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 love it! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By JetsetTX - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Love it! Nissan tried to copy the Passat and failed. Drove the Mazda6 , a nice car, and the Passat before choosing the VW. The 6 is nice, the Passat is much more well equipped than the Mazda 6i. I wanted ABS, not standard on the Mazda. Cant get it without every package, which adds over $4000 to the cost. VW introduced the GL, I drove it and decided this is the car I wanted. The car the others failed trying to copy. Its fun, roomy, gets great gas mileage. Better interior than the Altima, Mazda, and Accord. The best car in its class.

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  Love it - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Denverw8 - November 23 - 2:43 am

  I bought this car used after my 328xi was stolen. I was somewhat pressured into it and cant say I regret it. I drive in Denver and the mtns. I have been impressed by the smoothness and comfort of the car. It feels every bit as well built as my old 3 series. At 100+mph in the mtns, it feels as solid as any other German car I have owned. The 4 motion with snow tires is perfectly fine even in 14 inches of new snow yesterday. After 62000, I have not experienced any issues at all. I am frequently complemented on how nice it looks with the BBS rims and love the relative stealthiness of this car. I may never own a V6 again. I just added a new Kenwood nav/stereo/bluetooth...A+

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  Sweet Jetta - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Zack - November 21 - 8:51 am

  So much fun. So sporty. Looks like an Audi. Much more affordable. Fun to drive.

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  Little Things... - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Ladys Bug - November 21 - 6:16 am

  I bought my 99 Beetle with 38,000 miles on it. It now has 52,000 miles. It is pretty good overall, despite the little "Mickey Mouse" problems that most bug owners complain about (cup holders, visors, etc.). The cloth seats do stain easily. The plastic does melt and scratch/break easily. The lights are iffy, however they are not as hard to replace as most think. Get a Haynes Repair manual (about $12 at any auto shop). My cars headlight was replaced in 10 minutes and for only $3 (the cost of the bulb). Everything seems to be working fine except for the CD player which is located in the trunk and a leak in my a.c. evaporator. The shop quoted me about $2,000 to fix it. I said "no thanks" and just added freon. Its good for now until it all leaks out again, in which case i will add more freon.

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  Great Car To Drive - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By aom1 - November 20 - 8:33 am

  I got the 4 door hatchback with the base 2.5 engine. Like most VWs this is a drivers car. Its still built in Germany. Great feel on the road, very comfortable seats and a sophisticated feeling suspension. Very little road/wind noise. I have been getting around 27 mpg with mostly hwy driving. This powertrain has enough pep for my needs while still using regular gas. Theres lots of room with the seats folded down. VW still has great lease rates if you can negotiate.

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  Front-end Alignment - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Tim - November 20 - 12:56 am

  Purchased 11/04 & have 3500 miles. It has been back to the dealer 4 times and they said they cannot fix the problem of it pulling to the right. Volkswagen will not back it up & says it is "fixed to their specifications". This is the absolutely the worst buying experience I have ever had. I would not recommend the vehicle or any Volkswagen.

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  QUICK AND FUEL EFFICIENT...but DSG confused. - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By dankocke - November 20 - 12:16 am

  I traded a 2011 Optima Turbo and dont miss the 270hp at all. The diesel torque is Fantasitic for spirited driving. My mileage has been around 39 mpg with A/C. The trip computer is off by as much as 4 mpg. I have 2000 miles on it and filled up 5 times. Only Issue: DSG can make your passengers feel ill because it is Jerky/seems confused when you first start out. Make sure to have all people in the car for test drive. Otherwise, the car has plenty of space for 2 adults and 2 kids. Backseat has actually more legroom than you realize by looking at it.... the footwells in the front are so deep you can easily move the seats up and still have room for the folks up front and back.

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  Needs more HP - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By KRUZNBY - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I had previously owned a 85 Jetta. I loved that car so I thought I would get another Jetta. The interior layout and style is great as well. The major problem I had with this car is the lack of power. Even with a 5 speed, it seemed to take forever to get it moving. Dont even think of shifting at 3K RPMs, wait it out until 4K and you will be a bit happier. The other problems I had in the 2 years I owned it: 2 window motor controllers failed, factory volume knob does not respond properly, and a desperately needed tune up. When it would rain or just plain humid, the car would miss a lot. I had to replace the cap/rotor, plugs and wires ($400).

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  Fun Car...with lots of problems. - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ytaK - November 19 - 10:00 am

  The VW Beetle is, without a doubt, a fun car to look at and drive. I love seeing the smiles on other peoples faces as I drive by. Thats not the only reason to drive a car, though. Just six days after buying this car, I stalled out in a parking lot. After 3 days of arguing with the manager of my dealership and the service department, they finally figured out that the air flow meter was nonfunctioning. Both power window switches broke within 6 months. The cap to the parking brake fell off just a few months ago. The A/C doesnt run cool enough, and makes a loud squeaking noise, which no one can seem to correct. This poor car is falling apart piece by piece.

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  Awesome - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Some dude in Louisia - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I love this car its the best car i have had in a long time. I love the gas mileage and everything about it.