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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  No more VWS - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By 3RDVW - January 19 - 5:36 am

  Ive owned Jettas before, but this Passat is pure junk. Its been in the dealership more than with me. Replaced Throttle Valve Control, Crankcase Breather Valve, CV Joint Boot, Catalytic Converter, Compressor Condenser, the list goes own! It also has intermittent noise when accelerating (but only I can hear it). Bought extended warranty-at present Ive spent $400 this year already in deductibles.

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  Passat not as good as honda or nova - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By cpassat - January 17 - 10:46 pm

  1st new car ever bought, came from a Chevy Nova with 280K miles, Mazda Protege with over 225K miles, my VW has died at 142,000 miles from the dreaded oil sludge issue. Didnt have any other major problems, car stills looks good, all the interior parts work well, but not willing to spend $5K plus to fix it, admit to now being disappointed in the car. I will not buy another VW.

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  Unhappy Atlas SE owner - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Todd P - January 15 - 2:25 pm

  We got our Atlas SE in June, and we’re happy weather in the beginning. Then noticed issues with assembly fuel mileage and engine noises. VW claims the atlas it’s 18/25 Mpg. We have yet to get more than 11 MPG. I have taken it on short trips on the freeway and have not gotten better than 18 mpg. Dealer claims that it’s normal because I only drive on the city streets. That doesn’t make sense. Tell lights aren’t lined up, one headlight is off line, or die lined up, liftgate is not in line, hood is not in line, and we had a door panel armrest that had to be replaced because it came undone. On acceleration we getting noise that sounds like sucking air, dealership says all the vehicles do that. When we turn off the motor it sounds like a fan hitting a metal shroud, dealer again says that’s normal and all the vehicles are the same. We are paying a lot of money for this vehicle and we expected to be assembled properly. Manufacturer has been involved and has no solution to fix things they replace the taillight but it’s in the same spot one taillight has a spacer and is up the other taillight doesn’t and is flush. I pointed out this fact and suggested that they left gate was not installed correctly. The body lines don’t lineup and there is a large space between the bumper guard in the liftgate. Nothing was done. First time took it for these issues they put us in a Jetta And how do our Atlas for one week. They had to order tail light and door panel. When they came in they put us in another Jetta for two days. The tail light still is not correct. Call the dealership and manufacture again regarding these issues, and was told to set an appointment at the dealer and they would bring in the technician again. I told them to make the appointment and I would be there to meet with the technician this time. Have not heard back yet.

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  Horrible Air Conditioning - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By pthurman - January 14 - 2:37 pm

  My AC started to fail at 40k. Took the to the dealer repeatedly. Per VW of Lafayette, LA - Standard operation of the Air condition is that it takes 8 - 10mins of drive time for the air conditioning to begin working. Eventually my AC totally failed - the compressors on these cars have known defects will produce metal which will contaminate the entire AC system. Both dealer and VW of America refuse to warranty the car. Horrible experience with this car. Btw standard oil change at the dealer is $300! Beware!

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  Poor Quality - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vw_stinks - January 12 - 10:00 am

  My 1998 (44,000 miles) Jetta is a big disapointment. While it is a fun car to drive, it is hard to keep the car long enough to have too much fun. Since owning this vehicle I have had t the following problems: - 3 out of 4 power windows FAILED - Power Sunroof FAILED - Body molding FELL OFF (on both sides) - Power Steering Pump FAILED - factory battery FAILED after two years - Power Door locks intermitantly FAIL

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  Stay Away - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By iinsic - January 12 - 10:00 am

  I made the unfortunate decision to buy this car based on its design. Build quality has been horrible. I have had to replace window reg., 2 window switches, 3 O2 sensors, had an oil leak, replace a rear brake caliper at 40K miles (!?), now the air conditioning does not work. Fun to drive, terrible to own.

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  VW losing their touch - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Alexandra - January 12 - 8:03 am

  Do yourself a favor and dont buy a jetta. My VR6 has been in my family since it was purchased in 2001 (its a 2000). I paid my brother 5,000 for the car in 2005 which was a steal (or so I thought). As of now, in 2009, ive spent almost 5,000 fixing it. Im a regular at the shop. Ive replaced, like many other Jetta owners, sensors, breaks (way too often), water pump, clutch, struts, some more sensors... The glove box and cup holder broke within the first two years of use (Cant Germans even engineer a cup holder?). All in all, from sensors to cup holders, its not much more than faulty junk.

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  Not what you would expect. - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Unhappy - January 8 - 10:26 pm

  Traded a 2003 Beetle for new Jetta GLI, worst trade ever made. Jetta has good performance, poor gas mileage from what sales person explained. Major problem with brake issue. I have only owned for 2 months, been in shop 3 times for brakes and still not fixed. Paint was bubbling on rear of car. One of the BBS rims paint faded.

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  Dont buy the Cabrio! - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By CAbiro00 - January 6 - 10:00 am

  I do not think this is a great car to drive everyday. It is slow and feels like it is dragging. I have also had several problems with it. Part of the bumper fell off on the road, the ac stopped working, and the check engine light keeps going on. The interior arm rests on doors are peeling after being replaced once already. I take very good care of it I dont think it is made to drive everyday. I would not recommend anyone to buy this car. I feel like everything is going wrong for no reason at all.The service has been horrible as well.

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  Too Many Problems - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By crys - January 6 - 10:00 am

  I want to love this car - but too many problems are making me crazy!!! Air bag light has come on three times before the car was even a year old. Oxygen sensor was recalled - something i didnt have to pay for to fix. MAF sensor needed to be replaced (25,000 miles) - sunroof broke - and just recently my window fell off the track and fell into the door!!!! It seems like everytime i fix something - something else breaks!!! There is no need for a car this expensive to have so many problems.