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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  Awsome - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Dawn Wilson - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I have had my GTI for one week. I still cant belive I have it. I get nothing but performace from her. I us her in heavy traffic and I have the 6 speed manuel. That does not make a difference. She handles just as well as a automatic. The speed and the power at top end i awsome. I would tell anyone to get this call. Classy, sporty, and a whole bunch of fun rapped up into one awsome car.

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  One best Jetta ever - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By yadi - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I owned a 1992 MB 400E before this Jetta. I used to have a 1986 Jetta also. By buying this car I didnt lose the power/weight ration thanks to the high low-end torque. I enjoy the manual transmission something I missed in MB. There have been very few flaws with the car. I think I am going to keep it another 2 years until I can get the next gen Jetta or back to E-class again. I would recommend Jetta for those who want to have fun while driving even in a traffic jam.

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  Fun to Drive! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By gOpACKERS - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Great car! fast-- awd gets through alot of snow etc! neg--cd changer in trunk

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  Fun to Drive! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By gopackers - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Great car! fast-- awd gets through alot of snow etc! neg--cd changer in trunk

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  Bad Decision - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Frustrated - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I think I completely made a mistake in buying my jetta......I have never seen as many mishaps with any other car (my family and friends included). The bumper is low to the ground and OFTEN rips off when parking.....my sunroof has also started to malfunction. In the three years I have owned this car (bought it brand new) I have already put $7000 in to it. However it is fun to drive, though not when you have to take it to the shop every two months.

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  Bad Decision - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By frustrated - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I think I completely made a mistake in buying my jetta......I have never seen as many mishaps with any other car (my family and friends included). The bumper is low to the ground and OFTEN rips off when parking.....my sunroof has also started to malfunction. In the three years I have owned this car (bought it brand new) I have already put $7000 in to it. However it is fun to drive, though not when you have to take it to the shop every two months.

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  Expensive to own! - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By pbesong - June 8 - 7:46 am

  Expensive to own and operate! It takes premium gas only, so while everyone else is paying $2.60 per gallon, youre paying $3.00 a gallon. It takes a special oil, too, which at Pep Boys costs $8.00 per bottle and youll need 5 bottles. The oil filter from the dealer costs $28, but you can get it from NAPA for a mere $16 (still expensive if you ask me). And you need to change it every 5k miles. Its not a straight-forward oil change either. A bit more complicated. Xenon headlights cost $150 to replace and since the daytime running lights are on all the time, youre sure to burn through quite a few. Im not keeping mine long enough to find out how many. transmission can have mechatronic unit problem.

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  Makes my drives actually Exciting!!! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Vonnicht - June 8 - 3:56 am

  I have had the car since Aug of 2008 and I am very impressed with Volkswagen right now. The build quality is superb, This car not only feels as solid as a rock, it OWNS the road. Handling is amazing I feel like I have superhuman reflexes with how responsive the steering is. I average about 26 MPG with 60 hwy/ 40 cty driving. Another plus with this car is that it requires fewer oil changes, the recommended is every 10,000 miles or 12 months. It does require full synthetic. I researched many other models and makes and you cant beat the level of quality and luxury that Volkswagen has to offer at this price level. I also got mine for 3k less than book, certified.

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  Deep Pockets Needed - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JJ - June 8 - 2:46 am

  Decent car until something breaks. Problems with O2 sensors, mass air flow and the famous broken windows. Battles with the dealers and VW doesnt endear me. Engine belts, broken fuel pumps and sensors only available from the dealer at astronomical prices keep maintainance high. The software for the ODB II is VW only and hard to find an independent garage with it. Oh did I forget the 1000 mile oil change? Add a quart every 1,000 miles! Melting knobs on the radio, broken door handle surrounds, cheaply made plastic parts. Did I buy a Yugo?

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  Great until it gets cold outside! DO NOT BUY - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By tiguanowner4 - June 8 - 2:41 am

  My power sterring does not work. Thankfully this has not happened as I drive down the highway. However I am left to cross my fingers and pray my car will work when I get in it. I have had my 2010 Tiguan in the shop 5 times in the past 4 months. It always happens when it is cold outside. Perhaps they should not be selling these in Alberta then!!! My mom is also experiencing the same problem on the same day with her 2010 Tiguan! She has also had her Tiguan in the shop for the same amount of times...big surprise. It happens when the weather is colder than -25 which happens a lot here. Canadian buyers BEWARE:(