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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  good car - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By hvy - January 28 - 2:06 am

  Over 24000 in 8 months, no problems to date. Live in wisconsin, cold starting not a problem. Do recommend using fuel additive. 45-51 mpg so far. Im 6-3, 255 and I find the car very comfortable to drive ,seats very supportive. Looking to buy 06 Passat TDI for wife next year.

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  A Coffin on Wheels - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dennisinwv - January 28 - 12:08 am

  When my 2006 Jetta TDI had 42,000 miles a timing belt clip broke at 45 mph, and after a loud "clang" the engine locked up. I requested a new engine, but VW refused and instead repaired the existing engine with a new camshaft for cylinder #1. Since then two more camshafts have failed for cylinder #1. The vehicle suddenly lost power in front of a semi tractor trailer at 65 mph and my family was almost killed. Absolute lemon. VW Customer Care Center doesnt care. Period.

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  Awesome Turbo Ride - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By 2008 Passat Turbo - January 27 - 7:50 pm

  I moved up from a Jetta, which I loved, to a Passat. My initial reason was for comfort; the Passat seats are by far the most comfortable I have tried. But beyond the comfort I also discovered an incredible driving experience. The 4 cylinder turbo is so smooth and when you need the power, it is definitely there! You would never know it was only 4 cylinders. As I noted with my Jetta, the basics that come with a VW far surpass most other vehicles. It is definitely worth the money. I have the 6 speed manual which makes the ride even more fun and the mpg is good too! We have been getting up to 34 mpg highway and average 25-27 in the city. I have over 3,000 miles - not one glitch. Love it!

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  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By E2Z - January 27 - 9:00 am

  We have had the Turbo S for two years and 43,000 miles. We took it back to the dealer once for a recall. Other than that it has been perfect! It is fun to drive, comfortable, economical, relatively fast (my wife also has a Corvette) and dependable. We use it to commute 160 highway miles a day.

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  Whoever car! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By ferrari24 - January 26 - 10:00 am

  The passat is VW at its best. it offers a excellent ride quality, great quality/reliability and nimble handling. I suggest this car to anyone.

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  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Don A. - January 26 - 10:00 am

  This is the best of several VWs I have owned. It has surprising power and with a 40 mile commute the milage is a real plus. The moonroof has minimum wind noise at highway speeds if you use the comfort setting. The monsoon sound system is excellent and the controls on the steering wheel are a huge improvement.

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  Dont be Fooled by the Hype - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Jeff A. - January 26 - 10:00 am

  The heated seats dont work like they have in the past. Dealer insists there is a temperature sensor in the seats to determine how hot the seat should be. Even with the air-conditioning on in freezing temperatures, the 5 setting does not work at all. Not impressed with the fuel economy in the cold months. Averaging 21-22 mpg in the city. Power windows have a tendancy to roll back down after youve rolled them up. Sluggish start after sitting overnight. There is a wind vibration inside the car if the sunroof is open and traveling less than 20 mph. Very annoying.

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  Update for 2intwenty - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By 2intwenty - January 26 - 5:40 am

  This review is an update from my initial review 2/1/07. I now have 14,000 miles on the car and still like it. I was concerned about engine noise at first, but this seemed to lessen with the break-in. I like the growl! A few issues: on a couple occasions Ive stalled after being in my heated office garage and then driving 5 mins in 40-50 degree temp. outside - stalled 2dif. times - exact same location each time. I have a rattle in the right vent. The drivers side window switches are peeling but dealer is replacing. My upper strut towers/bearing were replaced proactively by my dealer after I mentioned a slight steering noise - this fixed it.

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  Very glad I bought it, so sorry that someone else totaled it. - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By mpls5 - January 26 - 4:48 am

  This was my first new car, every other car I ever had, including a 1974 superbeetle convertible, started at over 100,000. I had some small problems the first 5 years. No problems the next 5. Drove pretty rough the last 2, but probably mostly my fault. :) I really wanted to get the car to 200,000-probably would have if a 21 year old hadnt sideswiped into me at 75 mph, sending me spinning across three lanes of interstate and into a cement barrier. Car dented on 3 sides on the outside, none on inside. Airbag didnt deploy and didnt need too, though I did get sore. Very safe car. Handled a lot of less than ideal conditions- well, including spending over 10 yrs in MN, only 1 yr of it garaged.

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  Never loved a car more! - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By manomes - January 26 - 4:23 am

  I bought my VW Passat SE in April, and have had no regrets. This is my first VW purchase after years of owning only Toyota and Honda products. I have not experienced any of the problems that some other reviewers here cited. I have nothing but good things to say about this car. Everyone (really, everyone) that hs ridden in my car has had positive comments about the comfort and styling. I would, and have, recommend the Passat to anyone wanting a well-build, mid-sized car. I love, love, love my car!