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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  dont buy one - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lkennedy - October 8 - 4:26 pm

  2002 jetta. 1) calaber went bad 384.00 each 2) engine light twice 3) sensor switch twice 4) radio stopped working 5) tail lights burning out 6) head lights shut off while driving had to use hi beams to see. Its like non stop problems. Im trading it in. Never again with VW. Wish I listened.

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  Love it,but!! - 2000 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By nanny - October 8 - 10:00 am

  I love my VW Eurovan, but after 37000 miles I started experiencing major and minor breakdowns, quite expensive. No help or support from Volkswagen. Might have to go back to American made. Too bad because it is a great family van.

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  VW Farfrumworking - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tarrytown - October 8 - 10:00 am

  I will never buy another VW. My transmission went at 97000 and had a costly engine coil replacement at 85,000. After 2 years of owning the car I have replaced virtually everything. The suspension has been a nightmare and the service I have received from VW has been even worse. I have experienced numerous electrical problem, the ride stinks and with the cost of repairs I could be driving a Bentley for less. Unfortunately, its been a big disappointment for me.

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  Buying this Jetta was a big mistake!! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mark_louis - October 8 - 10:00 am

  It seamed like a nice car at first.. I bought it used with 34kmi heres what it cost me in the last 5kmi. Broken glove box hinge $300. MAP sensor problem $350. Ignition coil $690. I still have transmission shift problems, a water leak on the drivers door and a trunk light that doesnt work.

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  Great Buy - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By hstanleys - October 8 - 10:00 am

  Looed at mini,but did not want to pay sticker price.Also concerned about reliability.Drove new beetle and knew it was the better deal.

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  UH HUH - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By YA MAMA - October 8 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS A REALLY GREAT CAR! I LOVE IT!

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  2012 VW CC (Comfort Coupe)? NO, Beautiful Beast... LOL! - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By bonedatt - October 8 - 2:34 am

  Oh snap, what type of car is that?!? After answering that question for the 10,000,000th time, it has become the norm. From the beautiful exterior to the luxurious interior, the CC is a show stopper. DVD Navigation that plays movies too, climatronic ventilation, heated front power seats, ambient lightning, fuel efficient, and lots of other standard feature makes this a best buy. I have the LUX Plus trim with two tone interior and if you think the exterior is beautiful, wait till you see how finely knitted the two tone front and rear bucket seats are....absolutely gorgeous!! the interior screams luxury all the way. Overall, the 2012 VW Passat CC is one "beautiful beast"

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  Not suitable for short passengers - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By candle27 - October 5 - 5:00 pm

  I am 53 and too short to reach the headrest even in its lowest position. According to the Users Manual and a phone call to VW Americas head office, a cushion must never be placed on the passenger seat as this interferes with the airbag systems proper functioning. This only becomes clear after the car has been purchased one has read the manual.Therefore I am at risk in case of an accident and VW says that neither they nor I can do anything about it.

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  Great Opportunity with 2012 VW Tiguan @ manual - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By bostonguy3961 - October 5 - 4:05 am

  After 14 years with Ford Explorer Sport (2 dr) manual transmission was time to more on (California smog regs). Looked options for smaller suvs with manual- Ford Escape, Subaru Forester, and VW Tiguan plus Kia and Hyundai brothers. The Korean cars, nicely priced but the drive-train are junk - recent reports are that their clutch has very limited life. Escape is old and has no zip. Forester is ok, but driver space is limited. Found basic Tiguan with manual -only one is Southern Cal... and dealer was ready to move it for under $21,500 (plus taxes). Has few fancy accessories, no roof rack or sunroof but drive-train is solid, better mileage than EPA sticker - compares to $30,000++ versions!

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  I enjoy this car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Klay - October 3 - 8:43 pm

  This is the nicest car Ive ever owned (or driven, for that matter). Its very secure on the treacherous winter roads here. Ive never needed anything but the all-season tiress that came on it. Its handling is great and its controls are right where you need them. The Passat is comfortable on long trips. I bought a phatbox MP3 system with 20 GB of space that integrates right into the existning sound system - fantastic system.