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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  Biggest Pile I Have Ever Owned - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By johnd - June 8 - 8:36 am

  I was really excited when I bought the car. Been all downhill since. There cannot be a car that is more cheaply made than this. Mechanical issues (hoses, coils, traction control, etc.), interior is literally peeling, seats fall apart, antenna is cracking and falling off, engine cover under the car fell off, front bumper has come off twice. Lost lug caps, front grill caps. I could go on and on. Worst car I have ever owned. Will never buy a VW again.

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  WOULD NOT WISH THIS CAR ON MY WORST ENEMY! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By theandyn - June 3 - 8:29 pm

  I bought this car 5 years ago after I graduated high school to have a more reliable car for driving back and forth to college. I have literally had this car in the shop for something new needing to be fixed every single month. I had a 96 mustang before this and it had about 50,000 more miles on it and I never ONCE had it in the shop for anything but oil changes. Not to mention, everything is TWICE as expensive to fix because its a foreign car This car has been my worst nightmare and I just got done paying on it. Now the transmission is about to go and now I am forced to buy another car instead of having the luxury of no car payment. If you want something to last, please do NOT buy this car!

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  Rattlebox - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lemonbuyer - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Purchased new.. dashboard started rattling 1 week after we took delivery. Has been in shop 11 times for that problem alone. Trim moldings come unstuck, we just stick them back on. VW couldnt care less. Consulted a lemon lawyer - not defined as a lemon cause rattle is not considered a defect. What a sad joke. We tried to trade this car in on a Toyota and the best trade price we were offered was $13,500. Pathetic resale and now I know why. Its a heap of junk! I dont know how we are going to sell it privately with a loud rattle in the dashboard! Were going to cut our substantial losses and kiss VW goodbye.

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  Bad Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Evan - May 26 - 7:50 am

  I have never owned a vehicle where I have had more problems than with my 2004 Volkswagen Touareg. Its problems include: a replaced driveshaft, replaced radio head unit 5 times, replaced almost all wood panels on interior, replaced cluster and dash, replaced catalytic converter twice, windshield fogging up constantly, air conditioning flutters, vehicle does not move when started after it has been sitting for two days.

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  Did GM build this car or did VW? - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By wniece - May 17 - 3:07 am

  I have owned 5 VWs in the past and this is my 6th and the last! Right from the start the back window had to be replaced because it was warped, bubbled and defective. Over a week in the shop. The Fender sound system is great but the top bar under the windshield cracks and rattles detracting from the sound. 3x times trying to fix that. The suspension crashes and bangs over bumps - going in for the fourth time to fix that! And, now the steering rack and column was defective - 13 days in the shop! And, whats up with styrofoam foam under the front passenger seat, foam packing in the trunk hinges?? Numerous rattles and creaks from the interior. What happened VW? Extremely disappointed. Stay away

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  buy another car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By floridajetta - May 17 - 2:00 am

  very small inside not comfortable. Drink holder blocks radio. Rear view mirror fell off week after we bought it...grill fell off.

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  GARBAGE! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By xtr3medriver - May 15 - 11:30 am

  I bought my July of 2006. It ran wonderful in the summer but as soon as winter came around it started dying on me. I started to notice every time the temp outside went under 30 degrees, my car wouldnt run. We took it to the mechanics and had the alternator, battery, plugs & wires all replaced. It still would die. Then we took it in and had the whole wire harness replaced, it seemed to work for a few days then started dying again. Weve taken it to the dealership and they cant even figure out what the problem is.

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  My VW Nightmare since 2005 - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By I Hate VW - May 15 - 3:13 am

  I have been experiencing constant issues with Volkswagen since I purchased it in 2005. I think it is the company at a whole not the dealership alone. My car is always serviced by the inexperienced mechanic. I seriously had parts broken and fall of after a service from a VW dealership. I can understand if I was going on the corner to have my car repaired then I would be accountable. I just want VW to be accountable for once. Always a service engine light, PCV value, manifold issue, brakes or whatever else that occurs.I am not stopping here. I refuse be treated in this manner. The consumers need to stand up and demand that we are valued. Alert the media and Congress. Someone will listen

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  Stung by the pollen filters and drowning in water - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By blonde53 - May 10 - 4:01 pm

  Its like a death. Or a... divorce maybe? You love your vehicle and then you find out it was all a lie. Beware of the pollen filters! They have a design flaw and they clog so ... when you drive in rain the water will get trapped in your footwell. This is true if you own a Passat or Jetta. They have the same problem. In the Touareg it will cost you 6 grand and that will not be the end of your problem. VW has been aware of the flaw... sued in the New Jersey courts . Google to read lawsuit. Once the water has destroyed your AWD module and started to rust your car and mold begins to grow... your car is really worthless trying to sell it. VW does NOT care about its customers. DO NOT BUY VWs!

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  2002 VW Jetta GLX VR6 - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jnp16 - May 9 - 2:42 am

  The reviews on maintenance costs are spot on. In six years, Ive reached double digits in calling a tow truck to come pick me up. x5 alternators, x4 window regulators (3 driver/1 passenger), cat converter, multiple hoses/wires seemed to have disintegrated or melted without known reasons, interior wood paneling is falling off (even double bubble wont keep them on and I used that fixing air planes). Also my black paint job began to fade shortly after the factory 10 year warranty. Now my black car mirrors a dalmatian, which I have begun to explain as it is a "custom fade" paint job. 700 words isnt enough to explain how many problems Ive had since 2009.