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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  Stay far far away from these cars!!!! - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Ryheem T. - July 18 - 7:05 am

  My wife purchased a 2009 VW CC last year......July 2015. The first day of owning the car the fuel pump went , luckily we purchased the car in CT where the dealers have to give you a 90 day warranty. Car was in the shop for 2 weeks total bill cam e to well over $1000.....luckily we didnt have to pay for it. Car drove good for a few months then the brake booster went(Feb 2016)...........$700 fix. My wife was recently at work and the car wouldnt start.........replaced the coil packs($500 job) , car was out of the shop no more then a few weeks...........check engine light pops up......dreaded P2015 code(intake manifold issue). Luckily VW has a warranty for this........covered for 10 yrs/120k.......fixed free of charge. Got the car back yesterday 07/16/16 , this morning car wont start. Im telling you guys.......stay far far away from these cars........nothing but headaches!

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  Great Car but with Some Problems - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By big guy cool cars - July 17 - 6:00 pm

  I love the car, I enjoy driving it, and I like the way it looks, but it has some problems. I had the entire a/c replaced twice and down here in South Florida it just extremely uncomfortable. Luckily it was all covered. the other problem was that the radio knobs started peeling, but once again it was completely covered. Also, some turbo lag that is noticeable, but I still like the performance. After all that, I still smile when I press that accelerator and turn that extremely responsive steering wheel. This is my second Volkswagen and it definitely wont be my last. It is safe, good looking, has great performance, and most importantly it is very reliable in every situation.

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  Do Not Buy A Touareg - Ever - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By FedUp - July 17 - 2:56 am

  This is the most poorly build cars I have ever bought. It spends most of its time in the VW repair shop where most of the mechanics know little about how to make the necessary repairs. Its been towed numerous times due to electrical issues and recently had its 4th battery installed. I had new front brakes put on at 50K which cost $1,000, replaced the original tires at 30K, have a back seat that locks, have a $700 issue with the tire pressure system, have another fault light on related to the air suspension, have a xenon headlight that is problematic. My list of issue is never ending. Please dont waste your money on a Touareg. Ill never buy another VW. The Touareg is a LEMON.

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  Damn and only four thousand of em - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By obvious - July 16 - 2:00 am

  AWESOME!! No other word will aptly describe this car. Pull up to the light and give everyone a fleeting glimpse before I accelerate ...

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  So far, so great! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By KathrynB - July 16 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car with 45,000 miles on it, wanting to bring to Greece a car roomy for family & dogs, compact for tiny streets, European-looking to not stand out, with German handling but no German price, clean underside for unpaved roads, great gas mileage and handling, excellent high-speed performance. Thats exactly what I got. It handles Athens packed traffic (open the sunroof, turn up Sting, let it loaf along), very rough dirt roads, & 100 mph highways with equal grace. It can beat the BMWs and Alfas through curves using only the automatic (although it has the no-clutch manual, too) It also parks easily on the sidewalk! Fine, fine car!

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  TDI Golf - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By XJScott - July 16 - 2:00 am

  Compared to other compact cars (Civic, Focus, Corolla) the Golf is much more fun to drive, albeit for a premium price. Im 62" yet fit very well due to highly adjustable seats, although sitting in the rear seats behind me would be impossible. Hatchback design provides extra flexibility when cargo hauling is required. Build-quality, although Brazilian, is solid and paint looks brand new after 2.5 years. Cloth seats are hair magnets, though, and I carry a lint roller in the car at all times. Id look at leather next time.

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  How did I get into this mess????? - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By formervwlover - July 16 - 2:00 am

  great to drive..disaster to own after warranty. (5th VW) 4 times for clutch/ sulpher smell/$600 starter at 25K Miles/ cheap plastic inside/out: front bumper pulled off TWICE/ O2 sensor (3 times)/ The best part is every time I bring it in for another ELECTRICAL repair, the dealer breaks someting else I have to fight about because they deny that anything is related to anything. I GIVE UP!!!!! Going for a volvo now.

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  I hope its a fluke!!! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By littlesister - July 16 - 2:00 am

  After owning a money pit convertible bug in high school, my husband and I purchased this car (to make up for past wrongs, I guess). With only 80 miles on the odometer, it broke down! A pressure sensor in the turbo failed. Ten days later, the top would not go up. Other than that, we both love it. It is cyber green and way too fun for its own good. We opted for the 5-speed manual turbo and love the power. Our daughters think its so cool and always want us to drive them to school with the top down. It handles beautifully.

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  Please do not buy - save yourself - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By lpdjam - July 16 - 2:00 am

  This car has been in the shop over 15 times in 8 months. The roof does not go up or down most the time. The windows dont go up and down some of the time. The conv. top cables, motor, computer sensor. The roof and electrical system are a total mess. Not even to go into the airbag light going on and not parts available to repair at this time.

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  Best value for the money and A+ design - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Prashanth - July 15 - 4:06 pm

  This is the first coupe-convertible with a hardtop. Getting this car is definitely my best choice ever. I had to wait some time before I could get a deal on the price, but what do you expect from a best-selling car in Europe? The car as a coupe is exceptionally quiet inside, compared to the conventional canvas-top convertibles. The interior is very classy and the dashboard colors are pleasing to the eye, and not at all a distraction. While driving it as a convertible, the ride is very smooth and with very minimal jerks. The wheels hug the road beautifully while turning and making quick curves, and I was in fact prodded by the test-drive guy to turn it at 60 mph to see that it had no effect on the cars handling.