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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  Love it, BUT... - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By patboomer - December 22 - 10:00 am

  I have loved this car. Its great to drive, its a great size, its comfortable, its great looking, Id do another if it werent for all the problems. 02 sensor out at about two minutes after the warranty on it expired, power moonroof I never use had burnt out motor to the tune of $600, Ive had 5 problems with the four windows - 3 fixed under warranty, rear two I havent bothered to fix since estimate was around $250 to fix just one. Every time you need to fix the brakes, it needs new rotors to the tune of $500.

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  My First VW - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By First-time VW Owner - December 22 - 10:00 am

  Only had the vehicle for a week, but so far its a blast. The automatic is a bit sluggish starting out, but it quickly bites and gets going fast, pinning you to your seat. Ive only had one problem with quality so far and its a simple paint problem on the left rear quarter panel. Looks as if they forgot to buff or polish. Looks like a light haze, just a couple of inches in area. Ill see how the dealership handles my request to fix it.

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  Not impressed - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By car lover - December 21 - 10:13 am

  Have owned the car for 4 months and already had 1 recall, rear windshield wiper stop working, passenger door seal came off, airbag fault. Dealer had to replace the harness.For a new car with 3500 mile Im not impressed. Have always owned Hondas or Subaru and the Germans have got a bit of catching up to do. Oil filter is in an inconvenient place. You need to remove the shield on the bottom of the engine for access and it cost $12. Car lacks top end. Handles nice but awd would be a plus. Nice styling, comfortable seats, convenience of hatchback, My first and probably last VW

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  A lot of car for a little price - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By miasixx - December 20 - 9:03 am

  The Wolfsburg Edition Jetta 2.0T is a much more grown-up feeling Jetta. Im a diehard VW driver. My first VW was a 1987 Fox which I had for 9 years. I just traded in my 99 Passat GLX for this new Jetta and although I miss the interior size and weight of the Passat, the Jetta has come along way from feeling like your kid sisters car. Much roomier interior and cargo. Back seats have dual climate control, armrest with cup holders, and plenty of legroom for two full-size adults. Thw Wolfsburg comes with everything youd need: 6-CD in-dash, MP3 adapter, power moonroof, sporty wheels.

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  Great car - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By H2oVento - December 19 - 12:13 pm

  The 4 door 1.8T Golf is a great sleeper. Its fun to drive and hauls a lot of stuff. Its one of the best cars I have owned. It has had no major problems in over 60,000 miles of service. If you can find one, buy it. The 4-door 1.8T was only made between late 2000 and early 2001.

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  1999 VW GLS Passat 1.8 turbo - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jim Spivey - December 17 - 4:50 am

  I like the car overall. Concerns - brakes went out at 43000 and 89000, and had to replace pads and rotors ($850 each time). Moon roof stuck at one time. Major engine overhaul at 105,000 miles (not transmission). In spite of those costs, it has run well for me for 7 years, and held its value very well if not great.

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  Bad in snow! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By omahajetta - December 17 - 12:40 am

  I have leased this Jetta and I think it is a great-looking car and fun to drive...when it isnt snowing or wet. Im not sure what the issue is. Ive driven in NE snow/weather for 20yrs and this is THE WORST car I have had for snow. If there is some magic button I need to press, I wish someone would let me know. The dealer here is terrible...it takes forever to get an oil change. My trunk lift broke 4mos after getting the car, and the dealer had the nerve to ask "what did you do to it?" Like I took a bat to it or something. They werent going to repair the foot long scratch to the paint on the inside of the lid because "it didnt show". Im not sure if I would get a VW again.

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  Diesel all the way - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tiddywag - December 15 - 9:13 pm

  This is a great car to own. Admittedly, its not too fast, but it gets the job done. It has good low RPM power and unbelievable fuel economy. My best has been 50.64 MPG so far, that was with 85% highway driving. Be sure to set the cruise control fairly conservatively for best results and constantly monitor your tire pressure.

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  2003 VW Golf GTI 1.8T - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By HDM - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I had the Jetta 2.0L in 2000, then the 2001 4dr Golf 1.8T, and now thw 2003 Golf GTI 1.8T. The quality of these cars in excellent. There are no other cars in this class or price range that have this kind of durability and safety.

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  2003 Passat 4 Motion Sedan - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ksaintd - December 15 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Passat, the first being the 1.8t 5 speed GL model. I only have 600 miles on the car so this is clearly preliminary information. The car is very luxurious for the price. The fit and finish, the interior comfort are just superb. I wanted the safety and sure-footedness of all wheel drive so I looked at both the Audi and Passat. I needed an automatic to meet the needs of all of the drivers of the car. Everything I read and heard told me the 1.8t was marginal when used with an automatic. That meant the Audi 3.0 automatic and a price tag of about $37k. I could not justify the $8,000 difference for 25 more hp and 15 ft/lbs of torque.