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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  Week One Review - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By PlatinumGLI - December 13 - 12:26 am

  Ive only had the car for a few days now so these are my initial impressions. Look for another one by me in about 3-6 months. So I came over from a 2005 Volvo S40. The GLI performance and fun to drive factor is miles above the S40. The comfort and ergonomics are significantly less than the S40. Initial impressions: strong build quality (it sounds and feels very solid). Performance is fantastic. I love its style. I know its very safe. Good visibility and great trunk space. The MFD (trip computer) is a bit confusing at first, its not as user friendly as what Im used to. Stereo has great features but sub-par sound (much better in Volvo). More details to come later - check back!

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  Great Car, cant beat TDI- - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Geoff - December 12 - 10:53 pm

  Nothing but good things to say about this one. I have had four other VWs, and I enjoy this the most in terms of reliability and looks. NO major problems after 150k miles, TDI still feels like new, fuel filter does need to be changed every 20k, otherwise will feel loss of power. No problems with knobs, wiring, other than rear latch can be difficult to use in really cold. I guess the worst thing was engine sway mount did break, causing engine to torque more under load. Have hit 65MPG on highway-only driving doing 60mph!

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  Review @ 16,000 mi - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By John - December 12 - 8:30 pm

  I came to the Passat from an A4 which was too small. The potential competitors were either too expensive etc. I think of the Passat as an A6 with a $15,000 rebate. No problems so far but I am concerned with the oil pump bolt that is a recognized failure item. I routinely get 28+mpg on highway at speeds that almost never get over 100. The acceleration from 65 or 70 to way too fast is right now with no drama. So far one of the better cars I have owned. The VAG reputation for for lack of long term reliability is a concern which is why it will be gone before the warranty is. From what I understand the Passat wagon is being killed off. If true, that is too bad.

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  Wont buy another car until this one EXPLODES! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bradspunky06 - December 12 - 5:29 pm

  I have owned this 2003 VW Jetta, since 2006, bought w/23788 miles. It now has 196483 miles, still on its original clutch, its fifth set of tires. The first set went via burning rubber on launches for the first 20k of my ownership. If any portion of this car has a problem it would be caused by my abuse. Ive only replaced the timing belt twice, and its still good as new. Interior is still as new except driver side entrance bolster. The engine has only gotten better and the transmission easier to shift. This car is miles of smiles for the dollar, and should be tops on your list. 31 mpg on long drives, 25-27.3 in town avg. Keep tire pressures all around at 4 lbs under max, for best handling!

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  Seriously Consider this Gem of A Sedan - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By iceref91 - December 11 - 6:17 pm

  I am extremely thorough in my research and very picky when it comes to the car I want. I am a college student; however travel 25,000-30,000 a year for my job as an Ice hockey referee; I travel the midwest and east coast. This car thus far is awesome on road trips. Quiet, smooth, powerful tdi engine. 3 driving modes make this awesome to drive, while I am getting 43 mpg highway and 30 mpg city (not babying it @75 on the highway). I did replace the awful hankook tires with Continental extreme contact dws. The build design is great and you can tell the high quality, just watch for the rattles in which the dealer quickly fixed. If you want a fun to drive sedan with awesome mpg get this!

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  Best of Both Worlds - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By antonio - December 11 - 8:30 am

  I just bought a VW Eos 2.0T with an automatic transmission and it has far exceeded my expectations. It is a great car. It has a surprisingly comfortable interior that is very quiet, even with the top down. It has plenty of leg room in the front seats (I am 63" and I have plenty of room in the front) and the back seats are "tolerable" for short trips. It is also very agile and quick. The upgraded audio system is superb! The best feature of this car is the fact that when the top is up it has all the characteristics of a coupe (without the downfalls of typical convertible) and with the touch of a button (and waiting 25 seconds) the car "transforms" into a beautiful convertible.

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  Great car, not great fuel economy - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tiguan2012 - December 10 - 8:28 pm

  Bought this car at a used car sale by our credit union. Had no intention of buying a Jetta but took a test drive and I was sold. My previous car was a Volvo S60, before an A4, so I was used to a European car. The Jetta was a lot less expensive than the Volvo or the Audi but the ride was comparable. I owned this car for about 18 months before moving to a VW Tiguan but had no problems with it.

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  The Perfect Car - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By dale49 - December 10 - 4:15 pm

  I have had this car for a few days, and it is everything I had hoped for. It is a replacement for one that fried a wiring harness on the way home from the dealer, which Im sure was a fluke. The mileage is for real, its built like a tank, and its a blast to drive. Add to that the free maintenance for 36k miles and the price, and youll have a hard time beating it. I looked at everything from Kia to BMW, and nothing else comes close to this combination of features, fuel economy and price. I would buy this car again in a heartbeat...actually, I did.

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  Pretty, but a Gamble - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By santiagofdz - December 9 - 4:43 am

  Buying a 2000 VW Bug is a bit of a gamble, you can get a wonderful car, or a unreliable lemon, so its best to get your hands on a 2003+ model. I have had a myriad of electrical failures / hiccups with my Beetle, and I get the feeling that this wouldnt be so dire if I had a better dealership. Ive also had the problems with coolant pumps, engine speed sensors, the fragile window switches and more recently the HVAC controls. Also, some of the interior trim chips/wears very easily. Yet I still cant hate my car, its a good car for driving around town, gets a lot of attention, feels well planted on the highway, is very tough chassis-wise and its generally pleasant. But it could be so MUCH more rewarding

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  Adios VW - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By Pdodge77 - December 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought the Golf because my wife had an 89 Jetta that was built like a tank. The problems didnt start until just before the warranty expired. At 22,000 miles we had to have the engine computer and various sensors replaced. Oil just "disappears" and mileage is about 20mpg. Brakes and water pump went at 40,000, alternator ($600) at 42,000. The plastic parts and glue have been getting worse and worse all summer. I walked out one morning to find the passenger side trim just hanging (thank god for crazy glue). Were taking a loss and trading it in for a Toyota Matrix. Dont know if Ill trust the Germans ever again...