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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  Passat 1991 is Great - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By jaypp - June 14 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car that rides like a true German car. Very stable at high speeds and quiet. Very smooth transmission and triptronic is fun to use once in a while.

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  Check out your dealer first - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mike - June 14 - 6:00 am

  This is my first vw and its hard to say if it will be my last.The car seems to drive well and the seats are just Ok for comfort. The iPod connection is supposed to control and charge the iPod as per the salesman. Well, this connection only works on the the old ipods. Funny this is a new car and it works on all equipment. The dealer will do nothing even though they lied to me about its equipment. After I purchased the car they spent about 5 minutes explaining everything. After returning home I noticed a scatch on the dashboard. I then called the manager of OBrien autogroup and he said I should have noticed it before I signed on the dotted line. In other words you are out of luck.

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  Broken Dreams - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ashellris - June 13 - 11:17 am

  When VW re-released the Beetle in 98, I had found my dream car. I was 15 at the time, about to get my license and sent away to VW for an information packet that I used in a presentation for my parents in hopes of receiving one. Needless to say; it didnt happen- Until 2005 when I purchased a used 2002 VW Beetle. I purchased the car for $15k and have since put at least $8k into it (Not including maintenance). The check engine light is always on, and repairs are never ending and expensive. I was able to get almost 400 mi per tank when I bought it; now I get just under 300 mi. This has nothing to do with neglect, this was my dream car. Be prepared for expensive repairs with any VW.

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  Just Validating Other Reviews! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Grant Sterling - June 11 - 11:16 am

  First the good: the ride is great, smooth, comfortable, and fun to drive. It gets great gas mileage on the highway (30+MPG). I love the leather, heated seats, triptronic transmission, 60/40 folding seats, theyre all very nice. The bad part is the quality! I have driven 35,000+ miles in three years. In that time have had to replace both CV boots, one drive axle, window regulator, side view mirror control, dashboard air vent, turn signal/hazard switch, and two sets of rotors and pads (expensive even when I did the work myself). In comparison Ive owned a 91 BMW 525i and still have a 98 4Runner with 145,000 miles, both great vehicles. Sure, they required maintenace, but nothing like the Passat. I definitely would not recommend this car!

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  2001 Jetta GLS 1.8 Turbo - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steve50 - June 11 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I just bought the 2001 Jetta a couple days ago. Its really her car more than it is mine. So far we love the power of the turbo. The leather is pretty comfortable and the exterior looks really sharp. We love the sunroof and the heated seats.

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  Good, but could be better - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By gtcollison - June 11 - 10:00 am

  With my Passat I feel VW did well in some areas, but lack in others. I like the 5spd man, but a 6th gear would be better. The seats are great, but the dash is boring. The 1.8T is too small for the Passat for any one who is inclined to zippiness. I have not been able to find a balance of power with my Passat. I either give too little gas and the car does not move or I give too much gas and the wheels spin. The V6 add some zip and smooth power band but one sacrifices a lot of mileage and spends several thousands more for the upgrade. Overall I feel the Passat is a good value, but value is not "everything you want."

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  Problematic bug, unhelpful dealers - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Trevor Hirst - June 11 - 10:00 am

  My bug has had many recurring problems from the day I took delivery. I have had problems with the roof mechanism, the rear lights (both turn signals and brake lights) and the passenger-side window, which shoots back down when the window is raised. I have asked VW to buy the car back as a lemon. I have taken the car to two dealers for warranty work, neither of whom are particularly helpful. I never got a call from the dealer advising me that an ordered part arrived - I always have to call them. When the car itself was on order it was the same. I not buy VW again.

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  A Workhorse with a High Quality Finish - 2006 Volkswagen Golf
  By Terris - June 11 - 4:53 am

  Although our 2003 Golf GL may not be very sporty, we found it to be the only small car that could adjust perfectly to us both (I am over 6 feet tall and my wife is just over 5 feet). We have driven across the country twice and made several other long trips, including camping. The stereo is outstanding! Maintenance is simple and cheap (only every 10,000 miles). The interior quality is better than cars twice the price. It may not be a sports car but its driving manners are perfect, even in the snow (without snow tires in our case). The safety features are incredible. We find its advantages simply crush its disadvantages. The Golf is a real giant of a little car.

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  Fuel economy is one of many good things! - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Donny - June 10 - 5:50 pm

  Bought with 28K on it, have put over 10K on it in last 6 months. Have had no problems whatsoever. Great looking inside and out, always draws second glances. Interior sets the standard for cars of this class and has perfect ergonomics. Seats are comfy if maybe a bit tiring on long trips. Good sound system. Performance more than adequate; wont leave sports cars behind but if you punch the gas pedal it pushes you back in your seat. Excellent fuel economy, about 500 miles/tank in city, 600 in highway; more with manual. Theres pride in owning a TDI and an unspoken bond among fellow owners. Dealer service isnt the best (so Ive heard) but it wont be in there much if you take care of it.

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  2002 Volkswagen Beetle - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By dumb buyer - June 8 - 9:20 pm

  We have never bought a new car that had so many problems in such a short mileage life, the window fell out in the first month it was purchased. The brake lights went next, then the a/c, it had a hesitation from day one on take off and after 2.5 years the mass air finally failed, there are no turn signals on the dash gauges [intermittant]. The latest is the dealer said the fuel pump failed and they wont replace it because it had bad gas. They want $600+ to fix it and the car is under warranty. Im a mechanic and I have never seen a electric fuel pump fail because of so called bad fuel, a defective part yes. I got a different VW dealer to agree to repair it.