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 looks but no room - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By el - April 21 - 2:00 am

  I have been driving this car for almost a year, its awesome on gas mileage/looks/performance...unfortunate ly not a car for a small family of 4. I cannot fit 2 child seats in the back without cramping both front passengers against the dashboard...had i known about this space limitation would have think twice before buying

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  Beetle - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By addkev - April 21 - 2:00 am

  Love this car, it is so fun to drive and everyone stares.

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  Roomy, Solid Car for the Money - 2015 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MarvinH - April 21 - 12:12 am

  The interior room of the Jetta is pushing the size of a mid-size car, especially the rear seats. Im 64" and my 511 son can sit behind me comfortably without nagging me to move the seat up. The car handles confidently at high speeds; I can tell this was built for the Autobahn. It seems to be more sure-footed the faster you go. The acceleration of the 1.8 turbo is exceptional. Granted, a good-sized V6 would be able to pull away, but Ive gotten out of some tight spots because my car had the yank to put me ahead of cars and trucks whose drivers were probably playing Bubble Witch on their phones. To be honest, I am a bit concerned about the long-term reliability though. Compared to a Honda or Toyota, I have a feeling it might be more costly in the long run. Time will tell. Some people seem to have really good experiences; others, not so much. For now, it seems to be very solid. No rattles or squeaks. Its more fun to drive than a Corolla or a Civic, and its much roomier, so Im happy for now. Im going to take the advice of other VW owners--stay on top of maintenance. German cars dont seem to handle neglect well.

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  Worst Car Ive ever owned - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Sylvan - April 20 - 10:43 pm

  Im the second owner of this car and have had it a little over a year. It has no gaps in the service history, and has always been dealer-serviced. So far, the fuse box, both electric fans, and the transmission have failed (bearing). Total cost not covered under warranty? $4,000. My Ford Maverick was more reliable than this car! My Subaru has 130,000 miles on it and has never had a part fail!! Save yourself, and dont buy this or any other VW. For Gods sake its the 21st Century and they cant make a transmission last 65,000 miles!!!

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  My 2005 TDI Passat - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By paul - April 20 - 8:13 pm

  I finally succumbed, kicking and screaming, to buying a car that gets good mileage. Yes the SUV is killing my monthly budget. The Passat was an obvious choice, having owned diesel cars many years ago; I wasnt expecting that this car would be so great. The pickup is amazing it is very comfortable has plenty of room, the trunk is especially large and with the rear seats folded down cavernous. The body style still looks great despite the new design coming out this fall. I think this would be a good choice for anyone interested in a car that would be used mostly for highway commuting. I would not recommend this car for local driving; this engine is not well suited for this type of operation.

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  Love it!! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gyrlfr50 - April 20 - 5:30 am

  I love my Jetta, I bought it used with 50,000 miles, Its fun to drive and so far great on Gas! I have only had it for a week. So far so good!! Im very happy with it.

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  Excellent vehicle but read fine print - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By krs235 - April 20 - 5:26 am

  Only had vehicle for 3 mon. but very happy. Performance is better than expected - quick and responsive. Tight & nimble handling. 40mpg(combined) - 48mpg(mostly highway). Very comfortable interior but back seat too small even for 3 small kids. Premium 8 radio with sat but no nav. Bluetooth package NOT AS ADVERTISED. Learned I have lower grade Bluetooth - it only receives calls - no phone book and cant place outgoing calls. The literature is very deceiving. Bluetooth a waste of money if you cant call out. You can place a call on your cell phone, but expect a ticket sooner or later. Even more difficult with manual tran. Too early for build quality and reliability but so far so good.

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  Love this VW - 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By jas0903 - April 19 - 7:01 pm

  I test drove everything from Kia to Mercedes before buying the Tiguan, and this was a stand out vehicle from them all. The solid build quality, quiet cabin and quick turbo engine sold me on this one. It has a "fun to drive" factor that most small suvs do not. There is plenty of cabin room even in the back seat which slides forward and back and/or lays flat for more cargo room. If it werent for the height and extra room you would think you were driving a GTI. Very sporty, quick and fun! Overall thrilled with my purchase!

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  Awesome and fun little hatchback - 2012 Volkswagen GTI
  By iisgenius - April 19 - 2:03 pm

  Got my red manual GTI last week. Put in 420 miles in 6 days. I love this car! It will give you power when you need it with no torque steer - considering its turbo with front wheel drive! Car is beautiful in and out. The interior is just beautiful with the interlagos seats - reminds me of burberry. Fuel consumption is also excellent. I averaged 28 mpg. 25% stop and go driving; and 75% freeway driving with speeds from 65 to 70 mph (trying to break in the car and havent gone over 70 mph). Handling is a hoot!!! Only complain is the ride - it can get uncomfortable on imperfect freeways but its a sport car!

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  GLX Wagon: A Benz in V-Dub clothing - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By J ay Devereux - April 19 - 10:00 am

  We have thoroughly enjoyed our 2000 Passat GLX wagon from time we drove it off the lot. The satin silver exterior with black leather is stunning. With the exception of a ridiculous cupholder design, the vehicle is terrific in every detail. It features everything you love about high-end German cars but at a 30-something price: power, doors that close with a teutonic thunk, handling, fit/finish, etc. Will probably trade up to the W8 Passat AWD next......