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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  I wouldnt recommend wasting your money - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By junebug - September 21 - 10:20 am

  Ive had the worst experience with this poorly built car, um, jalopy. I too bought my car new in 2001. Since then Ive had to maintain this car for every reason under the sun. I should have known when the interior paint started to peel; an exterior signal light fell out of its socket; and a piece of my sunroof came apart within the first year of the purchase. I can also let you know Ive replaced all my tires; brake pads; and light bulbs! This car has German engineering, but it is built in Mexico! I expect the engine to quit in less than a year or so. My check engine light is always on, despite repairs. I learned my lesson, Im going back to Japanese cars. :)

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  Just junk. - 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
  By Rachel Tolar-Nixon - September 16 - 7:20 am

  This car has had many problems. Windows have mind of there own.You want them up the car wants them down. Had to go back to dealer many times to get if fixed. The a/c does not blow cool just cool. Dealer never fixed call VW and of course no help there. Guess VW just cant build a car with good a/c. Speakers and the tray in the hatch had to be replaced after they fell apart. The foam in the seats has been falling out since the car was new. We told them under warranty but of course you guessed it never replaced and again no help from the manufacturer. If you take the back seat out you can see where the floor of the car has burned the foam in the back seat. The car now needs a fuel pump at 800

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  Never Again - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By WAO - September 13 - 10:00 am

  at 30,000 coils went. They replaced one and waited for the others to fail for a recall which ever came first. 6 Headlight bulds in 3 years at 62000 miles Oil Pump at 72000 Engine needs to be replaced Never Again for a VW of any kind....

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  Sometimes lemons are black - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Cyndi - September 10 - 1:03 pm

  The lease on my 2004 Tourareg will expire in January, 2008. This is one vehicle I will have no qualms about turning in. Ive lost track of the number of times its required service and the hours lost from work. I should have done my homework before leasing it - I dont recall anything in the sales pitch about the astronomical cost of an oil change, the absurd price of wiper blades and I completely missed the part about it requiring premium gas. Live and learn. Unfortunately, I based this purchase on how much I have loved my 2000 Beetle which has been flawless in operation. Silly me. Perhaps if this car would have been yellow instead of black I would have spotted the lemon

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  Not satisfied - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By unhappy - August 25 - 12:23 am

  We got the 2004 passat with a special lease called the drivers option. Weve had the car for 4 years and averaged about 11,000 miles a year. There is very little room for your personal things such as a wallet, sun glasses, water, cds etc. The car must have had 8 recalls (seat heaters, fuel leaks etc.). The car spent about 6 weeks in repair shops and everything was under warranty but our lease is up and well NEVER buy another Volkswagen as long as we live. Now that the lease is up Volkswagen sent out their inspector to go over the car and charge us as much as possible for any scratch or nick they can find. Ive leased a lot of vehicles but Ive never been nit- picked like this. Beware!

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  Poor Quality - 2015 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Ron - August 21 - 7:09 am

  My 2015 Touareg has transmission issues, and issues with the Infotainment Center. I actually backed into a car because the backup camera shut off as I was backing up. Bluetooth quality is poor. Transmission does not shift well at lower speeds. My car has developed rattling noises that I cannot track down. I dont know what happened but VW seems to be cutting corners in the wrong areas. Quality Control is suffering. Dealership told me too bad. :(

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  UNRELIABLE - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By UNHAPPYINHOUST0N - August 11 - 10:00 am

  Sorry warranty....., Transmission engagement switch had to be replaced twice at my own expence, ABS brakes locked up in stop and go traffic, car felt like it was carring a load of bricks. had to replace brake booster after warranty expired,at $900 cost.

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  Noisy Interior - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dashboard noise - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Nice car, but the interior sounds like a "maracas"

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  Fancy looking cheap build - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By ArtVladi - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I think VW earned attention primarily because of fancy looks. The poerformance and build quality are mediocre compared to other vehicles. The interior and exterior scratches easily because of cheap materials used. The car is slow and consumes excessive amounts of premium fuel. It slows down very quickly like a farm tractor as soon as you release the acceleration.

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  Bad Quality - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jetta2002 - July 29 - 2:00 am

  This is the first VW I have ever purchased. I purchased this car 4 months ago and since Ive had to have it serviced twice. First, after 2 months, the car had no power, it couldnt even go 20 mph. Second, the passenger window wouldnt go up. I would caution anyone looking to purchase a new Jetta to be aware that you will run into these problems.