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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  I had high hopes, but... - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lauren - September 21 - 3:20 pm

  The 2000 VW Jetta is a nice looking car, fun to drive, gets pretty good mpg BUT do not buy this car if you dont want lots of repairs, very, very frequent and expensive repairs. The timing belt went at about 83,000 and I had to get the entire engine remanufactured. Ive also had to replace the alternator, the battery twice and some other usual wear and tear pieces. Also, the front bumper is way too low and it gets ripped off easily. The problem is that VW designed the car to be repairable only at the dealership, therefor, more expensive. All in all, I like the car, maybe the newer models are better, but I do not recommend buying this car, at least not from this year.

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  Seats are killing my back - 2016 Volkswagen Passat
  By Steve W. - September 21 - 11:41 am

  Front seats are not supportive, too concave and the headrest is too far forward. Didnt seem so bad when I test drove, but my back started hurting right after I bought the car, and its now killing me. Im average height 511"

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  German garbage - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By j k - September 21 - 1:50 am

  Never buy German; stick with Japan, S Korea, USA, Subaru

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  A real shame - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By emdubs - September 20 - 10:00 pm

  My wife and I loved the car early on, but we really should have looked harder. I have replaced the distributor coil pack (failed on the freeway), timing belt, control arms, tie rod ends, clutch, ABS control module. VW is terrible when it comes to customer service and avoiding recalls. A quick search for ABS module will return a lengthy list of horror stories. When it works, it is a great car. The interior is efficient and comfortable (although it shakes and rattles something terrible on rough roads), and all of the extra trunk capacity is great. Especially when coupled with the fuel economy. But, in the end, it just isnt worth it.

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  Never will i own another VW again! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By alwillia - September 20 - 8:15 pm

  I bought this car thinking it would be a good way to save on gas and still able to haul my mountain bikes around and travel, was i wrong! To mention some of the problems... Tire went flat then the spare went flat, the glove box handle broke off, the knobs on the stereo came off, the alarm will go off at random times, the serpentine belt broke and fried the motor, gas cap door wouldnt open, the thermostat in cold weather sets off my check engine light, the hatch stopped opening, oh and to top it all off i have to put premium in the car which then makes it just as much much as my old SUVs to fill up. I have had an 88 Landcruiser and it ran better and was more reliable than this car!!!!!!!!!!

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  GLI--Love the RIDE--hate the service - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sweenemo - September 20 - 10:00 am

  The 200 hp Vr6 is a great way to start your morning. Car pulls very hard--the 6spd manual is very percise. The monsoon radio (1300 option w/ sunroof) is what i have a problem with --the radio is not as loud/clear on the driver side. Car has 1700 miles on it and has been in the shop 4times. VW service can not fix the problem--and forget about squeezing a rental car out of them.

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  I Love Beetles - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Nancy - September 19 - 7:53 pm

  I really enjoy this car. I was hesitant at first to get one, but now am so glad I did! It is great on gas, fun to drive, and very comfortable. There is much more room inside than one would expect in a small car. I have the 1.8 turbo. It is a great performer and so fun to drive. It handles really well. I would highly recommend this car to anyone looking for better gas mileage without sacrificing fun and performance.

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  Poor build quality and transmission lets it down - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ricochet65 - September 19 - 3:38 am

  2003 Convertible, lightly driven with 43000 miles. Transmission failed, due to what now appears to be a known problem with the "valve body". VW support extremely poor. This car looks nice but has been nothing but trouble: windows do not work correctly, have been fixed twice, roof gets stuck and VW fitter wanted $1500 to repair (it took me 10 minutes to snap the loose clip back on and cost nothing - so much for service. Everything is a hassle to repair - battery is over $200, bulbs cannot be replaced easily, airbag light cost $250 to temporarily repair. If you want the beetle style spend the money on a restored air cooled one, from when VW knew how to make serviceable vehicles!

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  A car for all seasons - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By bigspence - September 19 - 2:26 am

  This is the most pleasant and versatile car I have ever owned. It rides like a limo on the road and takes to the field like a John Deere tractor. The V6 has enough power to get there and pass when needed but if you want a hot rod get the V8.

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  Reliable and fun to drive - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Scooter - September 18 - 4:30 pm

  I bought my 2003 VW GTI on New Years Eve of 2003 and have no regrets about my decision. The car is solid inside and out. It gets great gas mileage. Tons of standard features that just arent found in other vehicles. And it is a pleasure to drive every time. Even the dealerships have great customer skills and are eager to help. I am just about to break 20,000 miles and have had just one problem. The check engine light came on. Because temperatures went below 20 degrees, my purge valve was stuck. It was replaced and I have not had a problem since.