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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  W8 in Arizona - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By jackson - October 26 - 12:20 pm

  I purchased my 2004 Volkswagen Passat W8 4Motion new after owning 2001.5 Passat wagon. I get about 20 mpg around town (about 3 mpg less than the fuel usage computer reads, however). I expected exciting performance with the W8 engine; but the Tiptronic transmission takes away all the fun. Also, the car will bog down badly (dangerously) if you try to accelerate quickly after braking to a stop (say after coming down a freeway exit). Also, the A/C randomly fails to come on, and the car has to be shut off and restarted to reset. The dealer apparently has no answers for either issue. The OAT readout is 6 to 9 degrees F high. This cars depreciation has been fierce. My wife dislikes the door that come back on her when she pushes it open to get out.

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  Fun, but Unreliable - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dan - October 25 - 3:06 pm

  Purchased this car as a certified used vehicle from a VW dealer a little over a year ago. Fun to drive, mileage is excellent. However, Ive spent way too much time in the dealers service waiting room. Broken trunk latch, peeling radio controls, two bad cooling fans, bad rear brake calipers, smearing and chattering windshield wipers. In a few days Im having the windshield replaced because it is so scratched and full of tiny pitting that it is dangerous to drive at night. Dealership claims the windshield is due to "external factors", but based on the uniformity of the pitting Im sure it is a materials defect. Ive wasted too much time getting this car fixed!

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  2009 Jetta Wolfsburg - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By brishimmel - October 25 - 2:49 pm

  I LOVE my Jetta. Before I started having problems with it I swore by VW and said my future cars would be VWs. Well in the past three weeks, that has changed. Once my Jetta hit 25k, everything went wrong. Check engine light always comes on, it has left me stranded two times in three weeks. Both times have been the fuel pump. The first time (3 weeks ago) the dealer said they replaced it, now I am doubting that they did. Now they are saying it is the fuel pump again. I called roadside asst which is still under my warranty and they charged me $250+ to have it towed to my dealer where I live. Again, love my Jetta but be sure you have $$ to fix it when it goes out of warranty.

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  MAHOGANY - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By HUNTER492@AOL.COM - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I JUST CANT GET ENOUGH ENJOYMENT OUT OF DRIVING MY NEW PASSAT.ITS ATTRACTIVE SO IT ATTACTS ATTENTION. SMOOTH RIDING AND A HOST OF ACCOMMODATIONS. IM VERY PLEASE TO BE A OWNER. IM ECSTATIC!

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  Nice Ride - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Beckster - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This has been a great wagon. Plenty of power, smooth ride, and comfortable. I have not had any reliability issues in the first 24,000 miles. Has never been back to the dealership for anything. Nice sound system (monsoon) and paint job. Fit and finish is excellent I really like the heated seats. (*Get the V-6 if you can afford it. The gas mileage is about the same as the smaller turbo and has noticeably more torque when climbing hills under load.)

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  Fun to Drive - Reliable??? - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By alex - October 25 - 2:00 am

  The 4 cyl. Jetta is really fun to drive however the 2.0 engine is a little slow. Splurge on the V6. I too have had to have the car in numerous times for unscheduled maintenance. 2 oxygen sensors and a failed fuel injector. The dealership (Midwestern Auto Group - Columbus,OH) has been less pleasurable. They had a fenderbender with my car and have been less than honest about some of the repairs they have made.

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  mixed feelings due to repair costs - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By peter - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I love my expennsive car. I hate to pay my repair bills :-) Dont buy it if your friend is not a mechanic ....hahahaha Love to drive! Peter from clearwater

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  This is a risky car to own. - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JamesG - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I just sold my 09 TDI Jetta today. I will miss it, it was SO much fun to drive on the high-way. Fuel pumps (HPFP) are failing in this model, repair can cost $8 - $10K. VW is being very wissy-washy about covering what appears to be a growing issue. To much risk for me, good luck if you decide to buy.

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  jetta tdi - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By oerub - October 25 - 2:00 am

  After 10,000 miles i cant think of a more comfortable car for the money. A little more cabin noise than I expected. Now getting 43-45 mpg on the highway. Great car. Interior definitely showcases german build quality and attention to detail. Transmission is very smooth. Very happy and satisfied with it.

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  if only they could fix it ! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By kcir - October 21 - 2:00 am

  Loved my new v8 loaded to the nines touareg... for the 859 miles it lasted. two weeks have passed since the SECOND problem with the air suspension has surfaced and the dealer has no idea when and if the car will ever run again correctly. new models with problems. nothing is perfect, but if the defective part or the ability to repair the car do not exist, it doesnt leave you with a lot of faith in the system. by the way, the 2003 jetta rental drives like a champ and no service lights have come on.