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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  Save your $ - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Harry36 - May 22 - 10:00 am

  This car has cost me more money then anyother car that I have owned or what my family has owned. The 19 miles per gallon is a crock. I fill my tank up at least every five days, and I am on the average driving it only 20 miles a day. Save your mony if you think you like it. Looks dont alwasy mean eveything!

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  Works good for some but not for everyone - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Erica - May 21 - 11:51 pm

  Its very costly to repair and once it breaks down once will break down multiple times in a year. A bought this car when it had 50000 first thing that went out was my transmission, had to replace my radiator, starter cranked, my started melted on to my battery, cooling system, my air conditioner. My advice is get it check first to know whats wrong before you buy it I have spent $6000 in repairs have only had it for 4 years its not a good buy. Bumper is too low also!

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  soooo disappointed with my Jetta - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jettas suck - May 19 - 2:36 pm

  I have had nothing but problems with this car! Between the car getting stuck in park, BOTH the drivers side and passengers side windows falling off the track in the middle of winter in Chicago, the power steering and transmission leaking, the O2 and mass air flow sensor needing to be replaced, my glove box breaking, my passengers side mirror light breaking, BOTH of my side mirrors rusting, my 6-disc CD changer skipping the CD when its below freezing outside and now needing to replace my tranmission UNDER 80,000 MILES!! I have spent more money and time than you can dream of on repairs for this car. I am getting rid of the car.

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  Avoid the TDI - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mark S. - May 19 - 12:11 pm

  The turbo will fail. The radiator fan and subsequently the air conditioning will fail. The Ad-blue heater will fail. The high pressure fuel pump will likely fail. These are all very expensive repairs. Ill not buy a Volkswagen again.

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  Buying This Car is a Bad Move - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jason schelert - May 7 - 9:33 am

  I have literally brought this car into the dealership eighteen times. Yes, EIGHTEEN Times. Every time I have had the vehicle in something else has gone wrong. The fan stopped working, the power windows wouldnt function, now the tranmission is failing and only at 34,000 miles.

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  Worst car ever... - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jettasucks - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I own a 2001 Volkswagon Jetta GLX. WHile the car was under warranty there were no problems. Literally within 100 miles out of the warranty everything broke. The heated seats were the first to go. Then an a/c vent. The center console clip. Window clips were recalled. Once I had that fixed, my door locks went out. ($300+) The check engine light stays on in my car. Everytime I have it repaired, the very next day something else breaks. One word for anyone considering purchasing this car, RUN AWAY!!!!!!!

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  Do NOT Buy this Car from Anyone - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Marissa Ketchum - April 28 - 2:05 pm

  This car has problems left and right. I bought it used from a dealership about 3 years ago. The transmission has been going bad for about a year now. Im surprised it has lasted that long driving with a bad tranny. The bad tranny makes it constantly slip and clunk. It slips in between every single gear change and sometimes even slips when it isnt changing gears! Tried replacing the valve body and that did not help at all. Its completely unreliable and the worst car Ive ever owned. I expected so much more from a VW. Now, the fuel pump has broken so it doesnt start. Save your time and money and do not buy this year Passat.

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  STOP! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By STOP! - April 27 - 12:23 am

  Do not buy this car! My engine light is the only electronic item that works, its always on. Radio, door locks, windows headlights, only work when they want to. You almost have to bring it into the shop for everything because you need a special tool to do anything on the car. I will never buy another VW again! I wouldnt even feel comfortable giving this car to a friend.

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  Dangerous car to drive or ride in - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dennisinwv - April 15 - 7:34 am

  Purchased my 2006 Jetta TDI in July, 2006. Timing belt broke at 42,000 miles. Camshaft had to be replaced under warranty. Camshaft failed again at 150,000 miles (timing belt was fine). Camshaft failed again at 270,000 miles. Without warning car was lost power while in cruise - almost run over by tractor-trailers more than once. Research reveals an enormous camshaft problems for TDI owners. VW put a bandaid on the original camshaft failure and allowed my family to drive and ride in an unsafe vehicle. VW mgt knew they had a problem and discontinued the 1.9 TDI engine. VW should have informed 2006 TDI owners that their car could lose power without warning.

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  The Worst VW Ive EVER Owned!!! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By lisa_tim - April 9 - 10:00 am

  This car has been a nightmare. First the sunroof made a buzzing noise, then the cable on the gas door broke. A wheel bearing went bad at 12,000 miles and another wheel bearing went bad at less than 18,000 miles. The rear brakes were completely gone around 18,000 miles, I had to replace both the pads and rotors.(The rear brakes definitely should not have been bad, the front brakes were like brand new). Obviously VW put cheap brakes and wheel bearings on this car. Dont buy this car or you will probably regret it as much as I do. The dealership was absolutely horrible to deal with. Ive had less trouble with my used cars than I do with this one bought new.