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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  Happy - 2015 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Charles Carmosin - September 13 - 9:25 pm

  Drive it, I did and I liked it and bought it.

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  A lot of Car in a Small Package - 2005 Volkswagen Golf
  By SteveK - September 12 - 5:10 am

  I just bought my 2005 Volkswagen Golf GL two weeks ago and so far, so good. Its comfortable, even for a big guy, handles very well, and has tons of great features standard. You do pay a bit more than other hatchbacks on the road, but the quality of this versus the others is worth the extra money. Since I seldom carry even three passengers, the 2-door is fine. The trunk is as roomy as most small sedans. I would have liked the TDI but you cant get them in NY state. Maybe because its new, but the engine revs higher at speed than most cars, and has curious shift points at times. For what you pay, I would like a little more power, better gas mileage, and a simple trip computer or something to set it apart.

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  Lemon - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By winter - September 12 - 12:43 am

  My Touareg has been in shop more than any other vehicle I have ever owned. Everything has gone wrong with it at some point or another, Engine-problems, missfirings, water leakage problems, and everything else that could go bad has. The biggest problem is continued water leak problems, despite multiple efforts to fix. What ever you don dont park it outside, unless you want a swamp inside. Dealers dont even know how to fix them in some cases. Dont ever own one out of warranty! Buyer beware.

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  More than the engine - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mwpainter - September 11 - 11:23 pm

  Preface: Ive owned a LOT of cars. I bought a very clean, used VW Jetta TDI (2010) thinking Id get a reliable car with great mileage. Well, mileage: yes! Reliability: no. VW engineering is--and I say this honestly--very strange. I think they design with the idea that nothing should fail. Very idealistic. But stuff DOES fail! Thats real life! And boy did things fail. I replaced sensors, a glow plug, an intake manifold, a radio, bulbs, a battery...all in just two years on a car with not many miles. The little diesel is great, dont get me wrong. But reliable this car is not. And very expensive to maintain. I dont say this lightly: I will never buy another VW.

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  Grinding Noise 2013 Jetta - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sparkfire - September 11 - 9:00 am

  I really like the car, it handles very well in the city and on the road, however, it makes a grinding noise when simply driving 25-30 mph down a city street. The noise is right under my feet! At first they couldnt find anything so I had one of the guys ride with me and when he heard it he was puzzled. I was told to bring it back one day and theyll have a Tech ride with me so when I have a chance, Ill take it back! Had I known it was assembled in Mexico I never would have purchased it! I thought they were being assembled at least in Tenn. Im so disappointed that I wished I had purchased a Chevy or Buick!

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  Number One Nightmare - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By wilde13 - September 11 - 12:36 am

  This is the worst car I have ever owned. It is my second Passst. Drove a 99 for 160K miles. It has been one tragedy after another. It has been one major fubar after another. Between electrical component failures, to bad electronic ignitions and keys to having both the engine and transmission go out at 81,000 miles. Volkswagen of America had the audacity to offer me a $1000 rebate on a purchase of my next VW. I am so frustrated I dont know what to do. I have kept up on the service, why not since its been in the shop so often. You will not see me even coming close to a VW lot for the rest of my life.

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  What you should know - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By ryan - September 10 - 8:33 am

  Driven this vehicle for over 10,000 miles and no problems. It is fun to drive; excellent acceleration, well mannered at high speeds (over 100 mph), handles great, and gets excellent gas mileage. Averages 27-30 miles per gallon on my commute and gets 32 or better on the highway. Interior is roomy, comfortable, instruments are well positioned, and there are many many upgrades. It does use premium gas and synthetic oil. So the maintenance costs are a little higher. Its worth it because this vehicle is fun to drive. I thought this is a great alternative to a Honda, Toyota, Infiniti, BMW, or Volvo. This has been my favorite vehicle so far for the price.

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  Headaches - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Headache - September 9 - 10:00 am

  So many minor problems. Ranging from malfunctioning electronic displays to car not starting. It has caused nothing but headaches and worries about what is going to happen next?

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  99 Jetta Wolfsburg Edit - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JaJ - September 9 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE MY CAR:)

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  Awesome - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By carole1003 - September 9 - 10:00 am

  I love my VW Passat. When I was shopping for a vehicle, I originally thought that I wanted a Honda Accord. However, when I visited Edmunds.com and read the reviews for the Honda, it said to also check out the VW Passat. Im glad I did! I read its review and then test drove it! Ive never been happier. It rides smooth and I havent had any problems. Also, it comes with a lot of standard safety features that are not standard on an Accord, like the side curtain airbags. Im really impressed with this car! The only drawback is that it is a little more expensive for servicing than an Accord.