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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  My problems - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ASavage - October 14 - 2:00 am

  First the good news, VW has decided that the mass airflow sensor is covered by the powertrain warranty ($350 you wont have to spend every 3 years or so). I have also had problems with tie rods, coil packs, and the windows in hot weather(not wanting to roll back up). Ive had problems with dealership service in New England, but my dealer in Virginia was great. Overall, not a bad car, but it has gotten considerably more expensive than I expected.

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  becareful!!! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By argentineink - October 14 - 2:00 am

  I had three major oil leaks, was under warranty and was fixed. window fell in on both driver and passenger side, seatbelt in back *middle one* is stuck and wont get loose, center cupholder is broken, back cup holder is broken, oozing stuff out by the front doors, cd changer reads *cd error*. most problems have been fixed by VW. car has 65000 now, and it uses 5 quarts of full synthetic oil *4.99 per quart* in less then two months! friend works for vw told me to take it in and if they cant fix it, to get rid of it! i have 900mi left on warranty, well see!

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  true lemon - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By tailor - October 14 - 2:00 am

  Braks: Required new right rear brake repairs $400.00 approx. Was told by dealership"due to my driving habits", I had to pay for repairs eventhough it was during warranty period. (I had just given up a 2000zx nissan purchased brand new in 1985--an automatic). Second brake job...$800.00 plus. Currently needs shocks and struts. Left window control lever has broken. Just installed new battery. Nearly blew out enjine twice because beetle loosesengine oil...from I dont know whe

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  Great SUV.. a blast to drive.. - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By jmob - October 14 - 2:00 am

  From the moment I got the truck, Ive loved it.. The V8 is great, powerful and very responsive. In the snow, its better then my old A6. Interior is great and roomy, the only slight I can think of is the car likes to drink gas.. Enjoy....

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  10 - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By josephine - October 14 - 2:00 am

  great car. feels more solid than my husbands used 540i.

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  Buy a New Beetle! You will be so happy! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Gsusfsh - October 14 - 2:00 am

  I have been very happy with my New Beetle. If I could buy a new car agian I would buy a new beetle again. The only difference might be a convertible. There are so many different surprises in the features. It says "limited cargo room" but come on! Its a 2 door car! I am impressed about the amount of room in the car. You can also let the back seat down which greatly increases the amount of cargo room. Baby car seats also fit well in the back seat because of the anchors build into the seats for that very reason. I love my car!!!

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  My Experience - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Len - October 13 - 7:46 pm

  I bought my touareg after a careful research in publications to see what vehicle could go farther per tank full. I wanted an SUV that could go fast, far, be stable and competent off road. I live in Miami and after several hurricanes I saw huge lines at the gas stations when a hurricane may be heading here. I needed a car that would take me out of the state in case a category 4 or 5 hurricane came here. My touareg v-6 has an epa rating of 21 mpg and a fuel tank 26.6 gal with a theoretical range of 556 miles. I go from my house in Miami, to I-95 to the Florida turnpike to I-75 to the state line using Cruise control and tiptronic on 6 gear in one tank full. This is over 475 miles. This is great.

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  My Sixth VW Diesel - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ensleyf - October 13 - 3:10 pm

  My early experience with VW diesels was that they were like driving a transfer truck as far as acceleration goes. The 2006 outperforms my 1998 TDI noticeably. In my first diesel VW, a 1977 Rabbit, I got 47 MPG on a trip when it was nearly new. It had no power options or air conditioning. It averaged about 40 MPG in combination driving. The 2006 does slightly better than that even when I drive 75 - 85 miles per hour on the interstate. The top speed of the 1977 Rabbit was 75 MPH but I have not reached top speed in the 2006 TDI although. I reached 90 MPH when I passed a car on the interstate recently. The only negative that I can bring up is that I sometimes brush my head on the doorway entering

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  Great car with poor mileage. - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By LD - October 13 - 10:00 am

  Great car, but I am very disappointed in the mileage. I dont get 20 to 21 miles per locally and 26 miles per long distance was the best I ever got. When I am at 250 miles clocked, I keep getting gas messages and beeps.

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  FOURTH JETTA IN THE FAMILY - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Doug JR. - October 13 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS THE FOURTH JETTA IN OUR FAMILY. I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE MORE RELIABLE THAN MY PARENTS 2000 JETTA GLS. THE ENGINE IS NOT VERY POWERFUL, BUT ONCE YOU REV IT UP, IT SPRINGS TO LIFE. ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH ME JUST SHOULDNT OWN A VW. ONCE YOU DRIVE A JETTA AND LEARN HOW TO DRIVE IT EFFECTIVELY, YOU CAN STOP HEARTS. P.S. FOR ALL OF THOSE ANTI VW PEOPLE WHO THINK I DONT KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT KEEP THIS IN MIND, I HAVE HAVE TWO PORSCHES 911 & 928, A 328I BMW, AND THIS JETTA. I CHOOSE TO DRIVE MY JETTA DAILY. AND I ALWAYS HAVE A SMILE WHEN I GET HOME!