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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  silent beaut - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By happydub - October 21 - 2:00 am

  whats not to like? classic subdued styling, the 1.8T engine, the 5-speed, and the interior comfort. I thought I wanted the V6 but after driving that and the 1.8 I went with the four; much better fuel economy than the V6 and just as much apparent power. good in snow despite the very average factory Conti tires. reliability might be a worry as its in the shop for a "check engine" light but thats it so far. avoid the tan interior if you care about how dirty itll get!

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  Not bad, but could be better - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Roo - October 20 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car because I knew it would lower my insurance and gas bills (coming from SUV) I drive 500 miles a week and my gas bill is $60/month. I have enjoyed my VW a lot, however...Dont park over a parking space bump or curb. I did this 3 separate times (and have finally learned from my mistakes) and it pulled my front bumper off. Just the other day, my passenger side window fell into the wondow pocket and I had to take it to the dealer b/c of a downpour coming. "This happens a lot" the VW rep said. They rigged it, but I have to go back and pay for them to fix it now that I am out of my 25,000 mile warranty.

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  Zoom Zoom!!! - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Evan Weiner - October 20 - 10:00 am

  This car is great. it has wonderful turbo power. mine did 0-60 in 7.1 seconds. there is a straight away across the street from where i live. thsi car is very luxurious and fun. the premium sound system rocks. its just a great car!

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  The not too bad, the good and the great! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ruzzeld - October 19 - 4:05 am

  This is/was our 2nd VW New Beetle TDI. Both 2003s. I can say that Ive been very happy overall with both cars. The only downside is the maintenance expense compared to Toyotas (zero unscheduled maintenance expense with every Toyota Ive owned). But kinda boring. BOTH Bugs: FUN to drive! More comfortable (Im 63"). Great road trip car, for my wife and I with plenty of room for luggage with the back seat folded down. GREAT mileage (never less than 43 with everyday driving and up to 55mpg on road trips). We used it as a 2nd car and whoever had to drive the furthest that day.. WANTED the bug. Fun and cheap!

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  Worth my money - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By luvmybug - October 18 - 11:13 am

  I purchased this vehicle as a Certified VW. This vehicle has been excellent, well worth my money and time. Jump in and drive. Love the Sunroof, the power and the fuel economy. This automatic produces nearly 28 MPG highway and 24 MPG City. Handles well and gets out it own way. Highly recommended.....

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  So far, so good - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By 07Passat - October 18 - 11:03 am

  This car has performed very well for me in the past year and a half. I average about 31 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg during mixed driving. There isnt another 4-cylinder in this price range that performs as well. VW recommends premium fuel, but I havent had any problems running regular, midgrade, or premium. Also, oil changes are expensive due to synthetic oil requirement. I hope the car remains reliable over the years, as some studies show that VWs can have reliability issues.

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  Not that Bad - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By VDUBBA00 - October 17 - 11:36 am

  Let me just say that I went into my 2000 Volkswagen Passat from my college car (a Saturn) so naturally I was floored when I stepped on the gas and it actually went! This car is a still a head turner and gets parked in the front with BMWs and Mercedes at valet. The Tiptonic transmission makes this car take off like a rocket. Beware of repairs on this car that arent under warranty though, they are COSTLY! Fortunatly I cant say Ive had any issues with it mechanically. I intend to make my next car another Passat. Its fun to drive and looks great! You will also command a little respect when you pull up at the valet at Benihana! I was surprised to come out and see my car parked in front!

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  should have bought the 1.8T - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By XB3 - October 17 - 10:00 am

  console controls are poor and hard to read. Suspension is soft, had to ugrade to make car live up to its hype. Road noise coming through.

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  Ill miss my lil green homey - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dgrundei - October 16 - 10:36 pm

  I bought this car used with 43k miles on it from a private seller who bought it new and took excellent car of it. I have since put roughly 75k miles on it and have invested over $7,500 in maintenence unrelated to regular wear and tear. If something goes wrong, its usually expensive. I had a lot of issues with the fuel system, replacing the fuel injectors and intake manifold. Had some issues with the wipers at 100,000 but replaced the motor myself for about 30 bucks. Otherwise, I love driving the VR6. Its fun, trendy, relatively fuel efficient. The heated leather is nice and comfy, the moonroof is perfect for nice weather. Other than sucking my wallet dry with maintenence, I loved this car!

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  Sad to Say Its a LEMON! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By PinkBambi - October 16 - 5:40 pm

  This was my dream car, and it makes me sad to say that this car stinks! I got it for my high school graduation present and it was a dream for the first year I owned it. Then things started breaking left and right. Im not hard on my car but the plastic inside started peeling, things started falling off etc. Then the timing belt snapped leaving me stranded in the middle of nowhere and the whole computer is being replaced...THE WHOLE COMPUTER! AHHHHH! This car is junk and it makes me so sad :(