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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  Runs great...BUT - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By l8dybug - March 28 - 10:00 am

  I havent had any of the electical problems mentioned in the other reviews. My complaints are about mostly cosmetic problems. The interior door handles are peeling...Im told its from the lotion I use (?), the antennae is getting corroded, the gas cover has broken 3 times, Ive had to replace the pegs on the hatchback twice. Also the doors are causing nicks in the paint on the front fender. Irritating little things, but overall I like the car.

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  never again! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By never again! - March 28 - 10:00 am

  while fun to drive, the jetta has been very dissappointing when it comes to reliability--water pump...fuel pump...ignition switch...indicator switch... seat tracking (3X!)...drivers door window regulator (2X!)...main onboard computer went beserk and locked us out sporadically and spontaneously... had to wait 3 MONTHS for part to repair ignition switch. what would you think?...

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  Bug Time - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By KJ - March 27 - 1:06 am

  I have the 5-speed, and do enjoy the cars drive and handling. 150HP is plenty in car this size, and I have no complaints about acceleration (Go Bug, Go!). The ABS braking system and anti-skid functions seem to work well. I had several opportunities to drive it in the snow this year, and it seemed to handle that challenge quite well. Though it presents some restrictions, I do appreciate the Bugs styling, as it sets it apart from other cars its size,

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  VW heaven - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Vw all the way - March 26 - 4:53 pm

  This car will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first. I love the interior but the cup holders are not good. I have had issues with window motors and transmission but I have recked it two times and its still getting me around with out issues at 130k. Overall this is a nice car and its design is very sporty.

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  Look at whats under the hood! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By sandiego11 - March 25 - 5:48 pm

  Ive read a lot of reviews before I purchased my vehicle. Noticed that there were lots of issues with the 2006 VW. drove a lot of different cars including a new fusion, and several Japanese cars. Ive never driven a 2.0T but typically large cars with an undersized engine and a turbo to help compensate dont do well (repair wise) Have owned my 3.6 for a year now (its a 5 year old 2006) and its running spectacular! Nothing but regular maintenance needed. You have to remember that this is nearly a 3k pound car. a 2.0T will not work long term with sporty driving, but if you choose a 3.6 its an excellent commuter and very fun on the weekends without much time in the shop.

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  Great car...but - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Clliff - March 25 - 10:00 am

  We bought our Passat new in 99. We liked the cornering,handling and feel of the car. It was fun to drive and continued to be so until we traded it several weeks ago. We were experiencing too many failures of electrical and electronic componants. It got so we wondered every time we drove the car, what would go wrong next. This seems to be a common problem with VWs and in fact all German cars at present. Take a look at the April issue of Consumers Report and you will see what I mean. Volkswagon must address reliability of their cars if they want to hold on to their American market.

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  Dont buy this pain in the neck - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rockclimber - March 24 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car new from the dealer w/a keyless remote. It was worthless and I had it replaced several times (thank goodness for lifetime warranties). Finally I had the whole think yanked. Electrically this car is a heap. It can self-alarm after starting w/ the key & 30 secs later it goes off. I have to tow it in for repair. Why the side mirrors are heated to 100F is beyond me. Supposedly, if the drivers door is left ajar for several mins, the car self-alarms. VW engrs figured this means the driver is being attacked, so the car disables itself. I wont buy VW again.

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  99 Wolfsburg Jetta - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Leah5429 - March 24 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun car and very dependable. The only complaints I have are the windshield wipers are lousy, and the windows fog up in the winter when the heat is on.

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  The Scoop on Jettas - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Corky310 - March 24 - 2:00 am

  We have almost 100K on our Jetta, so far we have had to replace the O2 sensor twice. The doors creak if you dont lube them and BAD gas mileage for an underpowered 4 cylider. We dont get a drop over 28mpg at any speed. For a little car, its a gas hog. My mother in-laws Buick Park Avenue gets better mileage and has twice the horsepower! The automatic transmission cant make up its mind what gear to choose or when to shift. Lord help you if you back out of a parking stall and expect to get moving into traffic fast. It wont happen. There is about a 3 second lag before it kicks in.

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  So Far, so good! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By stacey1213 - March 24 - 2:00 am

  The gas mileage is awful, 15.3 avg. so far. However,it is very comfortable, feels like a Mercedes inside, and I have taken 9 hour trips in it and never felt sore> Love the GPS!