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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  A true winner - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By pdboy - February 17 - 10:00 am

  Everything good you read about the Passat is true, and then some. Fantastic styling, performance, reliability, and service. Buy one!

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  Not worth the wait. - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Bughata - February 17 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has given me unbeliable electrical problems. The the whole instrument cluster is unoperational, as well as the console light is out. Our transmission slips when trying to downshift. This is a vehicle with only 50,000 miles it should not be this bad at this point, but it is. Our warranty is up and now is up to us to reapair the unreliability of such a neglecting company. Consumer beware

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  Touareg Nightmare - 2010 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Nightmare - February 17 - 9:03 am

  I drive a lot of miles each year, and I liked this car when it was under about 30,000 miles. Im guessing that most of the people who are writing these reviews dont have 54,000 miles on a car this new. This car was great when I first owned it, but once I put quite a few miles on it, it turned into a nightmare. First of all this car goes through head and taillights like crazy. Ive had 3 headlights and 1 taillight replaced, and every so often the check headlight warning goes on when there is no headlight out. Gas mileage could be much better. Brakes squeal constantly & theyve already been replaced once (Not covered under warranty). Back seats take forever to fold down. Continued Below.

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  Love my Passat - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By Love my VW - February 17 - 8:13 am

  I bought my 97 GLX Passat (manual trans.) new and have taken great care of it. I LOVE this car. Ive had few minor issues, and infrequently need service. I call it my Poor Mans BMW, as I liked it MUCH better than the used BMWs I test drove at the time. Its spacious, fun to drive, reliable, and has held up incredibly well. The only consistently poorly built item is the cup holder, of which I went through three before I gave up. Mileage could be better, and it is fairly noisy on the highway. Very spacious, huge trunk space w/ folding rear seats, and the leather has held up quite well. I highly recommend this car, if its been taken care of properly. Im at 120,000 miles and going!

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  An Unknown Treasure - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ermin - February 16 - 9:26 pm

  There is so much hype surrounding Japanese cars that the Passat remains relatively unknown and overlooked. The car is outstanding, it oozes quality everywhere you look. The other day I left it at a public parking lot in a posh neighborhood and the guy who drove it back to me said, "This is a really nice car." This from a guy who sees all types of cars in that neighborhood. The car drives so well, its responsive, fast, comfortable, and it has so many optional features Im still discovering some of them after one month of owning it. In fact, after I checked Accord with all added options that come standard in my Passat, the Accord was actually more expensive. The Passat is a family, yet sporty sedan with a German touch!

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  Fine car with Bluetooth issues... - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Geddiesel - February 16 - 7:23 pm

  I finally reached the tipping point with filling my pig of an Audi with fuel every week and had read many positive reviews of VWs 2.0 TDI engine. I have owned several Audis and VWs so I am well aware of their iffy reliability and expensive maintenance, but Ive got a good warranty and free maintenance for 3 years. The engine and DSG transmission are perfectly matched. The powertrain is peppy, smooth and relatively quiet, considering it is a diesel. Beware of the Bluetooth option as the wagons have a crude and different module than the TDI sedan that seriously limits the functions. You can only receive incoming calls with the wagon; no downloading of phone contacts or voice control, etc.

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  Run the other direction FAST! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Alison - February 16 - 7:10 pm

  I bought my Jetta from my sister and thought I was getting a great car, boy was I wrong! I should have known when she had to have the engine replaced when it was brand new! Since I have had it I have had pretty much every problem you read about: windows falling into the doors, the A/C broke twice (2 years in a row!), thermostat replaced, trunk latch is broken, too expensive to fix and the check engine light has been on for so long I forgot what it is like for it to not be on! What a piece of junk and to top it off every Volkswagon dealership I have dealt with has been a nightmare! I cant believe they can sleep at night knowing what terrible cars they sell! I will never buy VW again!

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  Electronic nightmare - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Dissatisfied Owner - February 16 - 6:30 pm

  Not one of VWs best efforts. Has been in the shop for warranty work seven times in less than one year - all related to the vehicles electronic warning systems. Confusing and overly complicated instrumentation/cabin controls. Abysmal gas mileage, very limited tire life - 12-15000 miles, odd size tires that very few dealers stock. Cant wait to get rid of it but none of the local dealers will touch it on a trade- in. Was offered $10,000 trade in value on a new Accord.

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  First Impression - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TennC - February 15 - 9:56 pm

  I am still breaking in the car with only 120 miles driven. I am impressed by the engine and DSG transmission. Very smooth shifts while accelerating, and seems to find the correct gear for each situation. However,at very low speeds there is too much engine braking due to no fluid coupling so some small amount of lurching is sensed. The interior is very attractive and seems well made. The only complaint thus far is the front seats which are too hard. I hear this is a German car trait, but this doesnt impress my behind.

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  The Best - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By marshn - February 15 - 7:53 pm

  My Volkswagen Jetta Wagon is the best. I am a musician and haul lots of instruments and gear. I loaded all this up in several wagons for a test drive and there was no question. This car held more equipment, drives much better (its a blast to drive), is more comfortable for long drives, and the sound system is outstanding. The heated seats and sunroof add to the joy. I could not be happier with this car. Ive got 115,000 miles and never had a problem. I have only had to make oil changes and 3 tune-ups. Fahrvergnuegen! Danke Volkswagen!