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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  Fun to Drive to Dealer for Repairs - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tickle1 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I have had this "VW Certified" pile for 13 weeks and it has been to dealer 7 times, 3 times in 1 week, twice in 6 days, check engine light, oil leak, burned headlight, interior trim falling down, cam adjuster, o2 sensor, timing belt tensioner, you name it. Looks and rides good, but I live 1hr from the nearest dealer, so thats 14hrs spent driving to and from the dealer for repairs. The car only has 52,000 miles and this is uncalled for. Will demand buy back or take necessary action to have it bought back.

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  Piece of Junk! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Kay Highland - February 8 - 10:00 am

  If you are thinking about buying a new VW Beetle, think again! This is the biggest piece of junk on the market! I have lost count as to how many times my car has been in the shop. It is in there right now because it will not start! They are cute and fun to drive but not reliable! I have had just about everything you can imagine go wrong with my car. I have had five oxygen sensors replaced, my CD changer replaced three times and have had several other issues. My Instrument Cluster went out and it is $300.00 to replace. The dealership charges $235.00 for a new battery! I just spent $300.00 two weeks ago to replace a bad Temperature gage. Do not buy!

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  This one is a heart breaker... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jahshwa - February 8 - 1:48 am

  What can I say? Ive poured money into this little beast, and everything is still breaking. If its not a circuit board, its a vacuum hose or an oxygen sensor... Everything just falls apart on this car, and there seems to be no stopping the decline. I just rebuilt the transmission, replaced two axels, two boots, the A/C circuit board, the windshield washer pump, the windshield... you name it Im replacing it. It drives great, and I loved it for a while... but this thing is high maintenance & annoying. Not worth the fun drive at all... Ive already dumped an extra $6000.00 into this car, and thats what its worth now.... :(

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  i am not sure now - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By aqueen - February 6 - 2:00 am

  Having been driving it for 2.5 years, love to drive it as much as hate to repair it. I havent had the window broken problem but something even worse.. the "check engine light" just keep coming on again and again. It was ok before the mfg warranty expired but beyond 2 years, i have to pay $75 everytime just to have the dealership to diagnose it, not mention the repair ocst. it is all about the poor sensors which can often give false alarm only because it snows or rains too much (humidity).

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  First and last time. - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Marbles - February 6 - 2:00 am

  I was very very pleased with the car up to about week 3, and now I can honestly say that I will NEVER buy another VW. Reason? The South-American Assembled interior rattles more than a jar of marbles in the paint shaker at home depot. Going straight, going slow, on the highway, in the neighboorhood, doesnt matter. constant rattles from everywhere in the car, more than even my 91 chevy blazer with broken interior pieces. My question for VW is this: Why are we still paying German prices and premiums for South american construction and quality?

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  For New Models - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By DFt Lauderdale - January 31 - 3:03 pm

  For a car listed for 29k a middle of the road final product. I have rattles in the dash area from one end to the other. The dealer cant fix. The light interior color on areas where dirty shoes will come in contact are impossible to clean. Like lower doors and where speakers are placed which also will be damaged when someone gets in and presses there shoe to hold the door open or just scrape when getting in or out. I do not drive much so not hampered by bad gas mileage. But for a four its a nice car.

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  Jetta not SAFE - incorrect Digital Fuel Guide - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mildred - January 25 - 9:25 am

  The fuel gage is always way off. Dangerous distraction in car causing tons of anxiety. The digital gage will say that you have 30 miles in the tank and you will drive 4 miles and it will say you have 15 miles left. Then it gets worse as you drive another mile and it says you have 5 left.......even though you had 30 and only went 5 miles (should have 25 left). This creates the driver to always be looking at the digital gas gage distracted and panicked because the math is so pathetic in these Jettas. There cars are horrible at technology to the point of dangerous, distracting, and misleading. I spoke with two employees at Jetta who actually changed the gage because it was so dangerous and incorrect. Honestly, how did this car pass safety inspections with such a blatant and ridiculous technology problem inside the car (that even employees at Jetta agree is dangerous and misleading)???????

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  Not a honda - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Peter vanPetegrem - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car for its driver oriented characteristic. Satisfied on that front. However, reliability is questionable at best.

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  VW isnt what it used to be!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By 2002 TDI - FL - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I dont know if consumer reports and all the people complaining of problems are cryn wolf...??? My car has had multiple problems since day one! I am pretty sure VW-DE is at fault, whether the car comes from Germany or South America. My trani and motor came from Germany and both have had serious problems. My trani was replaced (main bearing and 5th gear syncron shot), my fuel injection pump was replaced, and not to mention all the other lil things that were replaced. Two thumbs down for the Golf. Hope the R32 and the MKV will be better. Message for the Germans: "stop sending us crap, were catchn on to you!"

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  Dont Buy This Car - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hecton - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this car for three plus years and in that time I have had three electrical problems (blown sensors and a failed electrical harness). I am expecting more of the same in the years to come and I am wondering why I ever bought this vehicle. I miss my Toyota!