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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  Great Car with some minor problems - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Pulsar - April 27 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car after considering the Vibe, Matrix, and protege-5. They all cost about the same if you add the options needed to bring them up to the GTI standard equipment. This car replaced a 95 Subaru Impreza 2.2 wagon. The interior of the GTI is great, I wanted leather but the local dealers didnt have it with the luxury package so I went with the moon roof and monsoon instead. Ive had one big problem that seems like a common one for the GTI/Golf/Jetta/Beetle family...The passenger window supports broke and the window fell into the door frame. It took the dealer 3 days to fix this since they didnt have the parts.

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  Would be better in Germany - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lefuulei - April 26 - 10:08 pm

  I bought my Jetta Brand New of the lot. Everything on this car is decent to good but not stellar. Its a nice, sporty vehicle, great sound system, handles well and I loved it while I leased it. But even during that time frame there were recalls on the vehicle for small things like Light adjustments. Another recall was for the sunroof but they charge you $150 to fix it. Third recall was for fixing the wiper blades which threaten to cut the fuel line. The spedometer is off and the clock runs fast. But be warned: If the EPC light comes on you wont have any idea WHAT it is! Recently just spent $400 to repair the speed sensor. As with any foreign car: Expect expensive parts and limited service.

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  Good All Around Car - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Gee-man - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Overall this car has been good to me. There were some unexpected repairs, but Id gladly sacrifice 100% reliability for styling and fun. Not to say this car ever left me stranded or broke down during rush hour. Its great in the snow and rain and the fuel economy is still over 30 mpg on average. With over 80k miles Im still on my first set of breaks and clutch. The major problem is that it burns 1 qt of oil every 1000+ miles, which is a hassle for some, but overall its nothing that I have trouble living with. Let me mention that this car has sat in traffic for 1000s of hours - the kind of wear that breaks down a car the most - and still very few problems.

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  1999 Volkswagen New Beetle - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By zoomzoom06 - April 25 - 7:40 am

  Ok, so I loved this car when I first got it. Fun to drive, envy of friends, etc. Well, then the problems started. This car eats fluids like crazy, the oil and anitfreeze especially. The fuse for the brakelights blew. The check engine and ABS lights stay on for no reason. I have heard these are common problems, but come on, youd think they would have fixed them. Also, I hate pumping it with gas. If the pumps nozzle is not in just the right position, the stupid thing stops because the sensor says the tank is full although it is not. There are so many more problems I could list, but there is not enough room to put them all down! Reconsider whether or not to purchase, and dont do it!

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  Its been alright - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By monkey801 - April 22 - 2:53 pm

  I bought this car 2 years ago because Ive always loved Jettas. Fell in love with it right away, its definitely quicker than most would assume. Bought it with 118,000 miles. Since then Ive had to replace the fuel pump, ignition coils (recall), and the hoses. These cars are expensive to fix! Aside from that its still running strong at 136,000 miles.

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  liked it in general but several problems - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By cchrissyy - April 22 - 2:00 am

  I enjoyed driving the beetle because it was responsive and comfortable. However, we had reliability probems literally from day 1 until the last day, when we picked it up from a service apointment and drove it to be traded-in! I would have kept it longer but we outgrew it- afetr 4 weeks of a baby riding in the back, enouh was enough! we needed a 4-door.

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  VW is fine - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Joeshittheragman - April 22 - 2:00 am

  Purchased it used with 18,000 miles on it it has been an absolute blast to drive ever since. Came with all the options and sport suspension (17" wheels) it handles on rails and quick off the go. It has been in the shop a few times and in the twin cities that means 3 weeks to book an appointment. Check engine lights comes on, goes off, comes on. Had to replace the o2 sensor under warranty, at 40,000 miles the mass flow intake went out, that was $300 plus to fix. Real fun to drive, its a car, stuff is going to go wrong with it. I would recommend it to a friend, good bang for the buck.

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  My very first new car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jessicavafl - April 22 - 2:00 am

  The 1.8T has great pick up and is very sassy. The monsoon sound system is ok, but it could be better. I have however experienced a few problems. First, both of my front power windows broke (of course, one at a time but both on a Saturday night in the rain) which was quite frustrating, which I have come to find out is a common VW problem. Also, I had an electrical problem that drained my battery and put my car in the shop for about 5 day. I also have the tip tronic system which is fun todrive after having to drive a standard for the past three years. Although I have had a few problems, I love my Jetta and feel I made a good choice.

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  I never give 10s - 2010 Volkswagen EOS
  By Rick - April 20 - 2:33 pm

  First: Reliability is for those cars at least over a year old. I wanted practical for a single man, so convertible was out of the question? Im a cautious driver so cornering like a sports car wasnt necessary. So, for me, cornering, acceleration and stopping is more than adequate. It is a pleasure to drive. I noticed the front wheel drive has potential for squealing on hard acceleration when the top is down. Probably a weight distribution issue. There is a huge blind side on the passenger side, logically with the top up. But seriously, who wants the top up unless you need to use those nice heated seats. Think Ill sit back and read the owners manual. Let you know more next year.

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  No problems at 47000 miles - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By jcelsa - April 19 - 12:00 pm

  Handles well in all weather. It took a while to find a spare that still only fits the rear. I pump the tires to 38 and have had no bubbles so far. Leans more than a BMW xi in turns, otherwise, just as fast. I fixed the rain sensor wiper problem with rain x on the sensor.