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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  NEVER AGAIN - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By NEVER EVER EVER - July 24 - 2:00 am

  THIS HAS BEEN BY FAR THE ABSOLUTE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN IN A RENTAL CAR 12 TIMES IN THE FIRST YEAR THAT I PURCHASED MY JETTA. IT HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF A HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE AND I WISH TO WARN EVERYONE AND ANYONE TO NEVER EVER BUY A VOLKSWAGON!

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  Dont Buy It - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mrturner - July 20 - 9:39 pm

  Since Edmunds site crashed and lost my last review this will be brief.

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  Stay away! - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By A.W. - July 16 - 10:00 am

  Too many problems to specify. This car has been in the shop more times than all the other cars I have owned combined. The electrical system has failed numerous times. The sunroof track has broken four times. The AC and vent system has malfunctioned since I bought the vehicle. Luckily I purchased a used car warranty with the purchase. I have most definitely gotten my moneys worth. I have heard from others who have also owned 1997 Passat wagons who have had as negative experiences as I. I am very VERY disappointed.

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  Scap Metal on Wheels - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By scrapMetalWithEngine - July 4 - 3:50 am

  I loved my Jetta when I bought it, until one day the air conditioning blew hot and would cost $1,300 to fix due to compressor failure, the windows motors went out before that, so now my car is a portable sauna. It has an oil leek, the automatic transmission automatically drops itself into neutral. The silver paint is oxidizing and rusting (this shouldnt happen), and the dip stick broken and inaccurate. I also agree that the recline twist handle is midevil torture. The timing belt rotated and caused my engine to turn off and not start. This happened while driving...scary and costly. All in all, Id rather burn my money than buy a 99 Jetta Wolfsburg. Oh yeah and my seat magically came unbolted. The speedometer works once a week if Im lucky

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  Volkswagen doesnt back up its Toureg! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Arthur O Wilkonson - July 3 - 7:03 pm

  This truck has been a disaster! It has been to the dealer 30 to 40 times in the 2 years Ive owned it. It apparently cant be repaired (mechanical and computer problems), is nearing the end of its warranty period and Volkswagen has told us thats simply too bad - once we are out of the warranty period we are on our own. Ill never own another Volkswagen and I am relaying my story to as many people in the Midwest as I can.

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  Unhappy with my Touareg - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By julesvw - July 2 - 10:00 am

  I have less than 1000 miles on this, and have had numerous problems. Its already had a CD player replaced, different warning lights come on, and stay on. Its had to be towed to the dealership because it wouldnt start. Overall I would NOT recommend this vehicle to anyone. I have always driven a Volkswagen, and this is my first unhappy experience. I am also very unhappy about my "default" settings in the computer of this vehicle. It keeps locking my doors at inappropraite times. The brakes are squishy, and the drive is erratic. Its also a bit sluggish even though its a V8.

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  Never Again - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tomperk19 - June 18 - 10:00 am

  I have a 99 Volkswagen Jetta GLS (new body style). It is so unreliable, thank god I have an extended warranty. Just had the transmission replaced, Gaskets replaced, since it had NO oil in it (no warning lights), a switch that releases the transmission from park position. The list goes on and on. Waiting for my window to fall out. Heard thats a big problem too.

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  Should have completed more research! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sneel - June 15 - 1:43 pm

  Very disappointed in this purchase. Thought that it would be more reliable. Someone warned us that a Jetta was like a Christmas tree--- always a light on and we should have listened! From Day 1, we had problems. The brakes and roters never were quite right, the armrest broke, center piece of wheel came off never to be found again, transmission problems, trunk problems, remote on the keychain only worked when it wanted to, .....you name it! Definitely went with American made for our next purchase!

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  This is a biggest lemon Ive ever seen! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Ammbs - June 12 - 2:00 am

  After owning the car for less than a year the entire engine had to be rebuilt. The car has been in the shop enough times for me to drive all almost all of the dealerships car in different colors. After owning the car for a year and a half it was in the shop for about a month. STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR!!!

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  Not a solid car - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Nate Lindner - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Bought this vehicle in hopes for its reliability and gas mileage. This car not only disappointed, but I asked Burnsville Volkswagon to buy it back. It had clutch problems right from the word go. It was in the shop more than it was at home. I almost forgot the color of our car. My wife and I live in MN and traded in her jeep for what we thought was to be a gas improvement since we had two four-wheel drives at home. I would not recommend a jetta to anyone. I put on Bridgestone Blizzack tires to try to improve the terrible winter performance to no avail. You would think a car from Germany could handle some snow. The traction control system is a joke and noise maker. Terrible vehicle.....