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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  Touareg Nightmare - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By CW - March 12 - 3:06 pm

  VW does not stand behind its products. I have had my Touareg in the shop for various items including transmission problems for a total of 14 weeks since I purchased it. this truck cost $55,000 new and now I cant even sell it. The most I can get for a trade is $31,000. It needed new tires at 15,000 miles. It has wear caused by the failure of the stepper motor and VW would only pay for half of them. That was another $500 dpwn the drain. Also, it absolutely sucks gas, honestly, even driven when very gingerly. The transmission still shifts quirky and the brakes grab. I would not purchase another VW product for all the money in the world. I thought of claiming it under the lemon law, but who has the time for all that litigation. It squeaks and rattles all the time.

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  What a mistake - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ValancyMeris - March 12 - 11:36 am

  This vehicle was purchased new in April of 2000. It has been back to the dealership for Check Engine light service an average of 6 times per year. I have had it serviced in April, May, June and have an appointment for July of this year. My father drove a VW Bus from 1978 until 1998 and it was still in good shape when he sold it, I thought VW was a vehicle I could rely on, but that has not been my experience. Ive spent over $1,000 on service so far this year. Oh, and by the way, when you take the car in for service be sure to remind the techs to check the oil; two different dealerships failed to do this when the vehicle was brought in for basic service.

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  loves the shop more than the road - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By bill - March 12 - 4:33 am

  I have driven this car for 6 months and have already replaced the alternator, drivers side axle, pedal sensor, o2 sensor, and now hopefully only a piece of flex pipe behind the catalytic converter and not the entire stretch of exhaust including the converter. The locks pop up and down when they please, the alarm doesnt work properly, the cup holders stink, and is like maneuvering a plastic toboggan when its snows. I love the way it handles and accelerates, its very comfortable, but its much too costly to maintain. I should have kept my Camry. Oh, and premium fuel only. have fun w/ $40 plus fill ups. oh, and wait until your epc light comes on while youre on the highway! have fun!

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  Still unsure - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Love it Hate it, too - March 11 - 3:16 pm

  The guy who said "love it, hate it" had it right. Love the car, but at 35,000 miles, Ive had a LOT of costly warranty work on the transmission and issues with oil consumption that the service writers refuse to talk to me about. Its suspicious but apparently a common problem- Google it. The trans is going to go out again and already has signs of wear a tear.

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  Fun fun fun cheap cheap cheap - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ARE - March 9 - 11:26 pm

  I love to drive my Beetle. Great handling and driving dynamics. Very spacious up front but only enough room in the back for small kids (they love to ride in a bug). Huge cargo space in the trunk with the rear seat down. Great ergonomics, every single control is with in your fingertips. It is a car for people who love to drive. Some may say that it needs more rear room but the Bug is what it is a small sporty car, not a family car.

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  Jetta - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By decker - March 9 - 2:36 am

  Our 2002 Volkswagen Jetta has been a great car to drive. We have not had any major problems with it. All of the recalled parts were hassel free to fix. It has the pick up that I like and good fuel economy whlie cruising.

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  Teutonic friend of mine - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By David L - March 8 - 5:36 pm

  My 2004.5 Volkswagen Jetta GLI has been flawless. The personality and charm is understated. The build quality and engineering has been well thought out, and my MPG has been 20% better than expected (22-30). I love the the upgrades that they offered on the 2004.5 GLI. Thanks VW.

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  Fingers crossed here - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By happyasakite - March 8 - 2:00 am

  After reading so many negatives on the reliability of the 02 Passat, Im just waiting for something to happen. Eight months and 7000 miles later the only thing that has me annoyed is the right front speaker crackling (Monsoon system). After the first service, the mileage has climbed to 26-27 in the city! If you want to feel the power of turbo, try the manual - it is just awsome.

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  Lots of quirks, but still nice to drive. - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By rapparee71 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  The car has great pick up and cruises solidly at high speed. However, it is quite noisy as the transmission is geared too low. A high, sixth gear is greatly needed. My car has had a "popping" sound when cold and a very unstable idle. No distinct cause has been found. There are tons of squeaks, creaks, and rattles that will never be solved. I sold my TDI because of these to get my present 1.8T. And both cars were made in Wolfsburg! The door latches have been replaced, window regulators, mass air flow sensor, injector seals, turbo boost valve, and diverter valve. If you want a Golf, get the TDI.

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  Massive Sensor Flaw - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By Jason Wallace - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Good car, fun to drive and great feul economy but the mass air flow sensor has broken four times in two years. This causes the car to lose about 75% of its power. Imagine going 70mph on the highway and suddenly dropping down to 30mph. Very annoying, potentially very dangerous, and $350.00 to fix. Im getting rid of the car because of this flaw.