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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  New Used VW Owner - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By lapink - March 7 - 4:30 am

  I made the switch from a BMW 328ci to a big (for me) SUV. I bought this car used and I havent owned it long, but Im already in love. I guess Ill have to write again when Ive put on more miles. It handles superb on the highway and in the snow. This car is smooth making it hard to keep it anywhere near speed limit. I looked at many other "high class" SUVs, but I had to go with the poor mans Cayenne. I felt spoiled by all the unbelievable extras in the V8 Touareg. Theres no way I could get this car new. It amazes me that a VW could go for so much, but used its a great deal. Plus, unlike other vehicles, its nice to have a car that few people have and get many compliments.

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  Watch the oil level - 2010 Volkswagen Routan
  By fshifteh - March 7 - 1:35 am

  This is an update on my previous posts. Recently at 28000 miles I noticed the oil pressure light was flashing in my Routan. After inspecting the dipstick I was surprised to see that the car had very little oil, so I ended up adding 2.5 quarts of 5W-20 oil. I was surprised because I have never missed any of my scheduled maintenance. When I took the car to the dealer they said that they have seen this issue with these vans. And the recommendation was to check the oil level every 3000 miles. They said these vans burn oil in average 1 quart every 3000 miles. For your info, I have changed my engine oil in average every 5500 miles when the light had indicated that it is time to do so.

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  Great Car...So Far - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bob - March 6 - 9:33 am

  I have had my 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI for three weeks now and am getting a true 43 mpg on the road. Its fit and finish are phenomenal. It seems to be a very well built car. I have no complaints yet.

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  This car is really fun - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By herb - March 4 - 7:40 am

  I have only had my new 08 VW Eos for 3 weeks now but it has been a blast!! The 200 hp turbo is powerful, the 6 sp auto trans is smooth, can not feel the shifts, and of course, the top. What fun it is to open or close the top and watch everyone around the car just stare.

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  avoid - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By terrance - March 3 - 10:00 am

  The problems that we experienced were too numerous to list here and I am afraid to tally the total $$ spent on strange, unexpected maintenance items. Our problems closely resemble other posters here (ignition coil, AC, o2 sensors, continuous engine light indications, etc.). We constantly worried about the next unusual problem and the $$ required to fix it. We will never purchase a VW again.

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  Review - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By blc - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I’ve owned this car for a year and am extremely pleased with this, my 2nd Jetta. The TDI, with its excellent fuel economy is practically the best thing going. Couple this with the longevity and reliability of diesel, it’s the hands-down best. Although CR rates this model low in reliability, I’ve had no problems in the past year.

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  Caught on fire! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bad jetta - March 3 - 10:00 am

  Do yourself a favor and do not even consider purchasing a Jetta. I have painstakingly taken care of my Jetta for the past 4.5 years. One day, after not driving it for hours, my car just caught on fire and was destroyed. This happened because of faulty electrical components. VW told me that this is not uncommon and that they have had many complaints about this problem. However, they are not offering anything to me to compensate for my lost car because it was out of warranty. By the way, my Jetta only had 40,000 miles on it. Hope this helps...

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  Note to self...LEMON LAW!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By phillyvegan - March 3 - 10:00 am

  Within the first 11 months, I had the car in for unscheduled service 9 times! First the tires were wearing prematurely and needed alignment. The mechanics (Springfield Auto Outlet in PA) told me it was my fault! I had to replace the tires after 25k miles! Then the ignition coils went...again and again and again. The window regulators have gone multiple times. The interior rattles. Arm rest broke. My signal lights are constantly burning out. My temp light goes on for no reason. The car stalls frequently after starting it up. Thank goodness there is a 50k warranty. I got VW of America to credit me one car payment for all my troubles...thanks for nothing!

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  Buyer Beware - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jennifer Heit - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I am so disappointed with my gas mileage. I am only getting 15 mpg. Service department says there is nothing they can do. They blame my in town driving, our hot climate, and my heavy use of the ac. Its a nice car and I have no other complaints but with premium gas at over $2.00 a gallon this is not an economical car. The advertised mpg is suppose to be 19 mpg.

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  Great - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dickhead04 - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I love the car