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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  Good Car - Fun to Drive - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mr. Moto - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive read some reviews about bad service-- I have had only good service from Ash Tisdelle. The car is great, very fun to drive. Peppy turbo- love the sound. Only a few minor issues and one recall. Coolant sensor went sour (20k miles), right side window fell into door (retaining clips were bad) and all was repaired quickly. A big portion of the car experience is the sales/service team. Velour interior looks great when clean-- but acts like a lint brush!

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  Luxury Class w/ no Pretense! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Blondie2000AZ - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Saw it. Had to have it. No test drive and still paid less than sticker! When everyone involved has confidence in the value of a car, its an easy, painless transaction. I love this car because its classic and unique at once. Down to earth, but very stylish and fun. Compares favoribly w/ likes of BMW only without the pretensiousness.

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  Just Right For Me - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By BeenEverywhere - May 21 - 6:00 pm

  I feel I have owned the car long enough to have thoroughly judged it. Mine is a fully loaded sport/luxury package minus the nav (won’t pay the price for a factory nav) I bought the car new and compared the BMW 330, Mercedes CLK, Audi and Maxima. For me the bang for the buck in the Passat was a winner. I am 6’4” and this car fit me best of all those. I regularly make 300+ miles and my back and legs do excellent! I paid less than most and more than others got a great deal for the package. A feature I refused to pay for but now can’t live out are parking sensors! There is a weird hesitation on the throttle that everyone deals with. It took me 6 months to master but now I don’t even notice.

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  VW GOLF - mixed - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By Crossman - May 21 - 10:00 am

  Great power in a small package, but turbo system has many service problems. Corners cut on some interior and trim items. Velour interior captures dirt and grime and wont give it up. Dealerships too busy to give decent service. Goes like a champ through the snow, but very low ground clearance.

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  THIS CAR JUST STINKS - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By LNS - May 21 - 10:00 am

  I HATE THIS CAR! NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE. AC HAS BEEN WORKED ON TWICE, I GOT A NEW RADIO/CD PLAYER, THE WINDOW FELL IN THE DOOR, PROBLEMS WITH THE BLINKER AND I BELIEVE THERE IS A CLUTCH PROBLEM BUT VW INSISTS ITS FINE. PLUS OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAD A HEARING SET UP WITH THE BBB AND VW OFFERED THE 5YR/72K MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FREE.THE WARRANTY IS A VERY SMALL TOKEN CONSIDERING WHAT A LEMON IT IS. ITS ONE OF THOSE CARS THAT THE PROBLEMS HAPPEN FOR YOU AND YOU ONLY. THE DEALERSHIPS CAN NEVER DUPLICATE IT. I WILL NEVER BUY A VW AGAIN. I WILL STICK TO HONDA!!!

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  Did not enjoy this car - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Not a Fan - May 21 - 10:00 am

  This car has been a major disappoinment. I leased this car new in 1998 and have been trapped in a four year lease! It was great for the first year, but on the one year anniversary of the car, the electrical system shorted out. Since then, my dashboard shorts out and I have to hit the dash to get the lights back on. My stereo gets louder as I try to turn it down. Then my wheel covers ended up missing. To top it all off, my exhaust system fell out, and was not cheap to replace. Now I have an unidentified rattling coming from the rear of the car. I also found that I did not have that great of a gas mileage. Oh well, live and learn. Ill never buy VW again.

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  Love my cabby - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By lajlmt - May 21 - 10:00 am

  It is too late to buy a new cabby, they are out of production, glad I did not wait!

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  Great Family Sedan - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By snead_c - May 21 - 10:00 am

  We have owned the GLX for 28 months (34,500 miles) and had no problems. My wife drives it and loves it.It is an excellent small sedan that is loaded with features, performs very well, and is economical.

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  Bug is fun, but not practical - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By mollyfied - May 21 - 10:00 am

  My husband bought me a 2001 turbo Beetle for Mothers Day. Although its been great fun, having to get out of the car and pull up the seat every day, several times a day, to let our daughter out of the back seat quickly becomes a drag -- as does the five- speed manual stick. The performance has been good, although we had repeated problems with the ignition. The car would just turn over, and then die. This happened fairly frequently, but of course, not at the dealership. They didnt repair it. Im trading it in for a VW Passat wagon.

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  Jetta GLS TDI - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By NHSid - May 21 - 10:00 am

  If you are looking for a well built, economical and safe vehicle then the Jetta GLS TDI is a solid choice. This is my first diesel car, and I love it! Forget everything bad you ever heard about diesel, and give this car a try. It starts easily in the cold of a NH winter and the fuel is sold in about 50% of the local filling stations. While there is a slight odor to the emissions, at 50 mpg I can live with it. It is a quiet and comfortable ride. The safety features give me a great sense of security should something happen while driving. While the standard price is higher, the standard features are much greater.