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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  Lease or get an extended warranty - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By klamp80 - September 9 - 10:59 pm

  I have about 24,000 miles on my car. My engine light came on the other day and I am also having some electrical issues. The speakers fade in and out depending on whether I have the heat on or if I open a window. Its strange but not shocking since I know they are notorious for electrical problems. Up until now, I havent had any issues with the car. Overall I dont dislike the car. The pickup is okay, I feel that its a comfortable ride, and it handles well for me in terms of performance.

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  NICE CAR, BUT GET A RAIN COAT - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By michael_a1 - September 9 - 2:15 am

  Volkswagen just settled a class action lawsuit because many of their vehicles with factory sunroofs leaks in earlier production cars. Apparently they still have not fixed the problem with the touareg. I have been to the dealer for the problem to get repaired and they claimed it was fixed and it was not. Off to the dealer again. Wouldnt it be better if they just corrected the issue. Anyway, it is a nice car, but I certainly dont think it is worth the problems. I would certainly look at other cars in its class unless you want to bunk out at the service department the first year you own the car.

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  good car, short money - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By johnny C - September 8 - 10:00 am

  sporty, fun to drive. quality German engineering for a fraction of the cost of other german motors

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  excellent deal - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By julianef - September 8 - 10:00 am

  This car has the right blend of practicality and performance. Wanted a car that will make my daily commute fun and confortable and so far has delivered all that flawlessly. Surely a BMW would be better but costs 10-15 grand more. While japanese cars have their own advantages, VW is more refined, and, if looking at quality/price ratio, VW tops its competition. I hope that VW is working to bring up the plants in Brazil and Mexico to its German counterparts standards as the quality issues still affect Golfs and especially Jettas available in America.

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  Still Runs Like New After 75,000 miles - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By honorb112 - September 8 - 10:00 am

  This car has run great since the day I bought it. Only one trip to the service center for a faulty sensor. I would highly recommend the VR6. Fast and Fun.

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  2001 Passat Manual Tranmission 1.8T - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By cnelson - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Just wanted to toss in a quick note. Purchased a 2001 Passat 1.8 turbo (manual transmission) and the car has served admirably. Currently has 34,000 miles and, aside from the car being a bit noisier (both engine and wind noise) than Id like, and two burned out lights (one headlight, one tail light) Ive not had any problems.

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  quick vw - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jet blk - September 8 - 10:00 am

  This is a fun european auto. I have compared performance, size and features to the Mini Cooper, and I am glad I have the Jetta. As far as "bang for the buck", this car has it all. One question, why has my book value on car this plummeted in such a short time?! This is unacceptable!

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  Better than my BMW 325 - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By mrlutgen - September 6 - 9:03 pm

  I bought my wife a 2005 Passat. I like it so much that I am trading in my BMW for an 06 Passat. This car has all the same quality and handling of any other German car but the price is much more reasonable.

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  Transmission problems right off the lot - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Krista - September 6 - 10:00 am

  I am frustrated typing this because I really do love my car, aside from the fact that it very well may be a lemon. Soon after purchasing it started puttering and having trouble shifting gears. When releasing the brake it jumped. I took it in only to find out the computer chip to my transmission was faulty and it needed to be replaced. They replaced it and literally within a few hundered miles of driving it the transmission is acting up again. I tried to take it in to get it fixed and Volkwagen claims there is no issue. I dont know where else to go with this! I am very frustrated. The transmission should not be an inssue for a brand new car! Sensors were off for the hard top too.

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  very sporty car - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Big O - September 6 - 10:00 am

  I traded my Audi A4 in last week for the CC and im glad i did , i love this car , i love the way it had handles on the the hwy and the surface street. I owned a VW Jetta a few years ago, but volkswagen really stepped it up when they brought out the CC. i love the Bluetooth and touch screen radio.