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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  Volkswagen Passat V6 GLS - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Al - June 24 - 9:06 am

  Car overall runs very good compare to Honda or Toyota 99. Grips to the road and solid feel. So far no problems and regularly change the oil.

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  Routine Maintenance is the Key - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By AHK - June 23 - 12:33 am

  Engine sludge? You MUST use full synthetic oil. Ive had oil changes done at Jiffy Lube - you dont have to go to the dealer. Is the car perfect? Definitely not. Dashboard buzzing - yes. Flaking interior paint - yes. Turbo lag? Hell yeah. Overall, however, its a very good car.

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  Phaeton vanishes from US market - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Christopher De Jonge - June 22 - 11:36 pm

  I enjoy my Phaeton. It has beautiful interior trim. The exterior is sleek and muscular. The handling is sub-optimal, however I am used to more sport drive handling. It is a gas-guzzler. Perhaps the most disconcerting thing is that 2006 will be the last year for new model Phaetons. Already the resale value has tanked. Further, I question whether parts might be hard to obtain.

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  Jetta GL - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hilarie29 - June 22 - 10:00 am

  This is fun car to drive. My only issues have been with the O2 sensor (replaced twice) and the front bumper pulling off from parking over a sidewalk or curb (an expensive lesson that has taken me 3 times to learn). Its a reliable car but the automatic isnt as quick and peppy.

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  BMW, but half the cost - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By lorig - June 22 - 10:00 am

  great car for a great price

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  Pretty Good except for CLUNK - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By ejmurph - June 22 - 10:00 am

  Took delivery $29900 of Blue Silver w/ black from Patrick VW/Saab in Auburn,Ma. Good to deal with.Wish the drivers seat was larger - the lower bolster digs into my thigh. Acceleration has to be mangaged with a deft toe feel versus just booting it from a dead stop...otherwise, it just lags and can be scary if youre darting into local traffic. The ride is terrific, not quite as good as my 02 Saab 9-5 but very fun and reassuring. Gas mi. is 21.5 mpg in mixed driving. Unfortunately, Ive experienced the dreaded low-speed clunk. Fortunately, with help from the forum, the dealer pursued the factory on this and has scheduled a visit to correct the Trans. Control Unit.

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  Just what I needed - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Crasher - June 22 - 8:43 am

  I needed an SUV to haul dogs, get mileage, have clearance to get in my driveway and fit me (6-1, 280 lbs). Leased this on the "sign and drive" program and have no worries, low cost for the length of my lease except gas. Once you figure out how to manipulate the seats, you can pack a ton of crap in this thing. Very easy to drive, nice styling, stops on a dime and has good passing power. Only complaint is a bit too much road noise. I figured since I had the S that the loaded out models may have better sound deadening. Good little SUV.

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  Dont buy if you drive a lot - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By R.S. - June 21 - 1:33 am

  I got exactly what I wanted with this car. Comfort and good quality. Its quiet as well, and designed well inside. From the outside its boring (which is fine with me, but bad if you drive to impress). But the build quality is excellent. The finish resists minor bumps and scratches. I had a minor fender bender and it didnt even scratch the bumper. It has three really bad points, though. First, it has terrible mileage (14 miles/gallon around town, which gets pricey when you also have to use 91 octane fuel ). Second, the fuel tank is small, so I only get 190 miles per tank. Last, the steering wheel takes a lot of effort to turn. Thats fine with me, but my wife wont drive it.

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  A Dodge with VW emblem - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By Kfry - June 20 - 7:50 pm

  Purchased for cross country trip and move to Hawaii. When the vehicle arrived at the dealership (we ordered it to our specs) we were excited. That didnt last long as the steering pulled left. Dealer tried to fix but unsuccessful and we were stuck with it pulling slightly left (dont take your hands off the wheel!) The drive cross country went well. In Hawaii we started have transmission problems. We took it to the dealer 4 times and had the trans replaced twice. It seems to work now. Horrible gas mileage. How can VW tout this van as one of their products. I have owned 2 other VW and loved them. This was the biggest purchase mistake I have made. If I wanted a Dodge I would have gotten one.

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  Good points but - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By hilo2525 - June 20 - 1:00 pm

  Car is fun to drive. However, high cost to service and maintain from dealer. We are a multi-car household and there will no more VWs in our future.