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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  BEWARE BAD BRAKE DESIGN & PERFORMANCE - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By pjce - February 1 - 2:00 am

  The 02 Passats have a significant brake problem. My car is 2 years old this month with 22,000 miles and I have been informed that I need new rear brakes! Because of the design, BOTH PADS AND ROTORS MUST BE REPLACED! The rotors cannot be "machined" so they must be replaced when the pads wear, AT A COST OF $700! I have been told by the dealer and VW customer service that this is considered NORMAL WEAR. I have owned many other makes and models of cars and have never had to replace brakes at 22k miles. Worst of all, this will be a recurrent problem every 2 or so years.

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  STOP LOOKING FOR ANOTHER CAR - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dustin 007 - February 1 - 2:00 am

  I actually have had a number of minor problems with my car.....where do I begin. Front bumber paint peeling. Gas cap did not close. Replaced windshield. 3 burnt out headlights. Faulty trim on drivers door at bottom. Bump in dash, replaced entire dash.Ummmm......what else...replaced window trim on rear passenger window. So why do I love my car? Well its said that Volkswagon owners (many of them) dont mind the problems because the trade off (for me anyway) is pure driving pleasure for the price. If you really love to drive and feel good when you drive then you cant go wrong. Want more info one on one or advice write to me. Hatstoyou@videotron.ca Afridezaing.

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  RECALL - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By williamtwo - February 1 - 2:00 am

  I love this car until it starting sputtering and would not start after warmed up. VW flew tech in from Auburn Hills, and could not figure out how to fix it. They said it was computer "mapping" problem. Engine would stall and sputter, then die. FInally, VW repurchased the car from me with 5500 miles on it after 4 months of headache.

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  euro van - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By jm nelms - February 1 - 2:00 am

  this is my second mv.Own the first one 10 years. the new motor is much better and the exterior is good looking.

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  Great german car - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By magz - February 1 - 2:00 am

  The redesigned exterior though very subtle just adds a classic touch to the car and makes it different enough from previous years that you want to get the 2004 and not take advantage of the 2003 clearance sales. I have driven close to 600 miles with the first tank and was blown away by the smoothness of the engine (its hard to tell it is a diesel!)and also impressed by the engines torque... German styling,german drive,german look and feel at a very affordable price.If you want to have the best of both worlds and get a great car with an incredible fuel economy,there is no other choice like it!!!Go get one now!

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  This car rocks! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By El Guapo - February 1 - 2:00 am

  Just got the new Lifestyle package in Blue Lagoon. The blue and black leather seats are awesome and the turbo eats up these hills in Austin. Owner of a 1972 beetle and it is amazing how far these cars have come.

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  I love it! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By bugsy - February 1 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Volkswagen and I am so glad I bought a bug. A yellow one at that. Everyone says it is so perfect for me and it is so much fun to drive.

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  I would never buy another VW - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By TJS - January 31 - 1:50 pm

  We purchased our Passat wagon in May of 02 and when we hit about 50,000 miles we had nothing but trouble. The ABS module went ($1050 part) the oil pump went due to sludge from the turbo engine which also caused other problems...another huge expense. Neither the dealer nor VW of America would assist us in resolving the issues with this vehicle. They have the worst consumer service I have encountered. Since getting these repairs I have learned that these vehicles have many more problems and that there have been numerous complaints made and VW still will not put a recall out for these makes and correct the major electrical flaw. I will never purchase a VW again!

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  obvious VW cheaped out on lots of things - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By indy photog - January 31 - 1:46 pm

  When it works, its great. Problem is, there are always small things going wrong. Car is well cared for with regular Mx as per the service manual. Electrical issues have been the worst...no history of flood damage or anything similar. Have been through three brake lights and two crunched driver side windows (all pre recall of course, good luck getting $ back from VW). Wheel bearing replaced, airbag light permanently on, trunk latch issues, and now...the car wont reverse. All sorts of other little annoying things too numerous to mention.

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  Keep the Good times rolling! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dave B - January 29 - 5:36 am

  Had some initial problems with minor emissions and secondary systems but dealer took care of it. Probably due to previous owner nut using 91 octane and keeping up service records. Enigne runs excellent and very smooth power. Ride is solid and very comfortable for long trips.