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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  Reliable & Fun to drive sedan. - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By phani9 - October 15 - 2:16 am

  I never had any issue with my Jetta in these 2years. It has been fun to drive. Mileage is not bad. Its a very good small family sedan with HUGE trunk space. I easily fit 3 big luggages into it.

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  I love my TDI - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Aron - October 14 - 7:54 pm

  I bought this car with less than 20 miles on it when I traded in my 2002 1.8T Jetta GLS with a 5 speed manual. I just passed the the 73,000 mark, and havent had any reliability. Unlike my old one, my current Jetta does have plastic trim on the doors and trunk hinges that rob trunk space, neither are the end of the world. It also isnt quite as fun to drive. It does, however, have a great build quality and provides a better overall driving experience. The seats are more comfortable, and there is little more refinement in handling which more than makes up for the slightly less sporty feel. Both mean I can drive longer without feeling fatigued. The manual gearbox feels just like my old one, but with one extra gear. It is still fun to drive and more so than any other hybrid or diesel in its class (according to car magazine reviews). Before I had the emissions fix, which only had a slight impact on my fuel economy, I was averaging close to 50 miles per gallon in warm weather with mostly highway driving without even trying. If it was pure highway driving in warm weather I could get above 50. The cabin and trunk are larger than my old Jetta, and it looks and feels more like a mid-sized car than a compact. On the occasions when I carry more than one other person, there is a lot less complaining about space. At $25,000, what other car is as fun to drive, spacious and fuel efficient my Jetta? The interior and exterior styling has been criticized by many, but I actually like it better than its competitors. It is understated and doesnt scream "look at me" like a narcissistic teenager. As for creature comforts, it still has an impressive Fender audio system, Bluetooth, heated seats, sunroof, rear view camera, heated outside mirrors, and a soft touch dashboard. I dont need all of the other "techy" stuff. If I were to do it again, Id by the same car. Im sold on VW for life. The only reason I didnt give it five stars is because of two slight, intermittent noises: a squeaky noise when the air conditioning fan is set to "2" and a rattle in the dashboard. The latter may or may not have arisen after I hit a deer a few years ago.

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  More Safe, More Fun, More Reliable! :) - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Megan - October 13 - 9:06 pm

  There is a reason why the Jetta is the #1-selling European car in the US. I first owned a 2000 Jetta (same as my 2002); this car saved my life and was fun and reliable every step of the way. I have owned my 2002 GLS VR6 sedan since new, and I love my baby to pieces. The standard safety features - ABS, 8 airbags, safety cell construction - cannot be beat. The time- tested VR6 engine is an absolute blast to drive. I can tell you in 100% honesty that I have had ZERO mechanical, electrical, or other reliability issues with this car - NONE. I am fully confident in Jettas and I never plan on buying anything but VWs. If you pressed me for one complaint, Jettas dont come with power seats, which is not a big deal to me.

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  Great car for the money - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Shoff - October 13 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car used to replace a 94 Passat GLX. Great performance, styling, and many helpful features head the list of improvements, including keyless entry, side curtain air bags and a great stereo. Mileage is in the 21 MPG range. Just replaced the water pump at 60k, otherwise the car has been flawless!

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  Amazing car, but... - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Shoff - October 13 - 2:00 am

  I love everything about this car except that I am getting SUV milage during the winter, and the interior is somewhat smaller than my 1994 GLX. Milage is in the 13 to 17 MPG range, even with light driving. My 94 was in the 18 to 20 MPG range on average, and my "99 GLX gets around 21.

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  Looks Arent Everything - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wowziewoo - October 13 - 2:00 am

  While this car looks fantastic and drives well, it is very cheaply made. My new car has had its engine replaced and now the transmission is failing. Ive had a million things inside break: the armrest, the interior lights, the side mirror defrosters, the vanity lights...even the moulding on the outside of the car came off--I discovered its held in place with double-sided tape!

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  Love My Jetta! - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Christina Dresen - October 13 - 1:26 am

  I love my Jetta! I never cared much about a vehicle besides its dependability to get me back and forth to work and my kids to school. This car is a great smooth ride. For being a compact car, it feels extremely roomy. Anyone that has ridden in the back seat has commented on how much room they have for their legs. The trunk is incredibly spacious. The only problem I have is that the ride is so smooth that I often dont watch my speed and that turbo is fast! Of course that is user error! I love the turbo engine for getting on the freeway. I also think that the sight lines are great in this car. Some of the other compact cars that I had driven had smaller windows and I felt somewhat claustrophobic. Extremely satisfied with this car!

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  Fun but needs consideration before buying - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By Katie - October 12 - 11:26 pm

  This was my first new car I bought. It was a great purchase for the price. It really gets up and goes. I really love taking turns that suggest 30 mph and you can sweep through it at 50. Great styling and love how the back seats fold flat for trips. Have had some problems with extreme wind noise and rattling. It seems most in the rear of the car and side panels, rather annoying actually because at about 2,000 miles it started. I was able to get a wind noise silencer kit that the dealership installed, but it still didnt do the trick. The gas mileage is ok, depending on how heavy your foot is on that turbo! It is a great buy and I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a fun car.

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  just dont go to the "stealership" - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ghostwes - October 12 - 10:13 pm

  Ive seen alot of reviews here knocking the mk5 jetta, this is the 4th VW Ive had so far (Ive had a 1987 jetta, a 1999.5 jetta, this vehicle, and I also have a 2008 GTI as well) Ive never had major problems with any of these cars. compared to the mk2 and mk4 Ive owned the mk5 is a deff step up from VWs previous powertrains and designs. when I do need service however, I know better than to go to the stealership when I have a phonebook with several german car speciality repair shops. Always go to them first. they can usually get any parts you need (besides keys, key fobs, and programming keys) and they can usually get parts that are better than stock.

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  Awesome - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Attaymik - October 11 - 10:26 pm

  As an avid VW enthusiast, I decided to upgrade my much-loved Beetle to a roomier more powerful car. Im a VW girl, but I still looked at the Chrysler 300C, Honda Accord, BMW 330, Mercedes-Benz, etc and after test driving the Passat, Im still a VW girl. The car is so smooth and powerful. I love listening to music, so the Dynaudio with XM radio is otherwordly. It is the best sound system that Ive ever had. If you are in the market for a mid-size sedan, you simply must take the Passat for a test drive, you will not be disappointed. The other reviewers are right on the money. I added aftermarket rims and tint; people dont even know what it is. this car is awesome. What a Christmas present to myself!