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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  Not Particularly Happy - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By chris love - December 8 - 7:16 am

  Today I sit in the service department for approximately the 10th time in 2 years for yet another repair that has nothing to do with regularly scheduled maintenance. I purchased a new car to avoid this type of situation. Its a cutie, but it has ultimately been a disappointment as far as quality, especially electrical components. I am trading it in for a more boring but infinitely more reliable Japanese model after today. If you have a lot of time on your hands to spend in service dept waiting rooms this is the car for you! good luck...youve been warned!

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  Total Electrical Failure! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By RPD - December 8 - 4:56 am

  I purchased an off-lease VW Touareg that was VW certified, drove well for 1 year then electrical problems started. Truck would just die without any lights, etc being on. Since then it has been in and out of Volkswagen for complete electrical failure, even VW doesnt know how to fix it. They claimed it was after-market wiring which is strange because it was a certified used VW. Anyone looking to buy a used Touareg dont do it you will never be able to drive it and pay almost more than the car is worth fixing it!

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  im buying GTIs for my whole life. - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By nj_vw_punk - December 7 - 10:00 am

  Ill make this short. This is the best all-around car you will find. The car is fun as hell to drive, looks good, is practical (as most hatchbacks are), is designed intelligently (for the most part) and the build quality is great. you wont get this much car for this little money anywhere else. forget what you think you should be driving (especially inefficient SUVs), and go to a dealer and take a test drive. Power is more than sufficient. Handling is good for all but the most performance minded. My only complaint is that some dealers are genuine jerks. Reydel VW in Edison NJ is quite good.

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  coil packs and windows regulators??????? - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By sil - December 7 - 10:00 am

  great car

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  VW Stands for Virtual Wreck - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By PenelopePeach - December 7 - 10:00 am

  Many things have been fixed or replaced on this car & only 1/3 was covered under their "warranty". Here are a few of the major things: the speed sensor 2x, throttle body & adjoining parts, the engine fan & its "computer", the battery exploded-it & took 2 hours to maneuver it out of the awkwardly mounted box, the transmission has had several repairs & the engine light has been reset a few times by the dealer when it comes on for NO reason. Ive had 2 recalls, 1 for the seatbelt & 1 for the oxygen sensor. Not to mention all of the little gadgets awaiting repair. This car is just your old- fashioned,plain and simple LEMON and I know Im not the only one!

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  Knockout at 18900 - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By coastie - December 7 - 10:00 am

  Wow! Having driven Japanese econo boxes for the last 7 years, I am quite impressed with the Bug 1.8T. I was on a shake down cruise to Reno and paced an Audi A4 all the way over the mountains on I80. It seemed that this car was not going to unwind or unstick from the road!

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  Not so excellent after 14 months. - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By magician2166 - December 7 - 2:39 am

  This is an update after owning GTI for 14 months. The car has a bad wind noise, which VW can not fix due to its design. Low-profile tires provide terrible ride and are easily destroyed over regular road imperfections. No potholes, replaced 2 already. Highway mileage is very mediocre due to the low ratio 6th. gear, which results in a constant high RPM. Interior panels rattle. Turbo lag is severe if A/C compressor is on. Engine consumes oil (1 qt. every 5000 miles). VW customer service is left to be desired. Headlights are alwauys dirty due to lack of the headlight wahers. Navigation screen is extremely small and very hard to see. Navigation system features are extremely limited.

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  Having Fun Yet? You Bet! - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By valynda - December 6 - 8:26 am

  We purchased the V8 Touareg as a replacement vehicle. I had previously owned a 2003 Pathfinder LE and found it to be a nice balance of sport and luxury. At first glance, I thought the Touareg was a little over the top, with all its fancy bells and whistles, but my husband convinced me to give it a try and I have been more than pleased. I have already taken it on two lengthy road trips and found it surprisingly pleasant to drive long distances. Its fuel economy is severely lacking, but the driving experience is worth it if youre not hung up on the high price of gas these days. I highly recommend the air suspension, if only to make your kids go "Oooooh!" and "Aaaaaah!!" Its great off road, too!

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  Great Truck with Bad Acceleration - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By noodlezz - December 5 - 6:10 pm

  Overall, Im very happy with this SUV. I get a lot of compliments on it and it drives beautifully. I do wish I had gotten a V8 (pun intended!) as the acceleration of the V6 model is poor. There have been a few issues with the transmission where, at low speeds, it will knock. Ive also experienced a few weird electric issues, such as the radio ate my CD and the speakers make a popping sound when I arm and disarm the alarm.

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  Oh So Bad - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By butafly00 - December 5 - 11:33 am

  Major things broken : ABS-$500+,Throttle body $350,A/C $800,Oxygen sensor $500, ALL fuel lines and pump $750. Finally after only 3 years and no accidents I was told the car is "irrepairable" Minor things: hubcaps replaced 3x cause they just fall off, window fell into door,car stuck in park and had to be towed Annoyances: Cloth seats will NEVER look clean cause felt like material keeps all lint for life. Gas milage is poor in my opinion for a sedan. Things inside the car are always breaking, like the glove box, cup holders, cloth on ceiling.