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:

• 

  Loving it! - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Muji - March 28 - 1:00 pm

  I purchased my Touareg three week ago, and I absolutely love it. It’s fun to drive, and it feels great. The interior is second to none. I considered several other SUV’s in it’s class, and the Touaregs interior was far superior. I do however, wish that it had slightly quicker acceleration, which I hear is obtainable with the V8. I also would have liked to have had an optional third row seat. The Toureg is more spacious than some of its competitors as a result of leaving the third row out. So, that’s a toss up. Even with the three rows down in some of the other SUV’S it felt congested. There is no congestion in the Toureg. The only downside to purchasing the Touareg is the frequent trips to refuel. GO FOR IT.

• 

  Little Things Get Expensive - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By heartstrings - March 28 - 11:13 am

  The 2000 Beetle is faster than you might think. It is excellent in busy traffic. The Visibility out of the windows is also excellent. This is the car I prefer to drive in large cities. The downside is its little plastic parts break and fixing it is expensive. Both of the window motors have broken, the gas cap release cable broke, the gas cap release button broke, etc. If you want a car that is fun to look at and drive this is a great choice. However, be prepared to fix little stupid plastic parts.

• 

  2002 GTI 1.8T - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By NKeen - March 27 - 2:10 pm

  Excellent car, with great interior space, at least in front, and high assembly and materials quality. Handles well; complaints about soft ride come from those who dont make long trips on American roads , which are not maintained to European standards and tolerances. Standard stereo with CD is more than adequate.

• 

  Great Quality - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Bill - Boston - March 27 - 11:56 am

  We have had our Eos for seven months with virtually no issues. Has plenty of power, with the 6 speed transmission it is incredible. No issues with water leaks. The top is a mechanical marvel and having the sun roof too makes it a car for all seasons

• 

  Dont make a mistake! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By NissanOwner - March 27 - 10:00 am

  What a waste of money and time! This car was a problem from the minute I got it (new). As have others, I could list a long list of problem parts which were replaced. They never could fix the howling sound that came out of the A/C - from the first time it was used. Obviously VW knew they didnt have a reliable car when they only offered a 2 year warrenty. Id never buy a VW or Audi again.

• 

  Bad trade - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AmDan - March 27 - 10:00 am

  CD player stopped working. Oil leak. Air condition stopped working. Almost no engine power, when u turn on Air condition it is very bad.

• 

  Buyer beware ! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sammy(alias mario) - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Bought our Jetta on 10/2000 , a shiny black one with beige interior, it was beautiful! After the honeymoon was over ( about 10,000 miles ) reality set in. This car is not reliable or fun to live with ! The cloth they use for the interior picks up anything and everything and always looks dirty, plus its impossible to clean. The engine is peppy at low speed but on the highway it always sounds like it needs to be up-shifted to a higher gear. The doors leak out a gooey mess all over the rocker panels in hot weather. Both front side windows fell down inside the doors ( one twice so far ). The turn signals quit working at 30,000 miles ( new flasher @ $120 ).

• 

  Great little car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jackdtennessee - March 27 - 10:00 am

  This 2001 just keeps geting better, averaging 46+mpg of diesel and loving every mile. THe best part is the dealer service department. relatively few problems, but my next car will definitely come from Harper. I also have a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer that cost twice what this car did and they (Chevy) have convinced me to buy VW next time with their attitude.

• 

  I miss my Honda Civic - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Carpentier - March 27 - 10:00 am

  I have four separate rattles. I can hear two rattles in the dash idling at a stop light from the engine vibration even with the stereo on. The transmission has a mind of its own. Shifting is often rough. I averaged only 16 mpg for the first 600 miles.

• 

  3 rd passat - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By robert knowles - March 27 - 3:26 am

  2001 passat 1.8 2004 passat 1.8 2008 passat 2.0 This is the car. the 2008 2.0 litre turbo..The powertrain is amazing. Cruise at 70mph/30- 32mpg.. depending on terrain. The 2.0 litre turbo.. great acceleration..plenty of power on hills... especially on 1-84..pa/ny.... must use 5w40 synthetic and change oil every 3500 miles.. discard stock tires.. use Dunlop winter sports 3d... simply brilliant auto.. thanks vw