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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  The GTI is Back! - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Californian - September 24 - 11:10 am

  This car is brand new, so I dont yet know about mileage and reliability. However the EPA figures are fine and everything works. There are no rattles. What a fantastic little car! It looks great inside and out, handles well and has excellent power. I chose a white, two-door six speed with a sunroof and leather. It also has the built-in Sirius radio. The DSG transmission would also be a good choice. I have the 18" wheels with aggressive tires. The ride would be a bit better with the all-seasons. Sure, the GTI is not exactly inexpensive, but its a lot of car for the money. I looked at and drove a lot of cars, including the Mazdaspeed 3, and the GTI was for me.

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  I tried em All, The Jetta is Best Value - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By scooch00 - September 23 - 11:40 pm

  I love this new Jetta. I have had it just a week but in love already. I tried a ton of midsize cars before choosing the Jetta. It has the look & feel of a high priced Euro sedan for lots less. havent taken a mileage reading yet but it seems very good mpgs. A friend could not believe the seats we not leather. The Sirius satellite is a keeper. I will re-up when the free 90 day subscription runs out. Heated seats are cool. Relaxes the back on long rides. Nice! The stereo is kicking. great sound quality. Everything is easy to control. My first VW. Looks like a long relationship in store.

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  my car, the touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Caiti - September 23 - 10:00 am

  This is the greatest car I have ever owned. It drives like a sedan and is very luxurious for its pricing.

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  2004 VW Jetta GL 1.8T - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tkusterb - September 23 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had my Jetta for five months and totally love everything about it. Great driving experience. I like the power, the ride, the feel. I look for excuses to go driving, even with gas prices high!

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  Just Bought, AWESOME! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By ladeyluck3 - September 22 - 7:20 pm

  I just bought my Rabbit and am OVERJOYED to have it. I went from a Blazer to this car and it meets all the needs I had with better gas mileage and more comfort. I happened upon this car while searching for an SUV. Great price, great quality as expected from VW. My 1st car was VW, and I love the reliability. Good stereo, great handling, I love the rear foldable seats. Great pickup and go, even with the a/c on! Very compassionate about this car! Passed over a 2010 Kia Soul for this car. Very satisfied! Dont pass up this car if you find one... havent seen many. Heated seat a great plus! :) Very happy with my purchase from SUV to car. Consider it a "crossover". :)

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  Painfully unreliable - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By Peter - September 21 - 7:43 pm

  We liked it all till we had it a week. The weather turned cold. The car had no heat, replaced the computer. Had to go back numerous times to find the problem. Still not good heat. Would not start. Ignition key assembly replaced. Glow plugs quit. Other electrical controls faulty. Car jerks and bucks. Transmission controls were replaced through a complete removal, repair, replace. Still not fixed. Very noisy rubber bushings in the rear were replaced but needs it again. Economy is about 38-40 mpg, not the 65 that was advertised. There are numerous annoying squeaks and rattles in the dash and front doors. VW dealership is trying, and the warranty is still working. Ouch!

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  Nice car with a few hiccups - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By drspoon - September 21 - 11:36 am

  This fun car is a dream to drive. The turbo engine really gets up and goes. We have taken the car on long trips and it is really very comfortable. Now after having it for a year we find out the hard way that the engine is an oil burner after total 20k mileage. Just got it back from the dealer where the oil consumption is one half quart per 1000 miles-- an amount that Volks says is acceptable. I asked how I can make the 10,000 mile factory suggested oil change interval and the dealership simply says I cannot. For the price of this car and the supposed quality of Volks engineering this is simply unacceptable. No more Volkswagens for me!!!!!!!

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  Need quality control - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By VW owner - September 20 - 7:53 pm

  I have owned this car for more than 6 years, never has any major work done on it. The only dealer repairs that I had made was a leaky crank shaft boot, and a couple of recalls. The ride still solid and sound. I have only paid for new brakes and 4 new tires at 60,000 miles, and scheduled maintencance. But the little stuff like the dash board back light, the hood release latch (cost $200 to replace), a broken mirror control switch ($70), were coughed out from my own pocket. Also the car had a few glitches during the warranty period, i.e. air bag sensor, trunk lock. I guess they should use better quality parts at the plant. But other than these, I still like my car.

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  ITS NOT A BMW OR A BENZ - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By glaxowelc - September 20 - 2:00 am

  The Passat is a wonderful car and despite the reviews title, I do like mine. In my opinion, it falls far short of either the BMW or the Benz in most categories but, it doesnt cost over $45,000 either. This more than makes up for any of the cars shortfalls. German engineering at a bargain price.

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  I Love THE VW! - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Calley - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I have my very own black one and it is great! i wouldnt want another car they are to cute!