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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  Disappointed - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Derek Glaaser - July 2 - 10:46 am

  I have had numerous engine and structural difficulties with the Passat, from engine malfunction and brake pumps failure on several occasions, to doors and windows not working electronically, or doors not closing. Engine failure has been the primary problem, although the design of the shield to prevent water from leaking into and accumulating in the space between the body and the engine has also been a major issue. There have also been many factory recalls on components beyond those that have malfunctioned on my car. VW responsiveness at the corporate level has been unsatisfactory.

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  Piece of junk, Im going to trade this... - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By SlyGuy - July 2 - 2:00 am

  My car has 12,000 miles and its sad its been in the shop 5 times 22,000 dollar car gti 1.8t fully loaded all the packages. Window fell in door, coil packs went(ignition), door seals leaked, monsoon radio stopped working, seats made cheap noises, and now its going back again for a loud tapping noise when its started. My tip dont buy one!!!!!!!!!! been in the shop 2 out of 6 months!!!!

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  The Good, Bad and Ugly - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cgwcolorado - June 30 - 4:26 am

  My car now has 165,000 miles and is slowly hitting the hay. When the car works its an amazing car. Unfortunately, when one thing goes wrong you better expect to be making regular appointments with your mechanic for a little while. I have serious electrical problems, door lock problems, the ABS is out, the cruise control went out, only one windshield spray nozzle works, belts, lights, side molding, clutch, pumps, catalytic converter, hoses and transmissions galore. I love my Jetta to death but she hates the cold and the heat and is the end result of all my money!

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  Not Reliable/Poor Service - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Not Reliable - June 29 - 9:46 am

  I like the way the car drive and the interior design. I have had to take the car in for service over 15 times for problems in less than 3 years. On multiple occasions I had to return to the dealer because they didnt have necessary parts and needed to order overseas. This problem has occurred at multiple dealerships

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  poor long term value - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By justin - June 24 - 10:43 am

  This car falls apart after 40,000. It has a terrible electrical system. But it is definitely fun to drive! It is very expensive to fix!

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  DSG Nightmare - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By awd_turbo - June 16 - 7:34 am

  17,000 miles now, and going in for the fifth time in an attempt to fix the severe hesitation from a complete stop. The rest of the car is great, but the way the transmission works drives me crazy and ruins the whole experience. Its potentially a very dangerous issue if it decides to act up when pulling out into traffic.

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  2001 VW Jetta - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By J. Cooper - June 15 - 8:46 am

  I have had nothing but problems with electrical system, recalls, clutch problems and general unpredictability in what might go wrong next! I definitely wouldnt buy another VW after the problems Ive encountered with this model.

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  Great to drive not so good on quality - 2013 Volkswagen GTI
  By raleigh79 - June 13 - 7:06 pm

  I have owned my GTI for 3 years and it has been a pleasure to drive, grips the road beautifully and is very comfortable on long trips. The interior materials, fit and finish are excellent. However, Im starting to seriously doubt the quality of this car. At 13K miles the cooling pump failed, it was quickly fixed under warranty. In the last month, at 30K miles (mostly highway), my clutch completely failed and was replaced under warranty. I have been driving manual transmissions for the past 20 years and have never had one fail on me, clearly a manufacturing failure. To top it off, last week the cooling pump failed again!!! My dealer charges $750.00 to replace the cooling pump, fortunately it is still under warranty, but an expense likely to be incurred in the future. I have mixed feelings on recommending the GTI. If you can overlook the maintenance and having the car at the shop often, the GTI is an great driving experience. But, if you are looking for something reliable, there are probably better options out there. I will likely trade it for something else.

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  Never a VW, Audi, or Porche again!! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sad Owner - June 12 - 8:40 am

  Beautiful car. Fun to drive. In the shop 20 times more than our Honda! Ignition coils, light bulbs... over and over again... broken seal that let the back passenger footwell flood every time it rained. The dealership wouldnt fix the seal under the warranty b/c it was a wind or water leak!!! (Leaks through faulty seals apparently arent covered) AVOID VWs if you dont want the headaches!!

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  Worst Car Ever!! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By jwalker - June 9 - 11:03 pm

  This car has had issues from the day I purchased it brand new. Pieces fall off. 1st week, bottom of dash fell to the floor. Door handle flew off on freeway- VW fixed 3x, now door handle sticks. Check engine light ALWAYS on. VW says light covers numerous items. So numerous, in fact, that if you take the car in to fix an "extended warranty", they require you to fix all other supposed "problems" before theyll fix item under warranty so they can get $. Lights (interior/outer) go out frequently. Stuck in park twice. Starter fixed twice. Burns oil like mad. Sounds like a lawn mower. Catalytic Converter issues. VW fixes - problem happens again. Spend more time on tow truck/in service than on road