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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  Bangin for the Buck - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By DubWise - January 9 - 3:43 am

  I purchased my 04 in May of 04. Immediately installed a chip. Noticeable jump to 215 horses still with good gas milage. Excellent handling I take turns confidently well above the posted mph (have to know the car and its limits). K&N Also a must. Easily modifiable without going into the engine block. Was going to buy a BMW. Wife has 328 5 spd. Believe it or not I like my GTI more. May still buy a 5 series or a 3 convertible but a VW may still be in the future. I would buy VW again. Knock on wood, no mechanical failure. Did have a sun roof problem resolved and under warranty.

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  1 month - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By - January 8 - 10:00 am

  so far so good, love to run this car on home heating oil 85 cents a gallon, but afraid of voiding my warranty,anyone had problems in this area? some say yeah, few say nah, wadda you say.................CAPT KIRK

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  A good value and fun! - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ttocsffej - January 8 - 9:26 am

  My second bug and not as sprightly as my 01 Turbo coupe. Its a very heavy small car (3200 lbs.) and has a solid road feel. Even with the 1.8t and the 5 speed it craves another 30-40 hp. Fuel economy is not great. (EPA is 25 city-30 hwy.) My best mileage is only 24.2 mpg in mostly highway driving. You might get 30 mpg-if you still drive 55 mph on the freeway! With a lead foot in town you can expect about 21-22 mpg. The culprit is the gearing; its "short" in order to aid acceleration but the engine turns over a fuel-wasting 3700 rpm at 80 mph! An overdrive 6th gear would help mpg and noise! Otherwise it is a fun, solidly built convertible with a tight top. No troubles at 5K miles.

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  gti in audi clothing - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By andys review - January 6 - 12:26 pm

  So far so good! This car took me a while to get used to because Im so used to driving second generation gtis, but I really like it now. Not as much fun as the 1st and second generation gtis but but smoother and better all around. Very roomy and handling is up to par. The vr6 is such a nice engine. You move a lot faster then it feels. Definitely a much more solid feeling car. Fuel is pretty good if you baby the car. Easy to drive slow and exciting to drive fast! In my opinion it has an Audi feel to it and the cabin is pretty quiet. This glx model is loaded and I love and use every option. Im very happy with my purchase!

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  07 Jetta VP - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By J - January 5 - 7:33 pm

  I bought the Jetta thinking it was a German car that was pricey but worth the money due to the materials and workmanship. I am incredibly disappointed. When I picked up the car the keyless entry didnt work and the radio had interference. The dealer to date is unable to fix the radio. It sounds bad enough to drive me crazy and not terrible enough for the VW people to care. They replaced the radio once and it still is not fixed. Even worse I had to visit the dealership 7 times to have them keep trying to fix it. That is not including the 8 times for them to fix my keyless entry. I have only owned Hondas until this VW. I will never buy a VW again.

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  VW reliability ad makes me wan to scream - 2009 Volkswagen GTI
  By cla - January 5 - 4:56 pm

  34,000 miles on my 2009 GTI and 2 intake manifold replacements - done under warranty - Time for car shopping!

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  a Lemon - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By sierra - January 5 - 10:00 am

  I found it was fun to drive. Very nice interior, I was very happy with the car. Started having problems with suspension, wheel bearings, etc. Total of days in the dealership has equaled approx. 4 months. Egineers from volkswagen have not been able to fix problem. I left the car in the dealership to fix since July 22, 2004, still in the dealership; they have not been able to fix. It is my understanding they had two other cars with the same problem. I am in the process of returning under the "Lemon Law".

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  I am very, very impressed. - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By klance - January 5 - 10:00 am

  The Jetta looks great, runs great, feels incredibly solid and is amazingly quiet on the highway due to the low RPM of the diesel. It uses so little fuel, my average being 46-49 mpg, that I often forget when I last filled up. Suspension a bit soft for my liking; added Neuspeed/Bilstein Sport suspension, 205/55HR16 sport tires and rims, and now Im in absolute driving heaven. Smmmooth transmission! Interior reminiscent of high-end luxury imports, stock stereo kicks butt. Aftermarket performance and body styling options are endless. Before I bought my first Volkswagen, driving was a chore. Now I come up with excuses to drive. Driver Found.

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  Fun to drive, drag to fix - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dan - January 4 - 6:50 pm

  I owned a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta, my friend owned one and my parents, and wife had a VW Beetle. All were fantastic to drive, super peppy. However, in the five years I owned it, the check engine light was off for only five months. Something was always wrong. Only the coil recall made it not driveable, but all of the issues were annoying. Its brakes needed replacement after 15,000 miles. Its arm rest broke two times once by a valet and once by friend (one screw is a dumb design). This car has a high clearence compared to Hondas. My wifes 02 Beetle 1.8T also had all same engine problems and more. The Jetta is expensive to fix. I spent $900 fixing it once only to have check engine come back on three weeks later. All that and on lease turn in they still charge you $250 for check engine light that is never off.

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  Goodbuy and Good Riddance - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Daffodil - January 3 - 9:50 pm

  This is a darling car if you never have to actually go anywhere. Oh how I wish I had read these reviews before buying. It is cute; it gets good mileage. Mine had a sunroof, good stereo, heated leather seats, and a nice little growl in the engine. It was a commuting dream car but what is the point of all that cuteness and fun if it is in the shop all the time? I still sigh when I see them on the road, but I pat the dash of my trusty Toyota and keep going.