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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  Best Car I have ever owned - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By nfarb - June 1 - 3:58 pm

  This is a spacious, perhaps bit too large, wonderful to drive cruising car. The mpg is remarkable given it size, and the 6 speed is smooth and fun, fuel efficient and serves to keep me alert and paying attention to driving. I owned a 2011 TDi sport wagon and loved it but thought because i often drive long distances I would enjoy a bit bigger car. This 111 wheelbase is maybe a touch more that I wanted but I get out of it after 500 miles and feel great and not cramped like i would at the end of a long ride in a smaller car. I am 6 and 70+ years old

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  Happy in Mpls - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Happy in Mpls - June 1 - 10:23 am

  Touareg with V8 is fun to drive, zippy in traffic, handles well in snow, a solid well built car with a good smooth ride for all time 4WD I do miss the the larger cargo space from trading from larger SUV- Tahoe. Minor problems with dash warning lights Fuel economy average at 14.7 mpg and it requires Premium gas. Lead foot with the V8 might be the problem!

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  Inconsistent quality - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By mtharchitect - May 30 - 10:00 am

  I like this car for its ride, handling, safety features and style but...at 52000 I am looking at a possible bad ABS brain and pump ($2000 part) a possibly bad turbo ($1000) and just replaced the oil cooler ($400) and the warranty expired at 50,000 miles. Its a nice car but make sure you get the extended warranty.

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  never again - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By rdressler - May 30 - 10:00 am

  Had this car 1year and have $7000 in repairs to date. Started having problems at 55,000 miles-engine ran poorly(stalled, chugged).As a result, Ive had to replace the O2 sensor, mass air flow sensor, blower hose, and at 68000miles the timing belt went. I now need a whole new motor, even though VW does not recommend replacing timing belt until 105,000miles!!! Followed recommended maintenance schedule and still had all these problems. When I called VW to complain, their response was "out of warranty, sorry". I would not recommed this car to anybody, and will unload is as soon as I get my new engine!!! One more thing - NOBODY can seem to work

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  four runner to touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By cytovirus - May 30 - 10:00 am

  Great car . excellent build. you musttry it. downfall is the poor gas mileage. other than that the only thing the comes close is the range rover.

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  new Passat - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By rvfool - May 28 - 2:30 pm

  Just got the car. Surprise by the power. Fun to drive but wife having problem with turbo and a lead foot. I had a 05 TDI Passat before. This is bigger. Miss the mileage of the diesel. Tires are expensive because of the 17" wheels and they are a summer thead. Needed snow right away. Comfortable and a better car for me than the CC. Did not like the low roof, rear view mirror or performance of the CC. There is a lot of leg room front and back. Wish it had blue tooth, homelink, and memory seats.

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  The Not so perfect Passat - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Yawantit - May 27 - 7:56 pm

  Needed rear brakes at 30K miles. Needed vacuum hoses at 35K miles, and at 40K miles. Needed front O2 sensor at 40K miles. Needed heater core at 40K miles. Need I say more? Vehicle has 42K miles and looking to trade..............

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  Fun with Touareg - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By george haydu - May 27 - 2:30 am

  This is a very fine and high quality vehicle. Its gas mileage could be better. I consider this the poor mans Porche.

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  Disappointed - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By sbgoff - May 27 - 2:00 am

  Car burned oil at 5 qts per 5000 miles - dealer rebuild engine - never the same. significant electrical problems - electric windows in rear dont work - doors wont open - check engine light on constantly - a lot of cheap plastic parts in interior that broke within 1st year and were not under warranty - Electrical issues aware of by manufacturer but not covered by warranty

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  Great Car - Service Sucks - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By XY BOY - May 27 - 2:00 am

  I love my car. Everytime I get into it I love it more. However, I have had to take it in for service 3 times in the 2 months that I have owned it. There is a rattle in the door window that they just cant seem to fix. Thank God for the Monsoon sound system. :o) I do not like the service people and I think that their level of service leaves a lot to be desired. Fortunately, I love the car enough to make up for their shortcomings.