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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  Few problems-overall largely pleased - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By az owner - May 15 - 5:50 am

  Bought with 88K miles--probably paid too much, but was pressed for time for a move and new job. Purchased knowing would have long daily commute & weekend travel home--excellent mileage on freeway driving, tween 46-50 mpg. In town usually around 38-40. Very keen on quick acceleration. Yes, some frustration with electrical, e.g. persistent glow plug light was annoying, but fixable at low price. Sunroof fun and climate control okay. With back seat down good storage capacity. Sound system good, but put in XM receiver and sold off original system at purchase. Very satisfied all in all-but several of the complaints here have some validity in my view.

• 

  Too many problems - 2000 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By Bydo - May 15 - 1:33 am

  We actually have the EuroVan Camper. Its more driveable than other conversion vans and handles well. My wife, who is fairly short, can see traffic well. The tranny went at 9k miles. Weve spend about $2000 in repairs this year alone. We paid a lot for this vehicle expecting quality - and its been nothing but problems.

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  2006 Jetta - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Patricia - May 14 - 5:13 pm

  Overall I had a very good experience with this vehicle, I love the way it looks and the way it handles.

• 

  passat - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By aja_614 - May 14 - 2:00 am

  This car has a good amount of power. The space in side the car is much more than you will expect.

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  Love it. - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By Ebcourmoon - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Peppy, and responsive. Stylish, and convenient. Fun to drive, cant say enough good things about this car. The dealership where I bought this car is great also. I recommend this cat to everyone.

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  Its horrible!! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By lucy99 - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Just like every other Beetle owner ive talked to, I have had nothing but problems with this car. Besides the horrible designs on the inside (cd changer in the trunk, cup holders unreachable, giant blind spots in every corner), i find new problems every day. After slightly over 3 years, we had to buy a new engine and theres been even more problems since we got it. There has been too many recalled parts to even count. The dealers are horrible and have broken more stuff than they have fixed. I just traded in this timebomb for a reliable toyota and will never buy another VW.

• 

  genuinely defective - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By crystaljetta - May 14 - 2:00 am

  bi have had so many problems with my jetta that i feel like a horrible person selling it to some one else. i have had numerous mechanical problems, some that i have had several times. these problems are occuring because volkswagen made a subpar machine with a faulty computer system that keeps breaking. i would have never imagined that a new car would give me so many problems--problems with door locks, truck not latching, window stuck down, factory installed radio dying after two years, brake sensors replaced almost annually, coolant system sensor, faulty lock cylinder, and sadly even more.

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  missing my acura - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By pink - May 14 - 2:00 am

  This car seemed the perfect blend of style, performance, and price - but dont be hypnotized by the fancy blue and red dashlights. I traded in a 1990 Acura Integra that still ran like a dream, but had rusted out completely, for its opposite. Big mistake. In 9 months Ive taken the VW into the shop 6 times! Maintenance$$ is killing me. Selling tomorrow.

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  2001 Jetta GLX VR6 - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Christie Howard - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Anyone that is looking for a fast, fun car, the Jetta VR6 is the way to go! People tend to shy away from this car because it is so small, but that is what makes it so amazing; a V6 engine in a car like this is great and damn does it move, but yet it doesnt kill your gas mileage.

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  Worth way more than the price tag. - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Cossa - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I just got my V8 Touareg home. Ive opted for the Nav/SSII, conv. pkg, and bi-xenons as well. Im looking at a price tag of about $42,000 (for a list of about $45,500). Ive driven the recently released BMW X3, the Land Rover Discovery and the Acura MDX. I owned a Tahoe and have been the passenger in a friends RX330. None of these vehicles even compare to the Touareg. I had so much fun driving this thing. Its a smooth, tight, powerful ride and the interior is as beautiful as the exterior. Ive never been more sure about a car purchase before in my life.