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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  "Drivers wanted" --Mechanic Required - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Michael Grollman - July 4 - 10:00 am

  It has been a fabulous car to drive. After two years electronic systems started to go haywire. Service and Customer service are non-responsive and for the most part non-existant. Repair costs are obviously inflated. Great car, but will never buy VW again because of service nightmares from day 1.

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  I love my convertible - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By CK - July 1 - 4:46 am

  Looking for a fun car thats sure to get peoples heads turning? The Volkswagen new beetle convertible is it! This is the best car Ive ever owned. It is reliable, sturdy, gets great gas mileage. Ive had no problems with it. I would highly recommend this car! If youre thinking you see a bunch of bad reviews--try it for yourself, it may surprise you with how great it is. Thats what I did, and it was the best choice. Good job Volkswagen!

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  new to me cpo passat 2.5 s - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By tunisjs - July 1 - 12:14 am

  i traded my cpo benz glk for a passat s. i wanted german driving at lower cost. i found it. i tested automatics jetta and passat, 2.5, 1.8 and diesel. the 1.8 really livens up the jetta, passat not so much. diesel with dsg is sluggish in town and costly at 40k service. i was most pleasantly surprised by the passat 2.5. not alot of driving difference with passat 1.8, $4k cheaper (both cpo), 2.5 online reputation is bullet proof while 1.8 is too new, i prefer cloth to fake leather seats. my 2.5 gave me 27mpg suburban dc area and 38mpg i95 and i64 dc to va bch, at or just above speed limits, hand calculated, almost unbelievable. my advice: try the passat in 2.5, great cpo deals now.

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  the wheels havent fallen off yet. - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By rakiura - June 28 - 6:05 pm

  Fun to drive on the twisties. Not Mini Cooper S fun, but good enough for a wagon. MPG so far is in the 40s. Has adequate power in the mountains , and plenty of power for passing and merging into highway traffic. It was hard to keep the RPMs low during the 1000 mi break in period.

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  Funnest car Ive owned - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By not all bad reviews - June 26 - 12:03 pm

  Bought it in 04 with 20,000 miles and now have 145,000 miles on it. Had to replace the coils and brake light switch. Had my own mechanic do the work and got reimbursed most$ because of recalls. Fun to drive. Had a water issue but fixed it myself. If I had mechanic fix it would have gotten reimbursed due to recall. Only issue I have is the headlights are wired backwards so the main lights are on all the time. Also have a heated seat issue but beyond that I love the car. Parts are pricey and the dealers dont have a clue. But have not had the issues these posters have had. Anyone whos borrowed my car liked driving it.

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  The Seats are TERRIBLE - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Scott - June 25 - 1:40 pm

  I bought this car for a commuter vehicle and it serves this purpose wonderfully as far as an economical and fun car to drive. However, it is the most uncomfortable vehicle I have ever sat in. I am 63", 210 pounds. The seats are designed for someone in the 50" 120 pound frame size. I am so displeased with the seat comfort that I am taking the vehicle to a custom seat builder for relief.

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  Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By nbdpete - June 22 - 10:00 am

  The basic vehicle is well engineered, but the creature conforts and some controls are not user freindly. Auto door locks are not reliable. Chime for seat belt annoying. Comes on as soon as you start car. Chimes when car is in park. Rear hatch will not unlock with door locks, then after you unlock it and the reclose it, it locks again.

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  VW Fan - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Hank Kingsley - June 22 - 10:00 am

  In June I traded in my 2000 Passat for the 03. Very similar in ride and comfort, with a little more pep from the turbo, and some nice interior & styling improvements. The longer warranty is also welcome.

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  Really fun car. - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By billbolduc - June 21 - 3:06 pm

  I love my new Rabbit. The lease on my 2004 Passat was up, and I was tired of paying for premium gas, so I tried the Rabbit and loved the way it felt. Although it is in a different class (economy vs. midsize), I find it sportier and more agile than my 04 Passat, but it doesnt ride quite as well. The new boost in horsepower gives it plenty of power to get out of the way. It has enough interior room for most needs, although the family would probably be more comfortable in my wifes minivan. The build quality appears to be very good. Overall, another great product from Volkswagen.

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  Least reliable car Ive ever owned - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Derwinator - June 21 - 6:56 am

  Everything youve read about the Passat is true - they are great to drive, look awesome, and have excellent fit and finish. Have really enjoying DRIVING this car, but cant say the same for my experience with its reliability. Hands down the most expensive and problematic car Ive ever owned. If it wasnt in the shop for a $85 oil change (synthetic required by VW) it was in for a service recall or a problem like water leaking into the passenger side for the 4th time. Finally, the water pump failed at 78K mile destroying the timing belt and engine in the process. Ive had enough and this car was sold as soon as I got it back from the repair shop. Im in a Honda again and happy.