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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  Very Pleased with CC - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By ten_ugly - July 14 - 5:47 pm

  I have had my 2010 CC Sport for over 12 months and have been very pleased with it. It drives very similar to the Audis i have had in the past including an S4. It is not nearly as quick, but provides you with a very tight drive. If you are looking for a cushy ride this is not it. This is tight German sports car that has excellent steering feel. Gas mileage has been averaging 25 - 30 mpg with a 6 speed.

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  V8 T-Reg, - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Erik - July 14 - 2:03 am

  Great SUV, Most SUVs forget the "sport" and only remeber the U and the V. My T-Reg dosent disappoint in the pefomance dept, the only problem is that I am racing from gas station to gas station.

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  Mexico+Tequilla=1.8T - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By crabbykaiser - July 14 - 2:00 am

  The engine, suspension and transmission have been excellent. The brakes as well as the fit and finish have been a constant source of aggrevation. Although properly cared for the supposed quality BBS rims have been CRAP! Rattles in the speaker area, faulty rotors and rims that pit/clear coat failure make me a rather proturbed owner. After ditching a 99 Beetle for similar reasons, this one will follow shortly. My days with Volkswagen have come to an end.

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  Jetta Review - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jill Carter - July 12 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy driving my Jetta. The gas mileage is great, and the car is fun. The downside is the very small backseat and the super slow pickup.

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  lemon beetle - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By verna portugues - July 10 - 8:53 am

  I have spent over $8,000 trying to get my beetle to stop jerking without avail. Now I have to spend another 6,000 to replace the transmission. And I still owe on the car. the beetle is a pretty car but not worth the hassle.

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  Nice When it Runs - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lemon Holder - July 9 - 2:00 am

  Have owned the passat for less than a year and has been in the shop for 28 days. I didnt buy a new car to be in the shop all year. Typical problems coils fail, esp. in cold weather. Power relay also failed. Various engine alarms need to be reset. All parts are typically on back-order and take 2 weeks to get. Will invoke Wisconsin lemon law soon and attempt to get refund.

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  It figures - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By BobbyC - July 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car brand new in 00 The reviews were consistant. This car is a winner. At 26k the cd changer failed ($500). At 39k I need a complete brake overhaul ($700). At 79k the emission light came on and the dealer reset it. At 87k the light came on again and the dealer told me because of cheap gas my converters went bad. I Use premium, get 24 mpg. Like I going to spend 3K on new cats. Federal law mandates that cat s be warranted for 80k (HUM). At 91k the water pump went. At 92k Right side valve cover leaking. 97k same problem at 102k the right side head gasket blew. Last week at 102k the oil leaked on the cats, the car went up in flames!

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  Touareg Troubles - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By chris caranci - July 7 - 8:56 am

  Ive been reading about all the Touareg troubles and hope that I dont encounter these problems in the future. I have only 10,000 miles on mine and have only expeirenced trouble with the tire pressure systems false readings and mis-aimed headlights which I had to fix myself. The excessive tire wear is a common problem with all T-regs and Cayennes due to their weight of 5,200+lbs. The same goes for the brakes on both vehicles. The electrical problems are hit and miss. Ill be curious to see if the new Q7 will have any of these same problems? Good luck!

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  The US needs more diesels like this - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rickallen - July 4 - 12:13 pm

  I bought this car as a replacement for a hybrid that just didnt cut it for me. The VW makes up for all of the performance and comfort trade-offs of a hybrid but with little penalty to the MPGs. I actually average about the same or better with diesel than I did with the hybrid - about 39 mpg over the life. Acceleration of the line makes passing slowpokes easy and squirting in and out of stop and go traffic is a breeze since it gives you "right now" torque. My only disappointments have been some annoying rattles, an audio system that gives me headaches, and no aux in if you have the ipod adapter. Other than that, I cant complain. I think Im spoiled for anything but diesel.

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  Never again - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sandra - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Since I bought my new 97 Jetta, ive had three oil leaks, replaced water pump, radiator, strut mounts/struts, Secondary Air Valve, wiper mechinaism, tires, washer fluid sprayer, engine light comes on, leak detection pump, fog light (which you cant replace yourself), antenna mast, starter, muffler, all belts, trunk lid alignment, tail light and ignition lock modifing. Customer support was rude and unhelpful, now ask me if I would buy another Volkswagon.