock on the beautiful wood trim. Ive got 44,000 miles the only noise I hear is from my Pirellis that are in need of replacement.

• 

  Very Satisfied - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DBJet2002 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Jetta for 7 months now (8k miles and its been a total pleasure to drive and own. The 2.0L engine is fine for everyday driving, but when you really want to get on it, it lacks the top-end power youd need. Material quality is excellent, seats are comfortable, gas mileage is great. Just the known VW bugs, ie: window regulators, squeaks and rattles, and minor oil consumption. No worries though, I plan on keeping this car for a long time.

• 

  Fantastic Commuter Car! - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By dieselbreath - February 7 - 2:00 am

  I ordered this car Jan.1998 after sitting in one at the Vancouver International Auto Show (Im 65"). But its so much better than just an economy car with headroom. Beetles handle well. The torque launches the car off traffic lights faster than most "performance" cars! Maneuvering in tight locations is a breeze, and there are parking spots it will fit into everywhere. LOW POINTS: - its low to the ground ... if you encounter lots of snow its not the car for you. - the suspension doesnt have the travel to soak up bumps like a typical German car. - the back seat is NOT for adults. (but kids love it) Other than that its reliable and economical.

• 

  My wonderful Passat wagon! - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By M Morgan - February 4 - 7:35 am

  I bought my 2000 Passat wagon used, in 2008, now in 2015, 166000 miles. I am still loving this car. It is fully loaded, heated seats, automatic mirror adjustments. Climatron system is great, also the monsoon sound system is amazing. Its a great soccer mom car, love the hatchback, which makes it easy to open and throw in backpacks, sporting stuff as well as groceries, and back seats fold down easily, if transporting something long. I am a small woman, and the car is very comforable, back seats are like your living room sofa. I havent had many problems with it and I drive it all the time.l The one issue is, the car is sort of low and you have to watch going over speed bumps and such. I have had to fix the mufflers a few times but other than that, it been fine, and I love the smooth driving nature of this car. I would get another one, but this one is still going strong, and also, it a great looking car, very classy looking and still looks great even for 15 years old.

• 

  Used Routan - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By fq - February 1 - 10:03 am

  Purchased routan because my wife did not want a minivan feel. This certainly does not, great suspension, reasonable engine, great technology with dual rear seat entertainment. I wanted the Sienna but my wife did not like the cush drive. The routan is tight but not rough.

• 

  Overall a very good economy car - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Erin C - January 31 - 5:03 pm

  The Jetta is a great car. The base model doesnt have a ton of power, but it will get out of its own way for sure. The front seats are comfortable for a small car. The back seat is very tight. Kids and small adults fit fine, anyone larger will have a hard time. The automatic trunk release is a nice feature also. The cruise control works great and isnt jerky like some vehicles. There is some road noise when driving but the great monsoon stereo will cover that up. There should be more pockets or storage areas in the Jetta, the cup holders are placed in a weird spot and are not very convenient, but there are 3 in the middle and two more in the glove box (not sure why).