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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  An absolute steal! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By JiggyJoe - November 27 - 10:00 am

  Currently leasing this car at dealer price of 31K. Was used as a demo, but what 2002 W8 wasnt? Beautiful ride, excellent stability, decent power. Absolutley the best car Ive ever driven, however I may be biast since Ive been a VW owner for 5 years.

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  My dream car - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By GABrad2 - November 27 - 1:00 am

  The cars runs well, but the milage in the V6 decreases greatly in city traffic. Also the transmission module failed just prior to a long trip. The car was under warranty, and a dealer took care of the car. The car requires high test gas, which has become quite costly

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  Typical German Engineering- Good and Bad - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cmrva - November 26 - 9:48 am

  This is my daughters car, and to be clear, we bought it used in 2012 (70k miles) for $6k, so I didnt and dont expect miracles. Drove great, like most good German vehicles, but in my opinion, just like my wifes Mercedes, there always seems to be funny noises in the engine randomly that turn out to be pricey repairs. By 90k miles: Replaced transmission ($3K) Water pump and tension pulleys $1500 CV boots/ joint- $1k heat blanket (Inside engine on the hood) $300 Brakes 2X $800 each time.

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  Luck of the Irish - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Veronica - November 24 - 11:46 pm

  I have not had one days trouble with my 2001 Volks New Beetle. My only complaint is that the door handles have peeled since day one. Now they are disgustly unsightful. When I brought it into the dealership I was told to take a hard towel and rub off the remaining coating. Satisfaction - I didnt get any.......as the song goes.

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  Luxury on a budget - 2014 Volkswagen CC
  By vincevw329 - November 22 - 11:15 am

  Model specs and technicals are best seen at VW website so Im dispensing with that and on the my impressions of the car. I just bought a 2014 CC sport in black for a daily commuter, 9 miles 1 way, 5 days a week and 2 roadtrips a year. This is my 3rd VW, Jetta, GTI, now CC. Buying experience was typical, they use some old tricks to get the most money for the cars and I walked out happy with a fair deal. Interior and exterior design, fit, and finish are all top shelf. Seams are close and even, textures are supple and ergonomics are well thought out. Driving is a pleasure, the ride being softer than the GTI but still very firm. Engine is very responsive and driving is very easy.

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  Love the car but tooo many problems - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By tony - November 20 - 10:40 am

  I absolutely loved this car until the last 2 years after the warranty expired. had to replace way too many parts, like noc sensor, cluster, tie rods, entire cooling system. Otherwise the car is great to drive.

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  fun to drive but few flaws - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Pjopzy - November 20 - 2:00 am

  Presumably good car, but few flaws and none mentioned on this forum. Like everyone the interior colors are great. But confusing controls on the dashboard. The build is good with an eye on safety.Fun to drive,sporty. But too many electrical faults. Bad Monsoon sterio system. Too many reported problems with their ignition coils. They are redesigning their ignition coils after too many of the Passats started giving problems. There is a backlog for these parts for a few frustrating weeks. If you are the next unlucky victim cross your fingers cos the wait can be painful.Does not have a good defroster. Can be painful in those foggy cold days.

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  Great car, but it has to go..... - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By ISPRO - November 15 - 8:53 pm

  I got this vehicle three years ago, after owning an earlier Passat. The car is great to drive (a "poor mans BMW"); driving and maneuvering at speed is effortless. But now, it simply has to go, and the reason is reliability. One time the trunk lid decided to unlatch at the most inconvenient times, such as speeding down a highway. The radio controls blistered. The instrument panel said "steering column defective" for no obvious reason - took replacement of the entire steering column and circuitry to fix it - covered under warranty, but still ...

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  And I thought it would be nice - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Jennifer - November 15 - 1:53 am

  I bought this car and initially loved it! That is until two weeks later my ENTIRE computer system went out. No radio, no odometer, nothing. I took it to the dealership they fixed it. Maybe three months after that my windows started to break. They wouldnt roll back up. So once I again I took it to the dealership and they fixed it. Then the computer system went out again. This time I had no alarm and no DOOR LOCKS! Talk about needing to get it rushed in. Nope, I had to wait two weeks to get it fixed. My last problem was the radio. It went into safe mode and the passenger seat belt wouldnt fasten. Sure they fixed it, but it sure is a hassle to get to a dealership and just leave your car for two days. Overall this is a poor quality car.

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  Glad it is sold - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Don - November 15 - 1:10 am

  I owned my GTI VR6 for three years. I was disappointed by the gearbox (the ratios are too close - rev limits too easily), but generally happy with engine/transmission. Stock tires were harsh and gave poor handling. Electronic gadgets mostly disappointing: one touch up/down windows frequently malfunctioned, auto-dimming mirror had ghost image of headlights, climate control hard to shut off, and the rain sensing wipers used the wrong interval in certain conditions. The audio system was much better than in my previous Passat though. The interior materials were of average quality (thin leather, cheasy plastic levers and knobs on seat break easily). The car was nimble with its short wheelbase, but the suspension was harsh and sloppy in manuevers. It rattled like mad.