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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  Show me the gravel trap...... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Stanley Lui - July 27 - 10:00 am

  1st day: cooln fan rattles, technician stuck his hand in it and have it stop. (What?) 6th day: noise at left front wheel, inspectn scheduled 2 wks later. 19th day: before inspectn, left front ball joint collasped, thanks God it didnt happened on hwy. (The reason I purchased this car was for its sport ability, but road handling was not there! I almost match the fate of Mr. Zinardi) Car towed to dealer, fixed same day. Dealer suspects someone sleepn at assembly line. Recd 1 monthly paymt from Volks for this incident. My 4th Volkswagon tells me 1 fact: Reliability declines after moving the assemble line to S. America.

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  Beware of this beauty... - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By VW-BAD - July 25 - 7:13 pm

  I have owned my 09 Routan SEL for around 4 mo and about 4000 miles and disappointed does not begin to describe my state of mind!!! My brakes have been squealing since about the 1000 mile mark and it is "normal" according to a qualified technician. Both of my sliding doors have given me numerous problems, including not closing properly and I have come back to a vehicle with an open door. Gas mileage is atrocious. This vehicle has been a nightmare to deal with (especially with two young kids). Yes it is beautiful, but at what price?

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  POOR PERFORMANCE ENGINE - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By N H - July 25 - 10:00 am

  From the start witht he purchase of this vehicle I have had nothing but issues. First the dealship messed up the paperwork and we were called back in at least 3 times. NOW after a year old the engine just stopped on the PA turnpike, stranded me there for 3 days. The dealer said that the fuel injector ALREADY needs to be replaced! VW left us out there with no help! They said because I was over my warranty by a 1000 miles. Nice 1st time I have ever bought a VW and will be the last! MY GM cars never gave me issues like this in such a new car. Oh and CDs get caught in the CD player, it grinds, but maintenance said its ok!!

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  Suprised - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JT - July 25 - 8:46 am

  Traded in a BMW 540i for my 2006 Volkswagen Jetta Value Edition. What a surprise! This car is just as comfortable, has a larger trunk, wonderful sound system, and great looking with 17" wheels. I drove it to AZ from TN and it hanled great in all weather conditions and road conditions. I get an average of 45 mpg.

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  Excellent value - 2017 Volkswagen Passat
  By JT - July 25 - 3:09 am

  I thoroughly researched the midsize segment and found the Passat to be a perfect fit for me. I live in metro Phoenix so opted for the S trim since Im not a fan of leatherette seats in our intense summer heat. The base model has plenty of standard features, and I was able to purchase a new one for $18,800. I love the fit and finish of the vehicle with its accompanying handsome, understated design, and youd be hard-pressed to find a comparable sedan for under 19K. Ive owned all type of cars from different manufacturers, but this is my first VW, and I am very pleased. I highly recommend the Passat.

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  Great performance, zero reliability - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By yoli - July 24 - 9:33 pm

  Love it and hate it. Just name a few problems fixed on my Jetta 2002: - First week of ownership, rear passenger door couldn’t open because cable fell down inside the door panel. - One piece radio got replaced three times. - Ignition coils replaced at four times. - Windshield wrapper loosened, ridiculous. - Now the front brake squeaks, I was told that there is no way to fix unless change the whole brake pads, disks, etc, I can’t believe that. …

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  Great Alternative to Hybrid - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DaveN - July 24 - 7:36 pm

  Good handling and really fun to drive. Torque is excellent. Small problems like rubber seal on door is coming off and rear passenger light switch pops open. Have to take it back to dealer for these repairs. Great miles and feels like a more expensive car, very roomy. Wish it was more aerodynamic. Got the car in white and all bugs splatter all over hood, fender and windows.

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  100,000 miles later and still a satisfied customer - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By lilred2007 - July 24 - 7:25 pm

  I bought this car new. It now has 110,000 miles on it (more highway than city) and its been 100% reliant. All Ive ever done is maintenance, oil changes, tires around 60K, brakes around 70K, a taillight. I had the a/c compressor just go out (around 95,000) and I just got the timing chain redone for piece of mind. The biggest pain really has been changing the air filter.

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  Made for the road - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tom - July 24 - 4:53 pm

  My 2006 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is a hoot to drive. My brothers a VW nut going back 20 years. I told him wed never buy one because of the quality problems...but obviously we did. Anyway, he comes down from New Jersey to visit late one Saturday night, wakes up early, cant wait for me so he takes the car out, turns right out of our street onto a country road wheres theres an immediate small rise blocking any long term view. The rise cant be more than 300 yards away. In 3rd when he reachs rise, sees cop dead ahead, looks down shocked to find out hes already doing 90, hits the brakes, but not fast enough, cop pulls him over, turns out hes a VW nut, too, and lets him off. Thats the problem - this car cant resist speed.

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  Fun fun fun, buy it - 2010 Volkswagen EOS
  By Big Dog - July 24 - 4:40 pm

  Missed the German feel of previously owned Audis. TT was too small and expensive and the didnt want a soft top A4. Drove this car at the beginning of the summer and considered the Volvo C70 and a BMW 1 Series. In the end, the EOSs smooth turbo, smooth ride, DSG transmission and tranformer like hard top couldnt be beat. Gas mileage as high as 35 on the highway, averaging 27 mpg while having a lot of fun. Have LUX with 17" wheels, sport suspension and IPOD hookup. Its now my Kids favorite IPOD accessory. Front drive will spin the wheels especially in the sport mode. Touch screen won me over, sometimes is slow to react and hard to see in bright sunlight.