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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  2004 Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By crispykid1 - April 18 - 5:50 pm

  I love this vehicle. It fits my lifestyle perfectly! Its fun to drive on the street, and it tows my boat with ease! I take it camping and it pulls my dirt bike trailer into the woods easily. My only two complaints are: it has had some trim issues where the seat knobs and levers have gotten loose and the radio speakers get loose and rattle. Fortunately everything has been covered under warranty. The repairs would be quite expensive if my truck wasnt under warranty.

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  fun reliable turbo - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By artcwike - April 17 - 11:53 pm

  Bought a manual 2001 Wolfsburg edition in the fall with a ton of miles (130,000). Downsized from a newer jeep liberty for better milage/no payments. The small 1.8 liter engine is amazing on gas, while the turbocharger adds plenty of zip. While driving more conservatively, I went about a month on one tank. But its hard to resist redlining that turbo from time to time. Reliable so far with the biggest problem being a burnt out turn signal. Miserable driving on snow or ice. Interior smells like crayons (read that its the fire retardent foam under the carpet). Large trunk and plenty of room for carseats. Would recommend

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  Bigger is Better... - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By marusik - April 16 - 5:35 am

  Being in the market for a mid-size family car in the most competitive segment, I found the Passat quite a balanced choice. The combination of performance and spaciousness is very accommodating. The 1.8 Turbo breaths smoothly and effortless, marking a significant difference, especially when your weekend driving involves a few mountain ranges (which will surprise some V8 drivers out there). The six-speed automatic shifts seamlessly (almost as a CVT without the retrofitting side-effect). Power is always available thanks to the engines low end torque. In fewer words, I just love the driving dynamics of the Passat regardless of the package you choose.

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  The Car or Me - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By V WE - April 14 - 9:20 pm

  I have only had it for 5 days and wish I would have got an automatic. The motor seems lazy between idle and 1200 r.p.m.s , so I stall it quite often on takeoff. I have owned quite a few sticks in my life and never had such a problem. I love everything else about the car though. once I am moving it drives great and has plenty of power. I have owned some beetles over the years, a 63, 65, two 66s,a 68 and a 74. I always told my friends, If you cant drive a vw stick you will never be able to drive a stick period. So, is it the car or me ?

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  Rabbit 06 - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Chris Gorham - April 14 - 9:13 pm

  Excellent performance and economy at super price vs. Audi or BMW.

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  New Salsa Red Sedan - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JerryI - April 10 - 6:23 pm

  Had to take back to dealer after 450 miles when engine light came on. Oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. First non-Japanese car so Im hoping reliability isnt too much of an issue. Purchased for gas mileage, sporty nature and uniqueness, durability of diesel engine. I drive many highway miles. Standard radio has very tinny sound, not for listening to music. Will need to upgrade. Air conditioning is weak. Vents hardly blow out much cold air. No complaints about the ride, acceleration or gas mileage. Feels solid and looks good.

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  Traded my nightmare Audi A4 Avant for a Jetta SE. - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Christopher David S. - April 10 - 6:11 am

  I recently traded my A4 Avant for a brand new 2017 Jetta SE. I bought my Jetta during a great promotion that my dealer was having, ansd I really feel that it was a great value. I bought it with 8 miles on the odometers and have put 17,000 on it in 10 months. ZERO problems, so far. The gas mileage is a big plus for me. With all of my highway driving, I see high 30s, every day. One day, I was on a long road trip and was using hyper-mileing techniques, and got over 40MPG. I love this car so much that I do not know where to start. Lets start with the engine. I was a bit worried that the tiny 1.4 Turbo would be too small and pathetic for being a daily highway driver. Boy, did the test drive prove me wrong. The 1.4 is a very snappy little motor with great acceleration. It is insanely torquey for such a small displacement engine. This car has neglibile, if any at all, Turbo lag. Compared to my old A4, this car has a very responsive Turbo. The transmission is very smooth, but on occassion decides to shift hard. Maybe once or twice a month, it will act like it cant figure out where it wants to shift. Resulting in a bit of a jerk when it shifts. The tires on this car are noisy. I cannot wait to wear them out, and put some new tires on it. VW needs to drop Bridgestone. Utter garbage tires, in my opinion. As for cabin and interior, this car is VERY spacious. I am 60", and weigh 280 pounds. I do not ever regret buying this car. It is comfortable, and has a great amount of leg room. I like the height adjustable seats with a handle to pump them up and down. The trunk is incredibly large. I am not sure how VW engineered the car to have such a large trunk, while maintaining enough leg room that my 67" friend can ride in the back seat without cramping up. I live on the ocean and am constantly at a beach with this car. That means lots of sand and salt water on my clothes. The vinyl seats and the nice rubber floor mats are great for this enviroment. Very durable interior, and easy to lift out the deep tray floor mat and just dump the sand out. The seats wipe right off, and clean up easily. For an economy based car, the electronic amenties make it a great commuter. I use the Blutooth every day. Google Maps are used for my GPS. The backup camera is a great feature that I love. USB ports are handy, as well. For the money, you get a lot of features. And, did I mention that it is a great looking car, as well. I wish the warranty were a bit longer, and the oil changes were still free, but so far the maintenance visits have been painless and the service has been great.

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  Nicknamed my battle tank. - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Scott - April 9 - 8:19 am

  I bought my 04 Jetta TDI as a commuter car and to keep the miles off my F250. Purchased it with 136,000 off Craigslist from original owner who had documentation of all routine maintenance from dealership in Milwaukee. Since purchase Im currently at 222,000 miles. Since my purchase Ive had some minor issues. Heater blower motor. Did the work myself with YouTube. Took a half hour and I believe $30. Front wheel bearing a few thousand miles ago. Awesome local mechanic did the bearing and full brake job and a pesty new thermostat for $400. Approx 500 miles ago I blew an intercooler hose connection putting the car into limp mode. I brought the car to Jims Bug Center in Waukesha. For $250 he replaced the hose along with a few other worn hoses he located and a pulley bearing that would squeak when turning at slow speeds. The doozy was I opted for the dreaded timing belt replacement which was $750. Car drives almost as good as my wifes 2012 Jetta TDI still. Needless to say Im a happy TDI owner.

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  1999 Passat GLS V-6 - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By sstepa - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Mine was built on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon. 2 failed fuel sending units, leaking rear shock, cam seal blew, power steering leak (twice) CV boot cracked, rear hatch lock repaired, squeek in drivers door, broken bottom engine cover. Bought new and its not driven hard and only put on 12K per year. Im jealous of all the other positive reviews. Cant say the same for mine.

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  Great Milage - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Chris - March 29 - 7:46 pm

  This is my 2nd Diesel Jetta. If you are after mileage this is the way to go as long as you can keep up with the service costs. Count on a couple hundred every 5,000 and twice that for the 10,000 mile check-ups. As long as you keep diesel additives in it and use quality diesel there is no concern. Make friends with your service adviser and that car will last for at 200,000 miles not problem. 300,000 is attainable but be much more careful with the service. Once the kids start to get into their teens you do tend to outsize the vehicle. I will probably buy another diesel Jetta next time too.