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:

• 

  2000 VW Golf GLS TDi - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By Paul Tee - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Bought new, fun to drive, great MPG I average 45MPG, It has distinctive styling when most cars look like all the other cars. German engineering at an affordable price!

• 

  98 TDI - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By epshade - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Bought in 2000 when 2 years old. Problems with the turbo, dealer replaced for free even though I am the third owner. Consistently get 50 mpg +/- 1 mpg winter, summer, city or highway. Lots of torque; I do not use first gear. Handling very good, and the car is balanced so that it sometimes tricks me into thinking it is a rear-wheel drive car in the winter, and I slide past a turn when I downshift to slow down. Only negatives are that one door is stuck shut (due to handle?). Cant VW fix this after two decades? Also, stock shocks/struts are junk; KYB improved handling significantly.

• 

  poor mans audi / bmw - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By digitalboy - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Bought it new two years ago and overall have really enjoyed this car. The VR6 motor is outstanding, but does use more gas than the 4 cyl. models. Body roll is a little excessive in fast corners, but it grips well when pushed hard. Ride is plush, quiet and smooth. Very comfortable for road trips. When I first picked up the car the cruise didnt work and the climate control wouldnt switch to defrost. Dealer fixed both problems promptly, and I havent had a problem with the car since. Guess Ive been lucky (knock on wood) as I see a lot of reliability issues from other folks.

• 

  RUN!!! Dont walk away - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Shane-in-FL - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Reliability issues have been prevelant ever since it was reintroduced in 98. The window regulator issue was present from 98- 02 and coilpack failure plagued turbo model cars from 00-03. I had my car just two weeks when it failed to start after the starter selenoid shorted out. I dont expect such problems from a car that holds a MSRP of $20,900. I suggest people who are considering a Beetle as their next car to closely look at the Acura RSX(~S),Mercedes C230 Coupe, or Mazda 6 just to name a few. The market for used Beetles is HORRIBLE!

• 

  Make lemonade - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MissMyCivic - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Bought 2003 Jetta GLS on 3/2/03. 3 no starts due to defective original battery. Replaced battery in May. CD player reads "disk error" & fails to operate, the car haphazardly lurches when shifting from "reverse" to "drive", & chrome piece on parking brake has come loose resulting in a constant "chattering" sound. Fuel economy is lackluster. Switch to the fuel filler cap SNAPPED off and broke. Couldn’t gas up car. I should have bought another Honda Civic!!

• 

  A great car with great mileage... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By meganuke - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Keep an eye on certain maintenance items: always use synthetic oil (Delvac 1), keep an extra mass air flow sensor on hand, and find someone with a VAG-COM to make adjustments to the EGR setting to reduce intake clogging. This should lead to many trouble free miles. I regularly travel over 800 miles per tank of fuel, averaging over 48 mpg. Even spirited driving nets 42 mpg!

• 

  Great Performer - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By DCIFAN - July 8 - 2:20 am

  The Touareg combines the road handling characteristics of a well-engineered German car with the attributes of a mid- size SUV. Like its smaller German counterparts, the Touareg handles brilliantly, despite its size and weight. The six cylinder provides sufficient power when needed, particularly when entering busy NJ highways from a standing start.

• 

  Drivers car - 2012 Volkswagen GTI
  By foggnm - July 7 - 2:30 am

  Because I drive so little (4000 miles/yr), I wanted something sporty, stylish, and most of all fun! So after trying several other cars the past 2 years, I found exactly what I wanted in a GTI. It has the perfect balance of sport, economy, and adult-styling. It is quick, but not gas-wasting fast. It is nicely outfitted on the inside, has a wonderful exhaust/turbo sound, and looks sharp from the outside. This car is a bit pricey new, but I found mine one year used with 6000 miles for an awesome price. Got the model with navigation which also has the attractive and functional bi-xenon/LED lights. Im sure there are longer lasting, more reliable cars, but lifes too short not to enjoy your car.

• 

  Losing the love - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By ray85158 - July 6 - 10:49 pm

  When I first got my Tiguan, I really loved it. However, that is beginning to wear off. My biggest concern on buying a VW is slowly coming true. Electrical gremlins. All of these are intermittent issues so this is going to be fun with the dealer. The back lighting on the right side of the gauge cluster is out sometimes. The radio/nav has now frozen up about 10 different times. The keyless system is flaky. About one out of 10 start ups it says the key is out of range. About 50% of the time I cannot open the rear hatch with the key in my pocket.

• 

  Re Knock Sensor issue - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By derblederb - July 6 - 10:00 pm

  I was looking for a little hatchback. I picked the Rabbit over the Mazda 3 and Imprezza because it was more fun driving, cost less, and is supposed to get a little better mileage. It also got great CR ratings. Ive had four people in it a few times and there seems to be enough room. The car reminds me of the civic hatchbacks from the early 90s.