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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  67000+ and counting - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By applehead - March 13 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my 2000 Golf GL TDI 5 speed new in March, 2000. The odometer now shows 67k+ miles, 2/3 at 65+ mph. The only service has been routine oil changes every 10k, using fully synthetic oil. No problems of any sort, and I still average 50 mpg. This car does everything well; very good acceleration and handling, excellent cargo capacity, a plethora of safety features. The overall performance is so good, when I first test drove a TDI, I asked the salesman if he was sure it was a diesel! Farfignugen works!

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  Its the Little Things that Get You - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By joblow - March 13 - 10:00 am

  Pluses: Great seats, fun to drive,.... Minuses: The recalls, ie. O2 sensor issue. the green-ooze that drips out of door onto frame and then your pant-leg in hot weather, steering wheel in hot weather creaks.... Rear-Tail lights tend to go out often The minuses are starting to pile up.... This could be a great car, but right now the little things are driving me crazy....

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  Love/hate relationship - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TK - March 13 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Jetta. I have replaced the water pump, power steering pump (all under warranty), ignition coil and wires (cost $400!). At this point, I only have 30,000 miles on the car and I worry that it will turn into a major nightmare. I have a current problem with a very rough idle and start, but the dealer says there is nothing wrong with it. I love the design, handling and performance, but I am disapointed with the quality. My cupholders, and armrest have all broken and been fixed. My back seat cupoholder is now broken again. My other problem with the car is that it squeaks and rattles a lot....good thing for the nice monsoon stereo.

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  Best Car I have Ever Had - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Kev30 - March 13 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 02 Passat about 3 months ago and I am loving every minute of it. I have owned several cars in the last decade, but nothing even comes close to the ride and build quality of this amazing car. After I bought those cars in the past, I would grow melancholy with my purchase in just a few months, but not with this one, I still get out and look back as I am walking away. My only regret is that I did not get the leather (please do yourself a favor and get it). My suggestion to Toyota and Honda is to take a trip to Germany and see how these guys do it.

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  vroom!!! vroom!!! - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By babs johnson - March 13 - 2:00 am

  this thing flies. i just sold my saab 900 turbo and this thing gets just as much zip for half the cash. handles well with a nice interior. but for a "hatch back" it could use a lot more trunk space. also its 2002 could we please make it standard to have a cd player. im finding along with other vw owners that the stock batteries die early. mine died twice during the test drive!

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  Jetta TDI - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Joe Martinez - March 13 - 2:00 am

  Awosme car

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  Smooth and reliable - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By hiwaysanity - March 13 - 2:00 am

  In the past 2 years the car has performed nearly flawlessly. The only warranty issues were a broken rear seat belt guide, and a dissembled rear ashtray. It starts and runs willingly, accelerates energetically and handles predictably and securely. On the highway it cruises very smoothly, and has exceeded 30 mpg on several occasions. The cruise control is the most accurate I have ever used.

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  Rattle and HUMMMM - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Brad M. - March 13 - 2:00 am

  Overall this is a very well designed and built car. For the money it feels and drives like a more expensive car. However, my car suffered from door rattles over bumps which the dealer was able to fix after two attempts. WIND NOISE is a problem the dealer has not been able to fix. The drivers door does not seal properly agains the frame of the car causing excessive wind noise above 50 mph. Also, the dashboard is not properly aligned between the doors resulting in a considerable gap between the drivers door and the dash. CHECK FOR THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS BEFORE BUYING.

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  Just what I ecpected - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jose - March 13 - 2:00 am

  The tdi Jetta is just what I expected,a well built car with an impressive diesel engine.I like the ergonomics inside overall.Since the begenning You feel you are driving a german design car for which you dont have to pay big bucks.Defenetely is a great example of european 4 door sedans with the right options a that special look.

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  Fun Car to expensive - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ant - March 13 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car in 01 but the 02 were out so I got a deal on it. Its fun to drive handlkes great but the interior catches evcery piece of lint, cup holders suck, the radios rear speakers seem to have a problem; brought them back twice dealership cant figure it out, and two days off the lot i had to bring it back they replaced all the brake pads. VW makes a decent car but they charge for a great car. Either they need to lower the cost or increase quality.