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:

• 

  Fun to Drive Car - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By adamt - March 8 - 2:00 am

  When I first test drove this car, I was eager to own one. After purchasing the Jetta GLS 99 model, I am still enjoying driving. Cool accelaration on the highways and safe changing lanes on high speeds.

• 

  Please pass on this car - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Unhappy Camper - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Leased this vehicle in a pinch- and wish I had taken more time. Dealer played many games on financing and I should have walked then! Want out of my lease and despite all the folks raving over Passats I am weary. Would help if I could like a 2003- as the dealer is playing more games to incent me to stick with it. Burned once.....

• 

  I love this car! - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By madagan - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Truth be told, I bought this car for my dog... My 98 VW GTI VR6 wasnt quite big enough for all of our stuff for all of our adventures. After much research and forethought, we upgraded. The car is essentially an Audi A6 Avant in street clothes. I had it all... it was sexy, practical, and drives like a sports car [not quite as zippy as the GTI VR6, but still quite zippy!]. Its been two years now, and after several road trips [even took to sleeping in it rather than hassle with the tent!], snowboarding trips, home depot shopping safaris, and the occassional [I wish] commute, Im happy to report I would make the same choice all over again. Its a fabulous car all around.

• 

  will never buy a jetta again - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SERG JG - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW PERIOD,THEY VERY NICE FEATURES BUT, RELIABILITY IS NOT THERE.IVE HAD PROBLEMS W/THE CD CHANGER MORE THAN ONCE,IVE HAD PROBLEMS W/TRANSMISSION MORE THAN ONCE,IVE HAD PROBLEMS W/THE EXHAUST (MAKING NOISES)AND THER WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER WINDOWS SYSTEM TOO...ANYWAY IS BEEN TERRIBLE TO OWN THIS VEHICLE SO,I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND A VW CAR.THANX.

• 

  Fun car needing some minor fine tuning - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By KMesmer - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Jetta for 7 months (8K mi) now & have not had any of the problems that some of the other reviews except the squeaks/rattles coming from the dash, & door panels. However, where I drive has awful road conditions -- especially late winter and spring. Before this Jetta I had driven new Nissans which also seemed to have a lot of cabin noise, so Im not sure if its the cars or driving conds. This car is the funnest I have driven. The ride & handling of the car are top- notch. The Monsoon system is on par with the Bose systems installed in other luxury class cars, and the overall design is superb, with some real aesthetic panache

• 

  Still some imperfections! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By RTC - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I ditched by 00 Jetta to trade in for a 02 Passat, hoping the car would feel solid like the Camrys and Accords. The steering column still rattles over road bumps and when its cold outside. Its very annoying and embarrassing when I have buddies riding with me. Tried to get it fixed by bringing the car back to the dealer but was told nothing could be done! Shame on VW!

• 

  My first 1.5K miles - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By cchi - March 8 - 2:00 am

  After 4 hrs in Honda dealer, I decided to buy the Passat within 10 min by just opening the doors and trunk. This car is far more solid than Accord, no matter how many statistics shown by the Honda dealer, you can not against the law of physics. After the first 1500 miles, it avgs 31 MPG. The car consistently reaches 32-34 on the highway with super(93) gas. The 5w40 syn oil is hard to find. Since the car is turbo charged, oil should be changed more often. Use only original or OEM (Mann,Mahle,Bosch) oil filters with anti-drain valve to provide normal oil pressure in cold start. Avoid Fram2870A, Pennzoil, Quaker products. Change the oil by yourself or dealer.

• 

  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Buggin Out - March 8 - 2:00 am

  My car did have some problems with the window motor, but the dealer fixed with no problems. Even provided a rental when it was kept overnight.

• 

  Yeah! Volkswagen for the TDI Turbo Wagon - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Gwen Frangias - March 6 - 12:20 pm

  This is probably my all time favorite vehicle. It is fun to drive, a real winner at the fuel pump, and it has all the cargo space (and more) of an SUV without the bulk. You can hardly tell that it is a diesel, theres no odor, no noise, and as much pep as anyone would need. This car is a huge improvement over our only other diesel, a Mercedes back in the early 90s.

• 

  Great Family Sedan - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By bimmershawn - March 5 - 5:52 pm

  I put on about 1400 miles on a Passat S auto. The overall quality is gone down quite a bit from my 99 Passat GL V6 that I had before. The car is now manufactured in Tennessee instead of Germany. So far I have not encountered any problems. The car rides very comfortably except the bottom seat cushion is kind of hard. The fuel economy is very good and you also get a large gas tank. Power is adequate but not spectacular. I got a very good lease program (around >$4K below MSRP). Great value and a solid choice as a family car.