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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  One of the few happy Jetta owners - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MyJettaOK - August 30 - 10:00 am

  Considering trading for new GTI was going to look at those reviews and thought Id check the Jetta reviews first. Wow. Surprised by all the problems. Have the base GL with 5sp. Added alloys wheels and CD player. So far, knock on wood, no problems. Electrical, engine, windows, etc. all fine for last 2 yrs. Car has been just as reliable my last Acura. Been to the dealer only for 2 oil changes and to install CD player. Hope the GTI reviews are better or I may stick with what I have. Cool message board.

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  Excellent car! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By desertracer - August 30 - 10:00 am

  Had a 98 Golf GL and got the 2003 1.8T GLS with leather option on Sat. Its a nice car to drive. The manual transmission is reponsive. Gas milage is excellent. Features are great. Fresno Green exterior color is subtle.

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  Has it improved in build Quality??? - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By economan - August 30 - 10:00 am

  I just traded in my 1999 new Jetta TDI for a 2003 model. Generic faults with the earliar models. 1-Glove compartment hinges break. 2-Front and rear cup holders break prematurly. 3-Rear ashtray breaks easily. 4-Mass airflow sensor fails. 5-Black Cloth material losses its color, fades. 6- Interior material hard to clean. 7-Water pumps fail prematurly. 8-Diesel model intake plugs up with tar Due to EGR design. 9- Relay 109 fails every 20,000 miles on Diesel models. 10-Electric windows fall out of guides. 11-Floor mats do not stay in place.

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  I love my Fast, but drop me an inch - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By Roger W. - August 29 - 9:56 pm

  This is my 4th VW and 2nd GTI and I have to say that the fit and finish are great, and the performance is what I expected. After driving a Saturn SL2 for 165,000 miles this cars steering is amazingly responsive, the 6-speed gearbox takes a little getting use to, and the brakes do stop you very quickly. Time to go run Redwood and have another Porsche for breakfast!

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  Drives great - but noisy - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By Raymond - August 26 - 2:20 pm

  Wonderful care to drive - handling and feel are top notch. On a recent 5000 mile road trip I experienced no discomforts and exceeded 31 mpg easily. Problem is build quality is poor. The car has been full of rattles and squeaks since day 1, has some misaligned trim and is considerably under-optioned compared to its competitors (and also its predecessor) examples: climate control, auto-dimming mirror

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  Maintenance is the key.... - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By chazthephoenix - August 25 - 7:44 am

  As with all used vehicles, the quality of the experience is directly correlated to the previous owner. Yes, VW under estimated the finish on the buttons on the interior, but they over estimated the quality of the drivetrain. THIS VEHICLE WILL GO ANYWHERE. We bought ours used...a 2006 V6 with 48k...thats in immaculate shape. The ride is excellent, handles excellent in the snow, its just feels sturdy. yes, its not great on gas...neither was my explorer that I had before this. This is affordable luxury. My suggestion: buy the extended warranty. You will thank me!

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  THE original hot hatch. - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By cgoldrick - August 24 - 11:10 pm

  Coming from a 94 325i, I was looking for something that was as fun to drive, but would also be kind to my wallet. This fine machine fits the bill perfectly, putting a silly grin on your face every time you press the accelerator, unleashing that sonorous tone from the two chrome-tipped exhaust pipes. If you are sensible with the throttle, the car is even capable of 34 mpg on the highway, which is amazing, considering what this is capable of. Handling is fairly neutral until you really push it, at which point you are reminded its FWD. The interior makes you feel as if you are in a vehicle costing thousands more, perhaps tens of thousands. The quality of the materials is really that good

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  Why do rear brakes wear out so soon? - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Ricardo M. Huerta - August 24 - 6:30 pm

  Today I took my car to have a rear braking noise checked at the dealer where I bought it. I knew the problem was with the rear brakes but I didnt figure it to be worn out brake pads and worn metal to metal with less than 20k miles. The front brake pads hardly show any wear at all and now I must spent over $300.00 to fix the problem. Dealer service says that rear brakes wear out twice as fast as the front brakes on this model. Ive always known the front to rear wear ratio to be the opposite and more like 3 front repairs for every rear repair. Front brakes handle about 70% of the stopping for most vehicles and are therefore always thicker. Ive had other cars so why the quick wear out?

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  So far, wonderful! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Vixter - August 24 - 3:13 pm

  Ive only had my first VW for 2 months, but so far, its wonderful! I was a Toyota Solara owner for a long time; but with aging parents, they were not able to get into the back seat. I wanted a 4 door, sporty car and I finally found one. I told the dealers I was looking for 3 things: good-looking (inside and out), a comfortable car, and the right price. The Passat has it all.

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  This Car Will Save Your Life! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By richm - August 23 - 6:00 pm

  I purchased my immaculate and gently used 2006 Passat in February 07 (it had only 8K miles), and was able to enjoy it for about 4 months before it was tragically killed last week in an accident. I was t-boned on the drivers side by a car traveling about 35 mph. The 5 star crash test rating is well deserved! The side curtain and lumbar airbags all deployed as designed, and there was minimal intrusion into the cabin. My passenger and I were able to walk away unharmed. The outstanding engineering that made this possible cannot be underestimated! Sadly, "Pascal" could not be repaired, but I WILL buy another one just like it. If youre thinking safety, trust me, this car will save your life!