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 Ive owned - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By scirocco62 - June 19 - 6:10 pm

  Ive my Jetta for over 2 years and I will be sorry to see it go when my lease ends. Although it looks too much like a Toyota once you get behind the wheel you know its a VW. I love the MP3 CD player and the ice cold a/c in the summer and the heated mirrors and quick heat in the winter. The car is an absolute blast to drive and my dealer is great only had 1 problem with the brakes and they took care of immediately. I will certainly lease another. one

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  Wow--love the TDi! - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Fred - June 19 - 10:00 am

  I needed fun car for a daily commute of 100 miles. The high MPG figure attracted me but I remain amazed at the TDis power as well as the cars "fun factor. My other car is a 2002 Accord and this car beats the Accord for fun, quality, MPG and hopefully for reliability.

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  My Red Bug - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By jbm - June 19 - 10:00 am

  This is our third car. I drive a Cadillac Seville and the husband drives a Chevy Tahoe...actually it is our 4th car...we also have a 1973 Super Beetle Convertible. I have so much fun in this car. I dont drive it much...only 16,000 miles in four years. Ill keep it forever I guess.

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  So Close - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By jmiller - June 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a good car that could be a great car. It is the best outfitted car in its price range. It handles well, and its great fun. But VW dropped the ball by not offering this car with the 1.8T engine package. A word to reliability. The one issue that I have had was that the battery was not fully charged upon my taking delivery of the car. Which resulted in a few jump starts from Roadside Assistance. The dealership immediately resolved the problem.

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  Fun to drive but not for keep. - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By klai - June 19 - 10:00 am

  I had problems with my car a week after delivery. Here are the problems. 1) Rear hatch not closing properly. 3 visits to the shop before it was fixed. 2) Door not shutting flushed. 3) Broken power window and switch. 5) Gas flap servo broken twice. 6) Both honks broken and a dead battery. 7) Broken speedometer cable. 8) Oxygen sensor broken twice. 9) Door handle cover plastic is peeling. 10) Paint on steering spooke is peeling. I should have gotten rid of the car a long time ago. This time I will as the last repair bill was $750, not to mention the time lost and the inconvenience I had to put up with.

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  Reliability Issues - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By as0723 - June 19 - 1:45 am

  Purchased new and in the past 3 years have had a wheel bearing replaced, suspension makes creaking noises, and the vehicle starts very rough and has even not started several times when cold. The last two items listed (suspension and starting issues) have been dismissed by the dealership service and VW as normal. Even when it wouldnt start and I had to have it towed to the dealership, they eventually got it to start, said they couldnt find anything wrong, nothing they can do and even that the vehicle is operating normally. Normal for it to not start? Thats not normal to me for a new vehicle, and not what I want out of a new car, I expect it to start every time and provide reliable service.

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  Well done my good and faithful servant...well done - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rilezz13 - June 18 - 2:18 am

  This car was a real champ. I bought my silver Jetta back when I was a teenager (Im in my 20s now). Mine had the little 2.0 4-cylinder engine with the 5-speed stick. The engine only made a 115 hp but its favorite speed on the highway was 80 mph...it cruised there quietly and effortlessly. The reliability was nothing short of wonderful. I felt like I could utterly thrash the engine and it would (and was) just fine with that. The doors shut with a nice muted "thunk" and the whole car felt like it was as tough as a mini panzer. I sold it with over 120,000 miles on it. I now drive a 2002 Passat (also a great choice).

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  people are so cheap - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By lindsay - June 17 - 4:02 pm

  This car is great mine is at 160 k miles the inside of my buttons and locks buttons did peel and bubble but its only a 50$ fix... People complain about the up keep costing so much but ITS A VOLKSWAGEN! It is not an american car repairs cost more the engine is not regular its all new technology if you cant afford up keep you shouldnt buy a foreign car. Its like buying a name brand purse to look rich but not having any cash in it. [non-permissible content removed]

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  Luxury Ride, Econobox Mileage - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tomato Pie - June 16 - 11:00 am

  Driving 96 miles each day, I needed to replace my wonderful 1991 Acura Legend that had accumulated 215,000 miles. I wanted to retain the great comfort, safety, and performance of the Acura while improving on the 25 mpg I was getting. Research took me to the TDI Passat, and I got one of the last leftovers for 2005 (cannot get the diesel in the 2006 Passat). I have logged 5,000 miles and I am THRILLED with this car. It is powerful, comfortable, and I am averaging 43 mpg on the highway when I can keep my speed under 65.

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  Germany Wins Again with the New Passat! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By PassatLovers - June 15 - 7:56 pm

  We were in the market for a high-end car such as the Bimmer 328i and the Audi A4, but the price was a bit too high. So, since we wanted a nice price on German engineering (Im German, so Im biased), we went to VW and test drove the Passat. We loved the car from the first drive! This car has power! Shes a classy gold color-a real looker, fun, fuel efficient, very comfortable, and lets not forget safe! It even has excellent IIHS safety ratings! We are very impressed with the ride. And, along with the Lord, the ABS saved my husbands life today, after someone slammed their brakes on in front of him. So, we definitely do recommend the Passat to anyone who wants high quality at an affordable price!