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 car - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vw4life - March 31 - 6:00 am

  A great car... The 2.0 liter engine could do with more horses though...the styling is great and handling is superb !!! I have not had any major complaints about the car (the cup holder did break in winter)No electrical problems...no engine problems. the stock tires were horrible (goodyear) replaced them at 36K miles (antenna was stolen once.. I have 45K miles on it now and I still love driving the car... wish I had gone for the vr6... waiting for the 2003 vr6

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  Volkswagen is a poor Quality Car - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By girlie*girl - March 30 - 10:36 pm

  let me just say that I only thought I wanted a bug :0( it was one of the worst things I have ever done in buying that car. it has noises in the cabin that is so irritating! and the cup holders are NOT convenient.. and The Transmission is a major problem !! and almost everyone that has one has problems with the transmission, volkswagen needs to fix this now!! and recall them because of the transmissions!!!!!

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  Good car, high operating costs - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By christauph - March 30 - 6:36 am

  Almost to 15k miles, awesome handling, awesome braking, decent acceleration (its a heavy car). The clutch and shifter feel great. Overall my experience with this car has been good, but a few build quality issues have arisen. The sheet metal seems to ding easily, I tend to park carefully but have received a disproportionate number of dings in the past year. Rattle started coming from the center HVAC stack at about 8k miles, dealer fixed. The plug for the spare tire compartment came loose and I had standing water , but luckily no rust, dealer replaced. Rear windshield sprayer is cheap, popped off once, dealer replaced. Routine service is EXPENSIVE (syn oil), and difficult to do yourself.

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  Nice alternative to Accord/Camry/Altima - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Smitty - March 30 - 4:43 am

  I needed a car that could be driven a lot, so I was looking for a car that got 30+ MPG on the highway. Most of the cars on the list ended up being gutless econoboxes that were like appliances to drive and had bare-bones interiors with cheap, hard plastics. The Jetta TDI was on the list and was fine to drive, but when I was able to get a CC for a lower monthly payment, that made it a surprising possibility. It feels like a luxury car, and I look forward to driving it. Fuel mileage has been surprisingly good. If you care enough to be reading this review, do yourself a favor and actually drive one.

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  My GTI Back in Black - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Lollybug - March 30 - 1:00 am

  Since I was a teenager I drove an 84 VW Scirocco. Later in life, for work related reasons I needed a 4X4 so I got a Liberty (mistake!) and parked my VW for restoration. Ive missed it ever since. Nothing drives like a VW and never more has this been true than with their new 2007 GTI. In the short time Ive had it, its earned the title of "Car of the Year" to me. Performance is top-notch, the styling and interior is beautiful; it has the feel of a much more expensive auto. Its solid on the road and sticks to it when taking corners. You feel safe, secure, and you know youre getting value for your money. The 2007 GTI gets fabulous gas mileage and has actually brought fun back to the daily commute.

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  Fun, Comfortable, and Economical - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By chris - March 29 - 9:06 pm

  Ive got 145,000 miles on the car and have had to spend a fair amount of money on service. Ive replaced the glow plugs and had the intake manifold cleaned when it plugged with carbon. Ive also replaced the airflow sensor twice. So it hasnt been trouble-free, but its within acceptable limits. The cost of ownership is about what you would have with a trouble free car getting about 35 mpg, but Id still buy it again. I love the way it drives and the torque of the TDI engine. It sure doesnt drive like a 44-49 mpg car! It pulls like a big V6 up to about 3,000 rpm. It is great for a sole commuter or a traveling couple.

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  Loads of Fun - Great Value - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Old&Crazy - March 29 - 3:46 pm

  My Eos is optioned with the sports package, 18 inch wheels/Pirelli P-6s and 6 speed auto. It is great fun to drive. The cabin is quiet with the top up or down. It feels a bit quicker than the stated 0-60 times. It has a nice punch above 40 mph. It also has a nice balance between handling and ride. The handling dynamics are good enough to make the car fun, but not equal to BMW as some other reviewers have written. The engine/transmission set-up very responsive. The leather sports seats are well bolstered and very comfortable. I am taller and larger than average guy and the interior is very comfortable. I also looked at Volvo C70 and the VW is more fun and about $8,000 less expensive when optioned out. The Eos is a great car, great value, and loads of fun to drive.

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  Warning: TDI fuel pump - 2013 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By badtux - March 28 - 3:40 am

  Volkswagen specifically states that putting biodiesel in your tank will void your warranty and many people have had their vehicles fail. Unfortunately B10 or B20 (10% or 20% biodiesel) is all thats available in several midwestern states. Be forewarned -- filling your VW up with diesel can kill it.

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  3rd Diesel/7th VW - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By TDIBabs - March 27 - 10:00 am

  This is the 3rd Diesel in our family (also had a Rabbit and currently an 18- year old Jetta that still runs fine). I picked up my TDI the other day and so far have been very impressed. It doesnt have the same zoom as my Subie, but since its mostly for city traffic, its perfect. It may be the best commuter/city driving car ever--maybe thats why its so popular in Europe. BTW, they seem to have revised the cupholder placement on the later 2003s, or maybe its because mine has Monsoon. Theyre down between the seats, and can even hold Big Gulps.

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  Good Car I like it - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ger - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Bought my car for 3000 less than sticker at a tent sale. I got a good deal for the money I spent. Good Points -- Performance, no Maintenance (only scheduled) in 30000 miles, handling is great and has good gas mileage. Bad Points -- the cloth on the seats is horrible ( they need to rethink this)