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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  Save Yourself a Headache - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lemon Gurl - December 21 - 6:03 am

  Please save yourself a headache and a lot of money. I have had a 2001 VW Passat for almost six years. This car has to be the most poorly made, overpriced, unreliable car that I have ever owned. Everything is ridiculous - you spend so much money just to own the car, then (starting at 20,000 miles) I was having problems with the vehicle. Every dealership I have dealt with was NOT customer helpful, didnt care about the buyer, and VW does everything it can to rip off its owners. Get something more reliable with your money! STAY AWAY from Volkswagen!

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  The Best Jetta Ever - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By H.Pfadt - December 20 - 9:53 pm

  This is my third Jetta in six years. Volkswagen has taken the previous model and improved it beyond my wildest expectations.The improvements in features alone are too numerous to mention.Fit and finish ranks up there with the best, any European Car maker has to offer.It is a quality Automobile.Drove my other two Jettas 140K each and passed them on in the family. They are still running great. Volkswagen , " Keep up the good work". You are gaining customers for life.

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  Got the Bad One Off the Lot - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lemon Boy - December 20 - 6:36 am

  I purchased my 2006 Jetta in September 2005. The car spent over 60 days total in the shop until February 2006. It had a fuel injection problem with intermittent loss of power. VW bought it back in January 06. I noticed the new car had more power and drove nicely (except for the clutch was very light and required a little bit more gas pedal.) The shop that services my car checked out everything on my car and said everything is OK. I took it to another dealership and they were amazed that I could drive it because the clutch was not engaging properly. I told them that this cars clutch was exactly like the first one I had and that I was told that this was normal. I drove a new 2007 TDI and it was much better. I traded it in for a Rabbit.

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  Fun to drive! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Paul Gagnon - December 20 - 2:00 am

  If you want the feeling of excitement when driving a car...this works for me. I look forward to driving my Passat every time I walk up and get ready to slide into the cockpit. Its the type of car that provides predictable performance and handling every single time you steer or tap the throttle. I find myself anxious to pass cars and getting onto freeways on and off ramps. The 4-Motion provides true zero steering at any speed without the challenges of typical rear drive understeer and front drive oversteer. The advertising is correct for this car....DRIVE ME!

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  99 Jetta GLX after 3.5 years - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By brianSD - December 20 - 2:00 am

  My favorite car after owning five previous cars. Problems encountered: 1. False engine light @10000 miles. 2. Faulty brake lamp @14,000 miles, prevented shift from park to drive, fixed under warranty. 3. Sunroof liner popped out of track @15,000 miles, fixed under warranty. 3. Cracked oilpan on road dip, replaced my cost @35,000 miles. 4. A/C compressor failure @50,000 miles, replaced under extended warranty plan (bought at time of purchase). 5. Passenger front window failure @55,000, repaired and upgraded window kits installed by dealer, no cost.

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  Great car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jetta2 - December 20 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd Jetta. This is the first one I bought with the sports pkg and leather pkg. It is a MUST have. THe car is so good looking and fun to drive. Very fast! Howeever if I didnt have the 17" wheels and leather inside, it would not be nearly as fun to drive. This is the best car I have ever owned.

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  Excellent, sporty, usefull wagon - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By nathenso - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Though we have only driven our VW for 3 months, we are exceptionally pleased with the quality, solidity, comfort, and ease to manuver. As far as reliability, we have had no trouble. Time will tell

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  unbelievable - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By aik - December 20 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever owned. Its like driving a cloud. The speed will become legendary. It is a family car and a finely tuned racing machine. It is a pal, a friend and so much fun to drive. It almost knows what you expect of it and it delivers. The v8 engine is unlike any you have seen before. It takes your breath away.

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  Me and my Jetta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By STROSEN - December 20 - 2:00 am

  So far, so good. There was a problem with the front windows, that was resolved promptly and at no cost. The sound system is very good for factory equipment. Interior room is great, although the back seat area can be a little cramped. The safety features and air bag restraints are top notch. It has a cavernous trunk, even with a full size spare tire. But the best part is the fuel economy, Ive averaged 42-43 mpg combined. That with about 85% of my driving being open road. The TDI engine is very strong and reaches highway speeds without a problem.

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  Highly Recommended! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Scott - December 19 - 11:26 am

  Ive had my 06 Jetta Value Edition for just under a year so far. It has been a wonderful car. Its two visits to the shop have been only for oil changes. The car performs like nothing else in its class. It gets pretty good gas mileage. Its even smoother out on the highway than the Volvo that I traded in for it. I will definitely get another VW when this lease is up! You really cant go wrong with this car! VW really did it right this time.