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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  Buy one - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By vw man - January 16 - 1:43 am

  This car is cool! The punch from the low-revving high torque engine is great down low, but when the turbo kicks in it has even more power. The power is great, the build quality is amazing, pictures dont do it justice. Everything is nicely made and nothing creaks or rattles, it is solid and tight to the road. It drives like a Porsche until you hit a bump at which point it turns into a Bentley and you dont feel it. This car oozes with engineering perfection. The amazing thing is on a 150 mile trip I got 43 mpg and thats not just highway. What a car - its balanced in every way. Buy this car!!

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  Unhappy Atlas SE owner - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Todd P - January 15 - 2:25 pm

  We got our Atlas SE in June, and we’re happy weather in the beginning. Then noticed issues with assembly fuel mileage and engine noises. VW claims the atlas it’s 18/25 Mpg. We have yet to get more than 11 MPG. I have taken it on short trips on the freeway and have not gotten better than 18 mpg. Dealer claims that it’s normal because I only drive on the city streets. That doesn’t make sense. Tell lights aren’t lined up, one headlight is off line, or die lined up, liftgate is not in line, hood is not in line, and we had a door panel armrest that had to be replaced because it came undone. On acceleration we getting noise that sounds like sucking air, dealership says all the vehicles do that. When we turn off the motor it sounds like a fan hitting a metal shroud, dealer again says that’s normal and all the vehicles are the same. We are paying a lot of money for this vehicle and we expected to be assembled properly. Manufacturer has been involved and has no solution to fix things they replace the taillight but it’s in the same spot one taillight has a spacer and is up the other taillight doesn’t and is flush. I pointed out this fact and suggested that they left gate was not installed correctly. The body lines don’t lineup and there is a large space between the bumper guard in the liftgate. Nothing was done. First time took it for these issues they put us in a Jetta And how do our Atlas for one week. They had to order tail light and door panel. When they came in they put us in another Jetta for two days. The tail light still is not correct. Call the dealership and manufacture again regarding these issues, and was told to set an appointment at the dealer and they would bring in the technician again. I told them to make the appointment and I would be there to meet with the technician this time. Have not heard back yet.

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  Please dont buy this car - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By J.P. - January 15 - 12:50 am

  I bought this car used and started having problems with it a week afer I bought it. Ive had to spend so much money on repairs that I probably could have bought a new, reliable car instead. The windows always malfunction and fall into the doors. The glove box breaks, wiring is faulty, repairs are very expensive, AC compressor broke, lights always go out. It doesnt help that when I tried to have repairs done the dealership kept trying to return it to me without fixing anything or left tools in the engine.

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  Small Design Flaws Looking Rearwards - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Joel - January 14 - 5:40 pm

  The only thing that I do not care for about the CC at this point is looking rearwards when it is raining. The angle of the rear window does not allow sufficient water to drain (it stands), and there is no wiper. And the design of the side rearview mirrors also allow water to accumulate. And this is even with using products to improve water run- off.

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  GOLF - Gorgeous-Outstanding-Lovable-Fun - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By viyes - January 14 - 2:40 pm

  My 2004.5 Golf, white-4D, 2L 17"- 235R45 Pirelli-ZR, gets 28 mpg! It is GORGEOUS! It has a class looking exterior and interior finish. It is OUTSTANDING! It has great performance rain on shine and great road handling. It is LOVABLE. It has stereo precision, adjustable front seats, and freezing A/C. It is FUN. Its a great workhorse. It is my performance commuter car!

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  Horrible Air Conditioning - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By pthurman - January 14 - 2:37 pm

  My AC started to fail at 40k. Took the to the dealer repeatedly. Per VW of Lafayette, LA - Standard operation of the Air condition is that it takes 8 - 10mins of drive time for the air conditioning to begin working. Eventually my AC totally failed - the compressors on these cars have known defects will produce metal which will contaminate the entire AC system. Both dealer and VW of America refuse to warranty the car. Horrible experience with this car. Btw standard oil change at the dealer is $300! Beware!

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  2005 Jetta TDI - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By john rollins - January 14 - 2:33 am

  I am happy with the 42 mpg average on my 80 mile daily commute, averaging highway speeds of 65 to 79.999 mph. My car passes everything including the gas pumps. Im saving about $2,500 a year on fuel driving this car. In nine years if fuel is still $2.79 per gallon the car was free. 2005 TDI GLS, leather, 5 speed, moonroof, monsoon was less than $22,000, free after 9 years of fuel savings. Thats a discount program.

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  Love our Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By BGinDC - January 14 - 2:00 am

  Love the Touareg before we went to buy it. There are so many features even the salesperson didnt know them all. We have even watched the video twice and are still learning new things. Charlene at Alexandria VW is the best - go see her!

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  VW TOUAREG V8 - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ronan - January 14 - 2:00 am

  The Touareg is beautifully finished;moderately quick and very comfortable. Styling draws favorable comments everywhere.The V8 has plenty of power and is very quiet.Ride quality is superb. Seats are a little short on the squab.The air suspension is a must have.

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  The best wagon around :) - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By 71sbeetle - January 14 - 2:00 am

  We waited a long time before we could afford a new car, but we aways wanted the exact same car : A VW Jetta Wagon ! VW finally sorted out all their problems, and our 2003 is ... PERFECT !!! Lots of miles on it already, and not once in the dealership (except for scheduled maintenance ie oil changes) If you want quality, buy the Jetta WAGON (Made in Germany, sedan is made in Mexico where the quality of the materials is not as good)