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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  Stay away from this dump - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kimball - October 27 - 10:00 am

  Bought car because of it standard features -The following has been done to the car in 40000 miles of driving--1. brakes replaced at 22000 miles 2. seats broke 3. epc light replaced 4. tires replaced twice 5. oil usage 1 quart every month 6. Brakes locked up. 7. Will not release from Park 8. Emission contol light triggers every month. 9. Stay away from this car.

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  I love my Jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By KCrabtree - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I too researched the new cars and I was sold when I drove the Jetta. I love it more and more each time I drive it. My husband was impressed with the interior, since he is a large man, he fits in it nicely.

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  GLI VR6 is the Way to Fly!--No Regrets!! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jettix2 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  Having previously owned a 2000 BMW 328i, 02 WRX, and 98 Audi A4, I wanted a sedan that had a sporting feel, was powerful, well-built, and had that "German feel" without the huge repair and maintainance costs associated with owning a BMW or Audi. The Jetta GLI VR6 feels and drives like a 95% BMW or Audi at half of the price. Jetta GLI is a perfectly rounded package......

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  love my jetta - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kimberly dunn - October 27 - 1:58 am

  No problems so far except headlamp keeps going out. But as far as performance no prob. 5star

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  One of my favorites - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By wg_h66 - October 26 - 5:10 pm

  Purchased mine used 07. Overall a very fun and satisfying car to own. The fuel efficiency really wasnt that great and it is premium only, so it can be expensive. The only issue I had with it was due to the cabin pollen filter not being maintained properly. Two days of heavy rain and the passenger side floor was filled causing computer damage. (I had no idea going in that this was an issue). If you are reading these reviews before purchase then you will have a very dependable car.

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  VW Phaeton- Lux Lux Lux** - 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By clrevitup - October 26 - 4:30 pm

  I did a lot of research and compared the Phaeton to the Mercedes-Benz CLS- / S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Lexus 430 and Audi A8u, and have to say that the Phaeton won - hands down. What a great car to drive. You combine the fact that it is " hand " built on a Bentley Continental Chassis; and that they used only the finest leather, wood, chrome and talk about features! The car can either be your "Limo" ride or in a quick shift, can become as sporty as any luxury sportscar. It is fun to drive in any of 3 shift modes / 4 suspension settings / 3 ride heights - etc. It provides the most bang for the buck and hey - its not seen on every corner. It is the epitome of quality and style. If your confidence needs the "Lexus / Benz / BMW label - go and spend more to get less!

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  Peppy Passat - 2016 Volkswagen Passat
  By Betsy Money - October 26 - 8:47 am

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  Ignition Start Wont start - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Watushi Nakamura - October 26 - 1:06 am

  The ignition start, sometimes wont start or sometimes u have to apply gas pedal to help the engine to start. not like honda & toyota easy to start. too bad for a brand new jetta Be careful when buying this car u need to try to start the engine otherwise u wont notice the problem. too noisy engine even though its brand new

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  repair bills 3 inches thick shameful - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ryan - October 25 - 7:06 pm

  This car is a joy to drive when the check engine light is not on. It has Great hwy mileage. As for the down side I paid 6700 for the car a year ago in very good shape still looks great but have replace over 3000 dollars worth of crap on the car in 5 different visits to the dealership. I got a stack of papers from the previous owners of every service visit and oil change so i thought i would be ok. I was wrong regardless of how well you take care of this car is just a nightmare in random repair bills.

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  Pocket Rocket!!!!!! - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By karma72 - October 25 - 10:00 am

  This car is a blast to drive. I have had it for 22 months now and I still can not wait to drive it at any chance I get. Great acceleration and handling. Extermely quiet interior too. This car drives and feels like it should cost alot more! The only problem I have had with this car is the power window mechinism in both windows have gone out twice. My dealer has handled this repair at no cost to me even with it being out of warranty.