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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  First VW - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Guinco - April 3 - 2:00 am

  A great experience I will surely buy VW again

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  BEWARE OF THE JETTA!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ayvahbaby - April 2 - 10:33 pm

  Well I HAD to have a Jetta, even though my husband didnt want it. I hate when he is right! CV axle, mass air flow sensor, radio,struts,2catalytic converters in 3 months. WORST OF ALL... the ABS lights from HELL!! I have had the car since May, its now Aug. Since the ABS light has been on, the car has ZERO power. No one seems to know why. I give up. I have it up for sale, I almost feel guilty selling it to anyone. There has been several electrical problems as well. Not at all what I expected.

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  The Best VW made! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By pjrias - April 2 - 5:06 pm

  The VW Jetta is a great car! I am the original owner and have 158,000 miles on my car. The engine is unbelievable. I average 31 mpg on the highway. My car has its original clutch! It just keeps on ticking, like a Timex! The only major problem was a tensioner on the timing chain had to be replaced at 80,000 miles! I have had only had two tune-ups! The leather seats still look brand new!

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  I FELL IN LOVE WITH MINE - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By griffith - April 2 - 4:46 pm

  I absolutely love my jetta, great car, and for 4 cylinders its pretty fast, definitely one of the best handling cars. Safe, and it looks awesome, great first car. Reliability has some issues though, it will go into the shop for a seemingly small repair that can come out to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. That was more the dealerships fault though for replacing it with cheap parts and selling it, now that mine is fixed, it runs strong with 130k miles. Me and this car have been through a lot together and I will be sad to see it go, when I sell it in a few months. Definitely prefer this over a Japanese car. Its worth the reliability issues and expensive maintenance.

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  The Bst Car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By MrsMissy - April 2 - 10:00 am

  We have always stuck to japanese cars but we decided to check out VW since our last experience buying a toyota wasnt too pleasant. After test driving this car we were sold! I always get compliments on how classy it looks. Our neighbors liked it so much they went and bought themselves one too!

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  VW K2 - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VanWeston - April 2 - 10:00 am

  this is a great Car very fast. much much car for the money. manny goodies. turns heads I love it

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  Its a Love/Hate relationship... - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By Val - April 2 - 10:00 am

  I wanted a cabrio for years and have truly enjoyed the vehicle. Its been great for both road trips and around town...very comfy, lots of fun, and plenty of zip for me. Performs extremely well at high speeds. However - I am less than satisfied with the A/C, peeling door handles, cup holders, and the locking/security system. Im about to take the car in for the 3rd time to fix the A/C (leaking & blowing white powder), the 5th time for the locks (passenger door wont lock from inside), and the handles peeled within 4 mths of ownership. Very discouraging!! Especially in the Texas heat!!

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  No Problems! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Seattle - April 2 - 10:00 am

  I rate my Jetta excellent, Ive had no problems with this car. My dealership has been wonderful, within the second year the oxygen sensors did fail in the car and they were replaced under warranty. When the part was recalled after I was off waranty the manufacturer notified me, and the dealer again replaced the parts even though I had no problems after the original failure. The car is fun and easy to drive (I highly recommend the manual transmission) and has great fuel economy. My only complaint would be rear passenger space, but then Im not in the back seat!

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  2001 VW Beetle GLS TDI - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Green Bean - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Great little car. Gas mileage is unbelievable! 45+ MPG!

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  Great little German car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lik - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Plushy interior is the feature to beat compare to other sedans with similar performance. The engine is the best thing about the Jetta and the large trunk space is not compromise with the 4 doors and the back seat. Tiptronic is also a fun feature if an automatic is a must for you or your family. Its a good looking car with some class, and can be taken to the max with no worries of break down.