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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  VW cars- THE BEST UNDER $20000!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Flanker - October 13 - 10:00 am

  We have a 2000 Jetta and a 2001 Golf. They are great! Just great! Quality, design, convenience, features, price, gas milage... We can go on and on and on. They often ask me "is there anything you regret about these cars, there must be something" to a guy like that I say "yes I do regret that I did not buy them much sooner" PERIOD

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  Fit & Finish - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By kb50 - October 13 - 10:00 am

  I purchased based in reseach (Fit & Finish) and our interest for fun w/a stick. Got that and great mileage. Husband loves this car & drives most often. Have had regular servicing and no mechanical problems. Had to have bumper repainted once from bad driving in parking lot. Our 6 year old hates this car. Car seat didnt work well & now hes too short & tends to get car sick. No arm rest this model year (2001-2). I miss being able to rest my arm on window while driving...

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  WOBVW Review - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By walter baumert - October 13 - 10:00 am

  My bug is wounderful and would keep it if I had another larger car. The only problem that I find with this VW is the take off at a light or stop sign. Just not enough get up and go.

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  I love my GLI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Masemoto - October 13 - 6:23 am

  One test drive an I was sold. This car satisfies me in every way. Its interior space and design are excellent. The car performs flawlessly. The engine roars with power. The car looks sharp. What more could you want. Fuel economy? Try 26 in the city and 31+ on the highway. The value for money is amazing for something which does everything great. I have yet to have any problems with my VDub and would highly recommend it to anyone. Take a test drive and youll see what I am talking about. A+

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  Anything but VW - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ed J. - October 12 - 10:27 pm

  Loved the car until it hit 40K. Thank God I purchased extended warranty. two A/C compressors, one ABS module, alternator, (each of these cost at least $1200), fan motor, trunk latch, catalytic converter, part for Turbo, interior lock buttons peeled, arm rests peeled (VW would not do anything about this) No excuse for any of this. Im used to Asian cars, never had these problems with them! Had car towed twice, once for alternator and most recently for ignition part. That did it. I traded for a new 2015 Mazda6 last March. What a great car! Styling, mileage, quality, reliability. I dont understand why people make excuses for poor reliability with some brands like VW. I wont put up with it. Just read reviews. The top cars for reliability are Lexus, Mazda, Toyota, and Honda. Dont see any VWs up there do you? No excuse for poor reliability, I learned my lesson. Got rid of this car two years ago and bought a Mazda6, Very happy with Mazda, what a difference., No problems.

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  Dont Waste Your Money - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VWMoneyPit - October 12 - 8:10 pm

  I had a 70 Bug in school that needed infrequent attention and which I remember fondly. Those memories led me to purchase the Jetta thinking that the quality of the Jetta would be all that I remembered Volkswagen being; i.e., a maufacturer of quality automobiles. That is not the case. My Jetta has had numerous, costly electrical, engine wiring and emission problems (two catylytic converters in ten years), two broken glove boxes (how long have they been making cars?) and atrocious customer service. All of that ensures that I will never buy a VW again. My four purchases before the Jetta were Toyotas and Hondas - not as much fun to drive but trouble-free and much, much kinder on my pocketbook.

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  Tiguan best in its class by far. - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By exiled - October 12 - 6:50 pm

  Just got this new a week ago (I love the newly designed grill/face) I have been doing a side by side comparison with my wifes BMW X3 and so far the Tiguan is proving to be the better ride.

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  Forget the sedan, try this first - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By emajor - October 11 - 8:22 pm

  This wagon is versatile and refined. Weve carried furniture, huge Rubbermaids, not possible with a sedan. Tons of cargo room when you need it, drives just like the sedan when you dont. Handling is responsive, the steering has a nice feel and heft to it, and the ride is comfortable without being too soft or sloppy. Supportive seats, perfect driving position. Interior is way too nice for a $20K car. Strong 5 cylinder engine with lots of torque down low. Gets 29-34 mpg highway. Nice clutch and shifter. Test drove the TDI, nice engine, but didnt feel it was worth the additional $5000. 13,000 miles and no problems yet. As long as it stays reliable, I will have no regrets.

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  2004 Volkswagen Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By j brown - October 10 - 4:30 am

  My Touareg has been in the shop for a total of 25 days, with a ho hum repair attitude. I replaced the tires at 18,000 miles, because of bad alligment from the factory. The dealer charged me for the allignment, and they re-allined the truck another 3 times. It has been a disaster. I will never own another, European car, and tell all who ask how I like it that its a disaster, and not to buy one. The VW people could care less. My next purchase will be from Japan. I owned two Mercedes-Benz before this, and it was the same.

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  Beg to differ - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gys98jetta - October 9 - 9:23 pm

  Great to drive to Sacramento and back and to work and to all my friends houses and then do it all over again.