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:

• 

  fun to drive, no fun to repair - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dakud - January 15 - 10:00 am

  This car can break your heart. It has great style and drives very well, but the amount of time and money you will spend in the repair shop will leave you wishing you had reconsidered your choice.

• 

  99 passat dont buy a used one!!! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By nay92 - January 11 - 8:55 pm

  soooo i purchased this car with a little over 160,000 on it from ..this is the worst car by far to buy. only way i would ever buy this car again is it its complelty NEW..matienance on this car is soooooo high its crazy. i bought it for $3,250 and put more money into this car then what i bought it for...replaced both catalytic convertors ..o2 sensors.. coil packs...motor mounts..new tires...etc..it was misfiring its just ridiouls when they say everything thing that looks good isnt they are not lying!! just dont buy a used one dont even waste your money...the man that worked on my car said dont ever buy a foreign car over 100,000 miles because you will have to get everything replaced !!

• 

  2000 Beetle Review - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Sridhar - January 9 - 10:00 am

  I bought the beetle cause it was my childhood dream to own one. The car drives awesome, the way it handles curves and braking etc., you never feel you are out of control. But sadly, I sold mine today not for comfort reasons but for reliability. The quality control is poor, the window trimming gives way, and the window switches are flaky, and after it crossed 50K miles, this year I had to go the dealer multiple times to get my engine check light fixed. When I talk to the service agents about the quality issues, they shrug their shoulders and say it is normal wear and tear. I own a camry with 80K miles and never had any problems. Reliability is one reason I would never buy VW or recommend it

• 

  Didnt last long before trouble prevailed! - 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By ogopogo - January 9 - 3:12 am

  Bought 2014 Tiguan in May. Have driven 9700 km in 3 mos., mostly hwy driving. Previous 3 yrs drove a JEEP Grand Cherokee Overlander. Disliked it lagged when speeding up to pass a car. My 2004 Toyota 4-Runner had awesome pickup! Tiguans has good pickup. I drive 13 hrs, & found I couldnt stretch my legs, so my left knee would stiffen & bother me. Putting my seat back, made me too far away. Im 53". Vehicle went in for oil change Aug 6. It drove perfectly prior; after it shakes like Im driving in an earthquake at 80 km/hr and gets worse by 100 km/hr (60mi/hr). It feels dangerous to drive now. Taking it back in Monday morning to rectify whatever is the problem.

• 

  Problems WIth The Passat 1.8T - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By p. augusta - January 5 - 11:36 am

  The vehicle has been in and out of the shop 4 times for electrical problems, and now has to have the engine replaced because of a sludge issue. The engine runs very hot so oil sludge in the engine is a common problem for the 1.8T model (Audi or VW). Steer clear of this car! !

• 

  wish I had a Honda - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By disappionted - January 1 - 10:00 am

  same thing as others, mult o2 sensors replaced, battery replaced, $600 scheduled maitainence at 40,000 ml, rear brakes replaced, niosy power steering. Currently, it stalls when I put the clutch in- who knows what that is. Im holding my breath until my balloon payment is due then itll be the dealers headache

• 

  DEFINITELY NOT A HONDA!!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ejb - January 1 - 10:00 am

  I have owned 2 Hondas in the past and instead of buying another Honda or Acura, I decided to try another "reliable" automaker. What a mistake that was. If the daytime running lights burning out within six months of owning the car wasnt enough; (I had to pay to replace them), 2 of the coils were defective. Since it was Volkswagens policy to replace the only the first bad coil, I had to make a second trip in order to get all the coils replaced. Never again!

• 

  Poor interior design and performance - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Jano - December 29 - 5:26 am

  Purchased a new VW CC.It is very difficult to drive. When accelerating,you must be very careful in depressing the accelerator because if not done just right the vehicle will shoot forward too fast or bog down for a second or two causing a dangerous condition when pulling out into traffic.The dashboard is poorly designed especially the placement of the media buttons and phone buttons on the steering wheel.the air conditioning ducts are pointed down so you dont get the full blast of air when opened fully. This is the first vehicle that I have ever has that I am fearful of driving because of the performance of the car. I took it to the dealer and they said it was okay.not enough room for expla

• 

  Good until 10,000 miles - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By baileycwru - December 26 - 2:03 pm

  Car has all the features, except realiability. Great car until 10,000 miles, then just seems to fall apart. From developing excessive idle shake (deemed within specifications) to the air conditioning compressor dying, to the windows rolling down, but not up, this car has been nothing but trouble. Lately have had to deal with numerous check engine lights (emissions and electronic power control) and the car has less than 30 mi.

• 

  Stay Away! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gardnerleo - December 26 - 10:00 am

  Wed hoped to have the Jetta for many years -- it was fun to drive, got good mileage, and was well-designed. But three months after getting it, the electric system failed. Scrape the front bumper on the curb and it would come off. That happened four times. Sensors went out. Parts failed. All this despite regular service and care. Finally, something got loose around the catalytic converter. We said thats it. Just got a new Subaru Forester. I hope it lasts as long as wed HOPED the VW would. VW, you should be ashamed.