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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  Another Volkswagen Bust - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By DDevi - April 15 - 10:00 am

  This is possibly the worst car I have ever driven. At eight months old the vehicle needed a new transmission. Shortly thereafter I have had purge valve problems, a blown speaker, and at twenty two thousand miles the fuel pump went along with the rear brakes (rotors and pads). A completely unreliable vehicle. I will never look at another VW.

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  All of them pull right from engine torque force - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By luisdiaz - April 12 - 3:28 am

  Every time you accelerate the engine torque pulls car to right side all the time very annoying and every other driver I talk to says same thing. Ive had my 2011 jetta for 11 months now and I cant get rid of it because I loose $4000 I had tested the demo and it pulled right but the salesman convinced me it was out of alignment but my new car does same. Buyer be ware of this front engine torque forcing car to drive to right side I will never buy a jetta as long as I live

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  What a Mistake! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By shenry - April 6 - 10:00 am

  After doing alot of research and test driving I purchased this vehicle from Downtown Fine Cars in Toronto, Canada. What a terrible mistake. 8 months later the car doesnt start and had to be towed into the garage due to a broken fuel guage sender. The customer service was horrendous and they have failed to respond to a both a letter of complaint and a telephone call. Now, the roof trim is delaminating from around the roof rack. Do not purchase a VW!

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  VW WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By fred - March 30 - 11:00 am

  I beg anyone reading this to please DO NOT ever buy a VW. This car has caused me so much stress. I will go as far as to say it has ruined my life. Buy this car if you want to cough up about $300- $600 every 3 months for repairs. NOTHING is cheap to fix. I have had this car for 5 years & have spent well over $5000 in repairs. You name it, Ive replaced it. Its in the shop AGAIN. I am done with this car. I dont care if I lose money I am going to buy a Toyota or Honda this week. I never thought a car could be such a nightmare. VW customer care was a joke so dont even bother trying to contact them about any problems you may have. They may be cute & fun but they are not reliable at all.

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  My Jetta Experiance - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By alysa - March 26 - 2:00 am

  I have had 2 Jettas now! I turned my first Jetta in after one year because it was in the shop so often. Always for something different, so I could not classify it as a lemon. My new Jetta (2003) has already been in the shop for faulty airbags. I find that scary, seeing how I drove the car for a full year before they realized the problem. I will never again purchase a VW. I will only recommend this car to people without children. The cars are cute but VW has some serious quirks to work out in their vehicles!

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  Lemon - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By unhappy Jetta owner - March 18 - 6:10 pm

  I bought a new 2004 Volkswagen Jetta. Within the year I brought it back three times expressing my concern regarding the transmission. They told me thats the way it drives. Brought it back a few more times they told me nothing is wrong. Brought is t back again and they wouldnt even document it and said thats just the way the German cars drive. 11 months after the warranty is up they were able to find a the problem with the transmission but it now will coast me 1,500 or more to fix. Anyone experiencing this type of problem should contact the National Highway and traffic department if enough people are having a problem maybe they will do something about it.

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  Very poorly built. - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Regretful - March 16 - 8:46 pm

  Ive had a 2000 GLS model for 2 years and the entire time, Ive constantly had trouble with it starting. Ive had to replace numerous sensors. The window tracking for the power windows has broken on the passengers side. The drivers window NEVER goes up completely on the first try, which has resulted in the switch breaking. It cost $40 to replace a headlight because VW built the car so that consumers are unable to change it themselves. Every time I take it to the dealership, I never come out spending less than $300. This car is made to keep your pockets empty. I believe corners were cut when building these cars to supply enough for the demand.

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  2010 Routon REL - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By no_more_vws - March 14 - 3:06 pm

  Bought a used (20k miles) one and its nothing but problems. Doesnt start all the time. New battery, new starter...wont start. While in gear and idleing forward it shakes the vehicle. At highway speed it surges like tranny slipping. Rear electric seat stopped working and its rarely used. Sliding door on passenger side makes a horrible noise when opening, was told its fine. Pulls to the right. 2 sets of tires in 40k miles. 3 alignments. I think this vehicle was wrecked and they didnt tell us. Bought one year old from dealer for $29k (less than book value) one year and 20k miles later its worth $19k??? WTF!! still owe $26k. Odyssey is next.

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  likely the best wheels ive ever owned - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By Chuck D - March 13 - 1:47 am

  I cant believe any reviews Im reading have bad things to say. I have NOTHING bad to say. I dont even know where to start. How about this: this car has been problem-free for almost 150,000 miles. I get a combined 44 mpg. 600 plus miles per tank full. Isnt that enough? There is a ton of storage room in the back, especially when you lay the seats down. Everything about the car feels very tight. The interior is put together nicely. The car is a pleasure to drive anywhere - up hills.. long drives etc. Ive replaced the battery ONE time and the rear latch gave out 5000 miles ago (total repair cost $200). This car has been a steal at around $25k. Im very sorry I have to give it back with the buy-back program... otherwise I would drive it til the wheels fall off. My german auto maintenance guy said these TDI engines can last you virtually forever if you care for them. Too bad well never know. So my wonderful car goes back to VW in about 60 days and I buy something I have no business owning: a corvette stingray. :)

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  STAY AWAY - 2012 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By - March 9 - 1:37 pm

  I purchased this vehicle about a month ago. Automatic Transmission. I commute 50 miles to work each way daily. I traded in a reliable and loved subaru for the TDI for fuel economy. BIG MISTAKE. It drives terribly. From the second day of ownership the car bucks terribly the first few miles of driving if it has sat for longer than a 4 hour period of time. Dealership says this is normal. Whiplash is not normal in a brand new car. Also, the fan stays on for extended periods of time after driving. Also told this was normal. Cooling is fine, but an hour for the fan to stay on? I dont buy it. My relationship with VW isnt off to a good start. I have a feeling I will be returning to Subaru, and soon!