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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  Great to drive not so good on quality - 2013 Volkswagen GTI
  By raleigh79 - June 13 - 7:06 pm

  I have owned my GTI for 3 years and it has been a pleasure to drive, grips the road beautifully and is very comfortable on long trips. The interior materials, fit and finish are excellent. However, Im starting to seriously doubt the quality of this car. At 13K miles the cooling pump failed, it was quickly fixed under warranty. In the last month, at 30K miles (mostly highway), my clutch completely failed and was replaced under warranty. I have been driving manual transmissions for the past 20 years and have never had one fail on me, clearly a manufacturing failure. To top it off, last week the cooling pump failed again!!! My dealer charges $750.00 to replace the cooling pump, fortunately it is still under warranty, but an expense likely to be incurred in the future. I have mixed feelings on recommending the GTI. If you can overlook the maintenance and having the car at the shop often, the GTI is an great driving experience. But, if you are looking for something reliable, there are probably better options out there. I will likely trade it for something else.

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  Love my Jetta - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Love my Jetta - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Purchased my Jetta used with approximately 25k miles. I currently have 81,000 miles and the car is still running strong. This car has a very solid feel to it and drives like a more expensive vehicle. I test drove other cars in this class (Civic, Corolla, etc) and the quality of those cars do not compare to that of the Jetta. I do not understand why other owners feel that the Jetta is not very reliable. With proper maintenance, my Jetta has not given me any problems. The cost of doing maintenance at the dealer is high. However, I was able to find a reliable VW/ Audi mechanic in the area who is able to do work for 1/2 the price. A lot less than it would be if I owned a Honda or a Toyota.

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  Okay Car, But I Would Not Buy Another VW - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By 123Blue - June 13 - 6:10 am

  This our third VW. We also have an 01 Beetle and an 04 Passat. I purchased my 05 New Jetta 2.5 in June 2008 w/ 27k miles on it, previously a loaner. Compared to similarly priced cars (Civics, Corollas) the Jetta had a lot more features for the price. Fully loaded with leatherette interior, rain sensing wipers, auto lights, etc. Nice ride, a little sporty, not too fast, but not too slow either. Reliable as far as getting from point A to point B, but way too many problems with the build quality. Faulty trunk latch, auto window stopped working, lightbulb sensor going on and off, sunroof acting funny, buttons peeling, even the gas cap not unlocking. Will not be buying another VW!

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  Car to buy - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JJ - June 12 - 3:06 pm

  Im glad I ended up with the VW TDI after comparing several other cars. The TDI performs better than expected. Plenty of power and handles great for a small car. MPG is great, if you compare the TDI to the Hybrids currently on the market you will buy a TDI. I believe 5- 7 years down the road the TDI will still be running strong the Hybrids will be costing you a fortune. Not to mention all the hazardous waste from the batteries used.

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  Nice Car, but... - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By PaulM - June 12 - 9:36 am

  The 03 VW Golf is a very practical, fun to drive car ideally suited for urban commuter use. It was very reliable up to about 60,000 miles, then problems started to crop up, starting with a glow plug failure. After hitting 100,000 miles, I have spent $4,000 on repairs (injector pump, timing belt, water pump, cooling fan, strut mounts, controlling arms). Where I live, diesel generally costs 10% to 15% more than gas, mileage is probably 30% to 40% better than a gas model.

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  Never a VW, Audi, or Porche again!! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sad Owner - June 12 - 8:40 am

  Beautiful car. Fun to drive. In the shop 20 times more than our Honda! Ignition coils, light bulbs... over and over again... broken seal that let the back passenger footwell flood every time it rained. The dealership wouldnt fix the seal under the warranty b/c it was a wind or water leak!!! (Leaks through faulty seals apparently arent covered) AVOID VWs if you dont want the headaches!!

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  Golf - fun, solid small car - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By jimmyz8 - June 10 - 11:36 pm

  After combing through the small car segment - I stumbled upon the Golf, and my decision was made. The combination of economy, styling, quality and driving characteristics were top in its class. My biggest decision was going TDI or EPV. TDI was my first choice, however decided the extra costs werent worth it.. After owning the car for 5 months Im still pleased with my choice. The car ride is solid, not a single issue so far. Fuel economy, despite being the gasoline engine - has been excellent. Am averaging 35-38mpg on my daily 12mile commute, and have averaged as high as 43mpg on longer distances. Would buy it again..

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  Its worth the few flaws!! - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By kassidyheath - June 10 - 12:01 pm

  I bought this car last year with 100,000 miles on it, and throughout the additional 16,000 miles ive driven, the problems have been minor, few, and far between. I felt confident buying it with so many miles already on it because Volkswagen engines seem to be bulletproof. Initially when idling, the engine would have a tendency to overheat in the Florida summers but having a mechanic for a father and adjusting the cooling system there havent been any problems since. The transmission is a little rough during acceleration and deceleration, but its 14 years old. I rear ended a pickup once pretty hard and the truck suffered a lot worse than the Beetle! Very safe, love this car.

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  Worst Car Ever!! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By jwalker - June 9 - 11:03 pm

  This car has had issues from the day I purchased it brand new. Pieces fall off. 1st week, bottom of dash fell to the floor. Door handle flew off on freeway- VW fixed 3x, now door handle sticks. Check engine light ALWAYS on. VW says light covers numerous items. So numerous, in fact, that if you take the car in to fix an "extended warranty", they require you to fix all other supposed "problems" before theyll fix item under warranty so they can get $. Lights (interior/outer) go out frequently. Stuck in park twice. Starter fixed twice. Burns oil like mad. Sounds like a lawn mower. Catalytic Converter issues. VW fixes - problem happens again. Spend more time on tow truck/in service than on road

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  AWSOME CAR - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By fireball667 - June 9 - 2:35 am

  This is car is so great even though i have had it a short time i tthe best the car i have ever had and i am really happy with it and i hope to have it for a very long time and i love the accleretion and th ehandeling best VW ever i would and it i a supprised at the gas message i get lately