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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  Great value, no peers - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By Seth - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I was looking for a car to replace my 2000 Acura RL. I wanted a car that was fun to drive above all else, but also one that was a good daily driver and fit my active lifestyle. I considered the following vehicles: Acura TSX, BMW 3 series, Audi A4, Mazdaspeed 3, VW CC and GTI, and Subaru WRX and STi. In the end the GTI ended up winning. It is, IMO, the best combination of fun to drive and nice to live with for the money. This car puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. If you are looking for a car to love, not just drive, I highly recommend it. I love mine. My wife and I did a 3700 mile road trip in it, and it was flawless.

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  Blast to drive, and a looker too - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By neonneon23 - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I took a couple of friends to test drive a new beetle turbo S. It was nothing short of a great time. The turbo spooled up quickly, and left us longing for more. Since a salesman didnt join us, we were really able to drive this car. Favorite part was the performance from the beetle. Ergonomically, the rear seats are useless, however they do fold down for ample storage. Also, it bothered me that the car was all but silent. Small pet peeve that may bother performance enthusiasts. Worth a test drive, so take one, or two or three....

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  Piece of crap - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By staffyowner - February 15 - 2:00 am

  This car is nickel and dimeing me. If its not a wheel bearing, its a sensor, or its a headlight, or its a taillight, or its the headliner, or its the interior chipping and falling apart, or its the igntion coil failing. Yeah, as you can tell, I have been very disappointed in the VW Jetta. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT BUY VOLKSWAGEN! And as far as EVERY ignition coil failing, and having repalced two out of pocket before they issued a recall for the last two...do not rely on VW of America making you whole. After spending over $250 in new plugs, coils and labor, they would only reimburse for $125. I will never buy VW again.

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  Beauty is only skin deep... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jetta Matic - February 15 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car used in February 2010. By November of 2010 we had spent $1,800 in repairs on the car. Problems: lunging at startup, rough idle, several heat sensors went bad, light bulbs burning out, fuel pump went out, water pump went out, bad thermostat, poor radio reception, squeaky shocks, horrible waxy/crayon odor inside, AC smelled like vinegar at times, trunk difficult to open, door handles deteriorating.

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  faulty headliners - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By nandev - February 15 - 2:00 am

  We own this vehicle..I would not buy another..one month out of warranty with 20,000 miles on it the headliner started pulling off. Went to dealer,they stated they would order a new one. well 8 weeks later and now they wont return our calls. Stopped by and we were told they couldnt see were one was ever ordered. They should have been up front and stated sorry cant do anything about it. Honda does courtesy warranties on stuff like this. No more VW for us. We are in our 50s and our cars are very well taken care of. This is unacceptable. They have a problem with their headliners falling down..

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  My new Jetta is as good as the last one! - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JEM - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I have read some negative reviews about the cheapness of new 2011 Jetta but I have to disagree. I just traded my 2008 Jetta SE in for a 2011 Jetta SE (Comfort/sunroof package) and have been super happy with it and look forward to driving! While the new style loses a couple of the more premium features(ie. automatic seats), it gains just as many as it lost. It gets better gas mileage, seems like a peppier ride and also has the blue- tooth/cell phone feature which im loving. New sterio is terrific and is all touchpoint and easy-to-use.

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  Great, when its working - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Michael H - February 15 - 12:56 am

  I bought my 2002 Passat wagon used with 23k on it. I was drawn by the styling inside and out, vault- like build quality, and the utility of a wagon. The only negative I saw was the lackluster engine power. Since then, I have replaced the convenience electronics module, turn signal flasher, brake booster pump, steering rack, one catalytic converter, and the other cat is now leaking and needs replaced. The transmission is dodgy, the climate control sometimes cuts out, and the rear window washer doesnt work. The sunroof drain leaks into the rear floor. Ive spent about $5000 in repairs in 3 years. When the car is working, its fabulous. When its not, which is way too often, its a disaster.

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  Best Value - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By licheenut - February 14 - 6:24 pm

  We were looking for a car that had an upscale feel and appearance without the upscale cost. We were also looking for a car that was fuel efficient and did not want a hybrid. The 2014 VW Passat Wolfsburg met most of our criteria. It looks great and handles well on all types of driving conditions. The 1.8 turbocharged four cylinder engine gets decent MPG but feels a little underpowered. However, it is quick enough to safely merge onto highways with adequate power for most situations. My wife and I really love this car and would recommend it to others.

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  VW Jetta - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tmaynard - February 14 - 4:06 am

  I bought My Jetta TDI to handle my 100 mile communte. I now only fill up onece a week versus twice. It is a great car. It has plenty of power, and it is greatly improved over the old VW Dasher diesel that I had back in the 80s.

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  Enthusiastic! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Gliffe - February 13 - 12:13 pm

  The New Passat is just begging for someone to drive it. A pleasure to own. The only negative so far is the gas mileage in city driving. This car loves too be driven and is so spirited that you dont mine using premium gas. A quality auto at a bargain price.