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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  Fun to drive - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By RedSox - April 30 - 8:06 pm

  I have only had my Tiguan for one month, but it has been a lot of fun to drive. Gas mileage has been good at 23 mpg. Fit and finish is the best of any car I have owned.

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  Love this Car - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lovemyjetta - April 29 - 6:30 pm

  I have had a lot of luck with this car. Besides routine maintenance: tires, oil changes, belts, brakes, exhaust and tune ups, I have put nothing into the car. My only problem with German cars in general is their emissions standards are so high that to replace the system when it broke was $1500. Otherwise, I have put in the routine maintenance and he runs like a charm. Still reliable at 186,000 miles.

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  2002 Jetta 1.8T - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By chumani - April 28 - 11:34 pm

  If it makes you feel better I have a wagon. This car would be a great car if all the parts could be shipped next day from Germany. Good luck with your transmission. You can start thinking about replacing it at 60,000 miles. The tiptronic switch is easy to replace if youre a mechanical geek but if not it will cost you around $500.00 to fix. This is not the kind car you buy parts from your local part store. Be ready to get dirty and learn how your car works or pay a hefty price at the shop and Im just talking about your regular maintenance. If you can afford the upkeep of an Audi then go for it because thats what youre buying anyway.

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  2006 Passat - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By motorjim - April 27 - 2:40 pm

  My 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T is great when it is not in the shop. Mine has been in the shop for five different problems in 7,000 miles. It is very glitchy. I am very concerned about ownership post warranty.

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  How well do you like your shop? - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AnotherDissatisfacho - April 27 - 10:00 am

  The the car is in the shop at least every other mo. nowadays, and parts are outrageous. Repairs include rear passenger window sensor, airbag, abs, fuel door (all under 24K); maf(VW pd 1/2), glowplug solonoid, brakelight switch--plus sth. is wrong with the a/c, the chk. eng. light is on again & the lift struts in the trunk are bad ($88 each!). (+ a $700 tuneup at 40K.) Contrast my used Neon--twice the mileage and 1/4 the problems & expense. I think the breakages wouldnt be quite so bad if you could get cheap parts, but you can only find genuine VW stuff! I bought the Dsl. partly b/c it would last forever--but I cant afford to keep it!

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  Fantastic Car - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By teamster151 - April 27 - 10:00 am

  What a great overall experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  Good solid comfortable car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gswonsn - April 27 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my GLS for 6 weeks and have to say that it has been the best car I have ever owned. It has had no problems. The mileage is slightly better than the 1994 Jetta that it replaced averaging 25 MPG in the city with the 2.0L and 5 speed. The Monsoon sound system sounds great and the functions are straight forward. I only have 2 complaints, the placement of the cup holders that block the radio controls and the dimmer switch for the high beams. It is too easy to push it back when using the turn signals. I looked for quite awhile before buying a car and found this to be the best driving, most fun car for anywhere near the price.

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  opened can - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By gephart meinstroff - April 27 - 10:00 am

  dont buy it, have had 4 problems with convertible top, no parts available.

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  VW vs. BMW - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Carlos N. - April 27 - 5:40 am

  I own a 2005 BMW 530 with the Prem. and Spts Pkg. On 12/1/05 I bought a VW Passat 2.0 T Pkg. 2 with 17" wheels, Dynaudio, and mats. The car listed for $30,000. This car was for my wife, but now we seem to like the VW as we go out in it more than in the BMW. For the size of the engine, it is probably the best for the money. I highly recommend the car. I am thinking about getting a 3.6 All Whell Drive Passat with GPS ($40,000). It seems to run like a BMW 550i for $22,000 less.

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  VW Passat TDi - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By sky - April 27 - 4:13 am

  My 1997 Volkswagen Passat TDI drives well, and gets great fuel economy (50 at high altitude, 45 @ sealevel). However, this is the worst car I have ever owned in terms of non-drivetrain repairs. the quality of construction and materials are very substandard. I have experienced repeated component failures, and have had to make repeated repairs for same item. Owners of newer ones (2004-2005) have reported identical and worse complaints. this car has very shoddy materials and worksmanship. My 83 Toyota (340k miles) is more reliable than the VW ever was.