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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  Wheres the love the the new Jetta - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vagcom13 - January 22 - 9:00 pm

  The funny thing about the new Jetta is that almost all automotive reviews knock it while almost every consumer review praises it. I bought a 2012 Jetta two weeks ago for my Fiance and so far we love the car. The styling is great, the engine is more then sufficent for daily driving, and for the price I really dont think this car can be beat. So much nicer then a Civic/corrolla/alantra and actually probably just as roomy and superior to the camery/accord/sonata. The asian counterparts are simply not as fun to drive!!! Yes the interior is a mild downgrade from the last Jetta, but its still superior to the competition. I wish the journalist would show a little love towards this solid car.

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  Very Impressed - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Eric Sands - January 22 - 10:30 am

  I have had mine for about 3 months now. I love the way it drives. Very German. Sporty. Stiff but not jarring at all. Very quiet cabin at highway speeds. Quality craftmanship interior and exterior. I love the simplistic layout of the cockpit. There is just enough to give you the info you need, without cluttering up the dash with useless trinkets and faux finishes. The brushed aluminum is real. No problems so far. I am a little disappointed in the gas mileage. Nowhere near advertised. They stated 27 mpg highway. I do 95% of my driving on the highway and I never hit traffic and I am getting about 23 mpg. That will add up quite a it over the years...

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  2006 Bug Convertible - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Bill F - January 21 - 6:30 pm

  Had a few problems with tail lights not working, burning out and a dashboard recall. My wife loves it but now we have a teenage daughter driving so will have to trade it off for safety reasons. I honestly dont think the quality is up to what they sell these things for. Interior is cheaply done, floor mat holders break off in the first couple months. Get the XM radio, ours did not have it. They are cute though and fun to drive and easy to park. There are some blind spots. Also in Houston with large pickup trucks, the bug is sometimes not seen. I would own this car as a 3rd car.

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  A Good, Fun, Comfortable Car - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By gti_nyc - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Overall, we love our GTI. Its a lot of fun to drive. We had horrible experiences with the windows falling into the doors, but this seems to have beeen resolved (and VW gave a 7 year warranty on it). Now that were out of the bumper-to-bumper warranty little things are breaking, and its happening a bit more often than Id expect, but not so much that I wouldnt buy another GTI.

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  Fun to Drive but pricey to maintain - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vwscal - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This car is a lot of fun to drive and responds / handles beautifully. I dont think anyone can dispute that. But this car is expensive to maintain! Every repair is pricey! The moldings on my car fall off anually. Ive had window regulators repaired and the ignition switch replaced and have had numerous electrical problems that took numerous visits to diagnose and fix. A lot of other interior things to numerous to list that scream - poor workmanship.

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  disappointment, had to sell - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Last VW forever - January 20 - 10:00 am

  check engine light @ 36K miles (new coils $700) and again @ 50K miles (both occurred two days after a 300 mile trip) Both instances took two visits to the dealer to fix. What a pain. I cant rely on it for trips greater than 30 miles.

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  Not a honda - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Peter vanPetegrem - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car for its driver oriented characteristic. Satisfied on that front. However, reliability is questionable at best.

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  VW isnt what it used to be!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By 2002 TDI - FL - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I dont know if consumer reports and all the people complaining of problems are cryn wolf...??? My car has had multiple problems since day one! I am pretty sure VW-DE is at fault, whether the car comes from Germany or South America. My trani and motor came from Germany and both have had serious problems. My trani was replaced (main bearing and 5th gear syncron shot), my fuel injection pump was replaced, and not to mention all the other lil things that were replaced. Two thumbs down for the Golf. Hope the R32 and the MKV will be better. Message for the Germans: "stop sending us crap, were catchn on to you!"

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  Dont Buy This Car - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hecton - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this car for three plus years and in that time I have had three electrical problems (blown sensors and a failed electrical harness). I am expecting more of the same in the years to come and I am wondering why I ever bought this vehicle. I miss my Toyota!

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  Please, very pleased! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rommel - January 20 - 10:00 am

  What a great car - who wants to drive any of the other "We all look and drive the same" cars. Triptronic is superb fun - a really great car to drive! Had 3 Jettas before (All of which I loved), prefer this car to my friends BMW 325 - far better equipped and it was $11K cheaper! Only criticism so far is that the MPG could be better - this should be fun!