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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  A great car with great mileage... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By meganuke - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Keep an eye on certain maintenance items: always use synthetic oil (Delvac 1), keep an extra mass air flow sensor on hand, and find someone with a VAG-COM to make adjustments to the EGR setting to reduce intake clogging. This should lead to many trouble free miles. I regularly travel over 800 miles per tank of fuel, averaging over 48 mpg. Even spirited driving nets 42 mpg!

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  Car ok ,I satisfaction . - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By Wesley Ciaston - July 6 - 6:05 pm

  Recommended.

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  Honeymoon period gone? - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tpas - July 5 - 6:40 pm

  Pls. Dont get me wrong. I still love my gli o6. Awesome car, lots of fun to ride and drive. This is the best car Ive driven for its price. But they say you cannot have everything. Last a/c broke down. I was disappointed but not panicking. Thank god I still have warranty on it. Family motors of Bakersfield was awesome. You guys are the best. They help me out from start till a/c was working again. I was back on the road before sunset. Moral lesson= i will try to get extended warranty.

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  Great car - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By e - July 4 - 2:36 pm

  I love my car. Its been great - its got about 166,000 miles on it at this point, same clutch! Needs only the basic maintenance, nothing special. Fun to drive. Paint still looks great, still running strong. Will easily make it past 200,000. No doubt.

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  overall a good car - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By bigd - July 3 - 10:00 am

  i bought the car used with 58k for 10k. My mechanic at 60k changed the belt for 600 bucks.The maintenance cost are high at the dealer.The Dealer replaced the headlight assembly 425.54.The fuel door was sticking so back to the dealer. Total parts with labor 204.30.I also had to change the battery about 75k.The bulb or light for the a/c panel doesnt work either at night.Also a new set of pads front and back 80 bucks and 4 new tires from discount. Basically this is a very good car.I have put 42k 1yr the car with no problems.It does handle very well.I have heard stories of people going over 100mph but mine just wont quite get there.

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  01 GLX wagon: a beauty - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By famdoc - July 3 - 10:00 am

  never had any repairs or waranty work. did have an accident and getting parts for it through the VW network was very poor. i love this car, but the parts issue really dampened my enthusiasm.

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  Just Bought it - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Barkley - July 3 - 10:00 am

  I just brought my new Touraeg home. Just 2 dislikes so far. I had to remove the center rear headrest. With it installed, the view from the rearview mirror was almost completely blocked. Another annoyance is that when the A/C is on, the system sends a small amount of cold air though the defroster which causes condensation on the windshield on humid days.

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  Total Fun - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By floyd - July 2 - 6:50 pm

  The car is a blast to drive, very safe, and has an interior like a BMW without the cost. It has looks to kill for. Its performance is outstanding, and its gas milage is great. I love the heated leather seats and one touch windows. I highly recommend it.

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  dont be a victim of the dealer - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By keith_g - July 2 - 3:51 pm

  Like many I have been told for years to stay away from German cars. However my average repair on an American car was always $750. So how bad could it be? I bought a 99 V6 Passat in Nov of 07 with 112K on it. I was the 3rd owner. I have had to fix the ECU, Control Arm and Power steering pump. But with the car this age and miles that did not seem bad to me. Also, if you have a German car and you need a part! LOOK ON LINE for it and save! Example, the ECU “traction control computer” dealer and private shop cost, 1K4-1.5K$. To buy new with 1 year warrantee, “600$”. To take it out myself, have it sent to a company that fixes it and ships it back with a 3 year warrantee, “$168.00” DO YOU SEE MY POINT! I would trust this car to get into it right now and drive to Alaska! Love it! Get the 2.8

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  Finally VW Got it! - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By deszka - July 2 - 4:36 am

  After two months, I love my GTI even more. This is my sixth VW, after the Corrado SLC this is a real VW again. Bravo Volksburg!