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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  Very unreliable - Unreliable Warranty - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Eva - May 10 - 10:13 pm

  Since I have had my Passat, it has needed so much attention. I have had to get the check engine light fixed 3 times, the brakes adjusted, the steering needed to be fixed and now, my horn doesnt work. My horn has been failing for about 5,000 miles, but initially is would only go out and then come back on. The dealership couldnt address it, because they were unable to recreate the problem. Now at 54,000 miles, I took it back to the dealership, since the horn failed totally, and they need to replace the ENTIRE steering whell (at a mere cost of $850). Not covered under warranty! Even though, the issue was brought up while still under warranty!!

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  Avoid It - Traded Mine In - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By LR - May 10 - 4:23 am

  53 days in the shop in the first year, finally had enough and traded it in for another brand. Every imaginable problem with the electrical system, sensors, gas cap, abs, braking, fuel pump, air bag, among other problems. Every little repair required shipping in parts so repairs took forever, and nothing fixed right the first time by dealer. I owned the car for a little over a year and just took a huge loss on the trade, but it had to go. Had trouble even getting near blue book on trade due to the cars reputation. Did lots of research prior to buying and 07/08 models were well reviewed. 09 seems to be a disaster. After 15 years driving VWs, this will be my last. Very disappointing.

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  Its got moxie. - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Fitz Collings - May 9 - 10:00 am

  This car looks new, feels new, and drives new after 2 years. I drive it in upstate new york and it wrecks the snow and ice thanks to great traction control. I go to Cornell University and I can haul all of my apartment stuff in one car load, including big awkward stuff like my bike, skis, and TV. The car is fast as hell and the sport package really helps it stay firmly rooted to the pavement.

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  VW Toureg - all its cracked up to be? - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By VW Lover - May 9 - 10:00 am

  Overall, this is a nice vehicle. However, with all the hyp, I dont think it lived up to expectations. I was torn between this and an FX45 and decided to go with the VW. I think I made the wrong choice. That being said, this still is a nice car to drive.

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  Very Cool Black 03 - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rocky Mountain High - May 9 - 10:00 am

  Black with black interior and blacked out windows -- looks very cool. The base engine is plenty fast enough -- its a car I feel good about having my children drive. This is the 5th new VW Ive purchased -- all have been great cars. In buying the vehicles and having them serviced, the local dealer has always been excellent.

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  Great Family Vehicle - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Cocoseng - May 9 - 6:40 am

  Had the vehicle for about a month and cannot say enough good things. It drives like a GTI, but is spacious and comfortable for the whole family.

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  Der Wagen ist Wunderbar! Muchas gracias! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dw438 - May 8 - 8:16 pm

  Yes. its a 2010 Jetta TDI SportWagen. Assembled in Mexico. And one of the hottest cars in North America. This is a diesel? For a wagon its got pickup ... and even style. The Jetta TDI SportWagen has lot of little things youd expect in cars that cost a heck of a lot more ... and are standard. A very comfortable, low-to-the-ground torquey drive. It hugs the corners on high-speed parkways .. and proves to be a nimble creature driving around the big city. It even did well in the recent last weekend of autumn 2009 snow here in the Northeast. The fit and finish is solid. Very quiet for a small car. Great audio system. A superb, well-engineered replacement for my hybrid Ford Escape.

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  Best New Car Ever! - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dan - May 8 - 11:36 am

  The price of gas drvoe me to trade in my 2003 4WD Toyota Tundra, which I really liked, on the new Jetta. After a lot of research, I decided that the Jetta was clearly the best value going. There are a few other cars out there with the new Jettas features, but they cost thousands more. But the real proof came with the buying and the driving. I have never been happier with any car than this one. Superb in every respect, inside and out. If it werent for the VW symbol on the steering wheel, you would think you were driving a car that you could never afford. Forget the high-priced alternatives like BMW or SAAB...theres no comparison. Now I look for reasons to have to drive somewhere!

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  EXCELLENT CAR! - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By fausto123 - May 8 - 5:03 am

  Ive had my Passat for about a couple months now and I absolutely couldnt be happier, the ride is super smooth even on rougher surfaces, its packed with features and full of space. The transmission shifts very smoothly and road noise is very minimal considering mine has the larger tires and wheels. The cabin feels very upscale, I enjoy that it has an auto hold brake feature, heated seats, and the 6 disc CD changer works flawlessly. The only negative is the chrome trim used around the windows, they oxidized rather quickly and in my opinion VW needs to improve the quality of that material. Besides that the car drives and handles like a dream !

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  Great value - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By gester - May 5 - 9:23 pm

  Traded in my TT roadster. Love the power plant. Love the transmission. Love the roof. Got 20K on it now; no regrets at all (well, I wish Id gotten the three years free maintenance but thats about it). Oh, and I guess I wish id gotten the ipod dock instead of the generic input jack.