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:

• 

  Excellent SUV - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By fadious - March 2 - 11:30 am

  I like the Touareg. It has been very reliable and has lots of luxury items that would have cost an extra $20,000 in a BMW or a MercedesBenz.

• 

  Dont buy VW - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Liz - March 2 - 10:00 am

  I will never again buy a German VW. poor quality. If you like to replace parts a lot, this is thw car for you.

• 

  Mooses VW 411 - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Knoxville Moose - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Ive had an amazing experience in the 98 Beetle. Its my first car and is an excellent option for the teenage driver. Its incredibly safe! After being rear ended in a nasty collision that left a Stanza totalled, both passengers in my car walked away without a scratch. The car took quite a hit and was driveable; however, it is especially hard to repair because of the build of the car and its low level. The Beetle has rarely failed me or even let me down in the least. Its fun, its safe, its reliable, and it gets the attention of the opposite sex;)

• 

  A Bug that will bug you ... - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By J Thomas - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Consistent problems mark this car. Electrical system required a major investment to get the car running again. The air conditioning went out annually requiring finally another major investment to fix. The power windows go out almost as often. The back hatch rattles periodically as the wiring harness in it slides around. Seals came down from around the windows. The two dealerships that serviced the vehicle were inept at fixing problems and bent on creating reasons to jack up the cost of repairs. They seemed to be distinctly dishonest. (In contrast to the dealers for my BMW or Chrysler.) I have vowed to never buy another VW.

• 

  great car for the money - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By dan1.8T - March 2 - 10:00 am

  this car is the best car i ever owned. Runs very strong. Very fast and very good brakes. I will never sell it as long i live!!!

• 

  Fun but not reliable - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Swiss Miss - March 2 - 10:00 am

  My car is almost fours years old and I have had many problems with it. These problems can not be classified as normal wear and tear. For anyone interested in buying the car, I would stay away from any that were built in September and October. Remember, these cars are built in Germany and Octoberfest is around that time of year. I am definitely paying the price for the car having been put together by a bunch of drunk Germans!

• 

  Two years later, no problems - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rOo - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Here I am, 72,000 miles later, and my maintenance has been light bulbs, oil changes and new tires. This thing is still on the original brake pads. When they do finally decide to wear, Im getting the exact same brand. I have had absolutely no troubles. Ive been bad--Ive yet to take the car for its scheduled maintenance. So far, it hasnt punished me for my neglect. One bad thing--the car burns oil. Lots of it. Im putting in a quart or more every 2,500 miles. I chalk that up to my lead foot on the turnpike, but its the only car Ive ever had that issue with. Still, its a great car and it looks fantastic.

• 

  Great car...look for the new 2005!!!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By abl75 - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Well, i bought my new car in September 2002 and so far i am very happy with it. What has been bothering me are the front lights that have gonne bad several times so far(4 times exactly) but i hope they will do a better job with the future generations. Allready have 50,000 miles on it and have not had another problem whatsoever. I am looking forword for the New Passat which is expected for late 2004 and will have more choices of engine one of which is the 3.2L 240HP. Finally i have to say that I love my car!!!!!

• 

  Great sports sedan - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By terminalman - March 2 - 10:00 am

  A quality car with a very high "fun" quotient. Easy to control and highly predictable even if you push the limits on a curve. Excellent ride similar to a luxury sedan, handles most road bumps with ease. Quiet and pleasant interior. Responsive to the drivers style the the adaptive automatic transmission, or you can shift it yourself. Seat comfort is excellent in front, good in back. What a great car!

• 

  glx 4motion passat wagon - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ron stidmon - March 2 - 10:00 am

  the Passat 4motion system works well and the car has a very solid feel. Much more comfortable ride than Subaru Forester but not as firm as most SUVs. Styling is attractive and the controls are intuitive,