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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  99 Jetta GLS VR6 - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kgbarlow - September 30 - 8:46 pm

  Fun to drive and looks hot, but the reliabilty is poor. Since it is the first year of the new model, the kinks were not worked out. Numerous problems with electronics. Yet, it is a sporty drive.

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  The only car for me - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Jay L - September 30 - 7:23 pm

  I looked for a new car off and on for over 2 years and have never been a "VW guy". In fact, everything Ive owned previously has been Japanese. When I test drove this car, the drive won me over. It is not the fastest or best handling car I considered, but it is the only one that made me grin uncontrollably every time I test drove it. I love the way the car looks inside and out. I love the way the controls feel at hand/feet. It sounds good. It gets good gas mileage (averaged nearly 32 on a 3 hr interstate trip with less than 1k miles on the odo). It has fantastic legroom front and back. Even with the 18" wheels, I dont mind the ride quality. Theres simply no other car like it.

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  Disappointed Owner - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Tommy - September 30 - 6:50 pm

  My wife owned a 2001 Jetta & we traded in and bought a new Toureg (V8). Radio didnt work & one problem after another. Toureg has been in & out of the shop for repairs & some repeats. We asked VW to replace the car with a new one. Even the Service Mgr asked. They said NO, they will fix the problems. So our hands are tied, if we sell we lose thousands of dollars on this piece of junk. I NEVER wanted to buy a VW and but my wife liked the it. Now my wife regrets buying this. Im sure other auto makers would have replaced this vehicle if it had so many issues.

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  Keys - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jill Klassy - September 29 - 9:48 pm

  Just bought my first VW Jetta. Overall I like the car. Of course my daughter lost one keyfob at school almost immediately. Extremely frustrating that VW dealers charge $250 for another key including programming. Thats completely insane and no other locksmith or reliable service is able to provide at a lower cost. VW SHAME ON YOU!!!! This alone makes me not want to be loyal to VW and not feel good about talking about VW. I will not buy VW again.

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  Fun loving car - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By tigger - September 29 - 5:03 pm

  Great car. Love to drive it and enjoy all of the smiles I get from people on the streets. Very reliable and very comfy.

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  Great so far, but for the windows - 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
  By charmcity22 - September 28 - 7:49 am

  Just bought the 2012 Beetle on Saturday. Got a good price, and loved the style and feel of the car over the Golf I was originally thinking about getting. Like most of the others, I have the window issue where it is a pain to get them back up. At first I thought it was some kind of special feature I couldnt figure out, but after poking around a bit it seems Im in good company. Hopefully, with enough pressure they will speed up a fix.

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  update........ - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By resipsa - September 28 - 2:36 am

  Have now had the car for approximately 10 months, just under 15K kilometres. So far, no problems, though it did need the DSG transmission flash. Warranty on trans. extended by VW as well. I look forward to driving it daily. Has plenty of grunt and hugs the corners like its on a rail. It just feels pleasant to drive, very ergonomic and everything makes sense how its situated. Good cargo capacity and has stood up to two young kids well. The diesel engine is a pleasure and the mileage, as far as I can gauge, is great. Its parked outside during the day and has never failed to start in a Calgary winter. Would gladly purchase again.

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  Bentley With VW Badges - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By imon_2nd - September 27 - 11:04 pm

  Ive always wondered what it would be like to own a Bentley Continental Flying Spur. However, the price of a decent used one, currently around $65K is out of my budget. I knew the VW Phaeton was basically the same car minus the turbochargers. After shopping for a few months, I won the bid on eBay for a low mileage V8 model Phaeton at $11,800. My previous daily driver was a 1993 Mercedes 300CE cabriolet. The Phaeton is equal in build quality, more comfortable, has better audio, and handles better despite weighing 1,000 pounds more. The only drawback is gas mileage, which is about 4 MPG less than the Benz. The only modification Ive made is adding Bluetooth capability.

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  Nothing but frustration - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jessica - September 27 - 4:50 pm

  This vehicle is enjoyable to drive and not bad on the design. However, as far as quality, I have had nothing but problems since I drove it off the lot. Between the recalls and the other problems Ive had with it, it is in the shop more than on my driveway. The list of problems is extensive ranging from the latch on the trunk to the wiring and the brakes. I would not recommend purchasing this vehicle.

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  One of the best cars out there for the money! - 2017 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jeff - September 27 - 1:32 pm

  I have owned many makes and models this is one of the best buys out there.