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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  RUN AWAY!!! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By deandeandean - August 4 - 10:00 am

  This was one of the best cars Id ever bought, until the ENGINE SEIZED UP flying down the interstate @ 80+. It seems the dealership FORGOT to put the drain plug back in after an oil change. After THREE WEEKS in a rental GEO Metro, the dealership returns the jetta to me with a "new" engine that BLEW UP less than a month later. Mind you, the car had just under 19,000 miles! I took the car to another VW dealer (you have to so the warranty pays) and they replaced the engine AGAIN! At 23,368 miles, this "new" one DIED. Dead. No note, no clues, just graveyard dead. When the dealership picked up the car, I gave them the keys, too.

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  DONT BUY IT!!!!!!!!! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lisa_Marie - August 1 - 2:00 am

  DONT BUY IT!! I have had so many problems with this car. The Transmission, window regulators, the serpentine belt (twice)---which caused my a/c, alternator, and power steering pump to go out. Which I was charged, b/c the car was at 24,400 miles. VW has no pride in their cars, just ask the service manager if they drive one.... I promise, they dont!!!!

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  WATCH OUT! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By bobthesnob - August 1 - 2:00 am

  My car had a fair amount of miles on it when I purchased it so I assumed that maintenance would be a bit more expensive. Little did I know that everything on the car self-destructs at 50,000 miles. The interior is made entirely of plastic that breaks without notice (window switches, glove compartment, and arm rest compartment). Even the plastic brake light switches affiliated with the transmission release break (Ive replaced FOUR in one year!)! Watch out for this car! Its been in the shop about once per month in the 14 months that Ive owned it.

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  Got rid of it! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Ugh! - July 31 - 11:13 pm

  My wife and I were seduced by the looks and lure of the Touareg. We bought one without doing the research I normally do. It just looked so sweet. Well, we hated it...mostly for the TERRIBLE gas mileage. It was not comfortable to get in and out of, and the power of the V6 engine is weak. It doesnt even gome with standard power seats. Mine had a faulty back door and CD player, an underpowered engine on hills or passing, a fast clock (10 minutes a week) and when a tire was low, it required a VW appointment to reset the computer which kept telling me the tire was flat, long after I filled it. Also, the roof rack is a pain in the neck to use. Finally, this truck is unbelievably slow taking off from a stop, almost dangerously slow.

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  Best one in years - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By Doug Haught - July 27 - 5:25 pm

  Absolutely NO problems. Excellent performance, responsive and all the acceleration you need when merging into high speed highways BEFORE I found I was lied to by VW about ecology. Modifitction is expected to ruin economic advantage of the vehicle which was why I bought it. I wont be holding on to this one and it will be my last.

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  VW Mk4 Gti 1.8t (TIPTRONIC) - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Tanya Luther - July 27 - 4:44 pm

  So, I bought myself an 02 GTI about a year ago with 73,000 miles and it was a one owner car. Interior and exterior of the car was excellent. Sadly, 1 month after buying the car...the glove box door broke. The next month, my car started to make a horrible noise. Took it to my trustworthy mechanic, and he said that the waterpump had gone bad. Along with that I had the waterpump, timing belt, etc..replaced; $1,000. Later on, my heater blower, windshield wipers, and turn signals ALL went out...in the middle of winter. Come to find out after replacing a few things it was the relay switch; $35. Still not finished, after dealing with that. The check engine light came on, needed a NEW TRANSMISSION.

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  A piece of @#@$ - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jmj - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Two broken glove boxes, 1 oxygen sensor rear brakes worn really fast. numerous fault code problems in and out of shop 8 times needs a muffler.you smell the washer fluid in the car when sprayed.I traded a 1998 honda accord for this car what a mistake this car does not even hold value to a honda.

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  Disappointed - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By shark - July 23 - 11:10 am

  This otherwise enjoyable and luxurious family sedan is proving unreliable in the long-term. My repairs in the past nice months include: new vacuum hoses; rear brake rotors; power steering rack; and inner/outer tie rods. To add insult to injury, VW dealers charge outrageous rates for routine service: $575 for 40,000 mile service; $60 for oil change; $140 for a brake fluid flush! Sadly, with the mounting repair and service costs, its time to ditch this pariah for something much more reliable.

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  Grieving owner - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Jorge Provenzali - July 18 - 5:20 pm

  I learn to drive in a 1954 bug and owned 1995 Golf that was a great car. The end of my VW loving history came with my purchase 10 months ago of a 2007 Rabbit. The car is a nightmare, the fuel consumption equal that of a midsize SUV and the repertoire of sounds and noises has only improved with time (the comment I got at the dealership was, if I thought I had bought a Bentley). In any case, my major complaint is with the clutch, at the dealership they maintain that there is no possibility of adjustment as some genius devised a self adjusting system that can not be altered in any way. So the fun that used to be driving a manual transmission has turn into dreadful event with this car.

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  Not that great of a car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Anthony15 - July 16 - 10:00 am

  I am sick of spending so much time in there service department. More powerful engine is needed, To many electrical problems. Better service department is needed. Build the cars with less flaws, So far my car took in water from the engine 4 times, the back brakes went after 4000 miles...the check engine light goes on every other month...and the list keeps going.... Build better cars, and to VW take more pride in your work!!!!!