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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  2007 Eos - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Ted - July 10 - 5:06 pm

  I love my Eos. Ive had it since last April and it hasnt been back to the shop since. The interior is roomy and stylish yet simple. Im very impressed with the gas mileage, getting 28 miles to the gallon on average so far, despite living in the city. The steering is tight and you can really feel the road. Its fun to drive, even if only down the block. The top is simple to use and when its up its hard to believe its a convertible. The only bad thing is the top-down trunk space, but its big enough to fit small luggage or a couple suitcases. But Ive found the back seat makes a good place to put stuff, too. And you dont look like Mr. Moneybags, having a flashy exterior.

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  More Fun Than It Looks! - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By bp1020 - July 10 - 12:00 pm

  Purchased new and have had no problems. Great handling car, especially with replacement tires. Fun to drive with comfortable interior. Leather seats have held up well. Plenty of interior room for family of 4. I make regular road trips of 3 to 4 hours and with the fully adjustable seats have no problem staying comfortable (at 62"). The 4-cyl. turbo provides more than enough power and great gas mileage. I would purchase another Passat without question.

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  Worth It - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Happy - July 10 - 8:30 am

  Very solid ride and power when you need it. Handles great and gives you a true feel for the road. Highway driving is smooth and effortless. I am leasing but think I may actually buy this time!

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  Surprisingly poor driving car - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dm3 - July 10 - 12:29 am

  The 6 speed auto transmission is one of the most unresponsive that I have ever driven. The engine is underpowered. Throttle response is not smooth. Initially the car does nothing then surges. The transmission is too reluctant to downshift making for a frustrating drive. The transmission downshifts much too slowly. Mash the throttle and I sometimes forget that Ive done it as the seconds count down (2-3 seconds). That can be dangerous is you try to jump lanes. Interior feels unusually cheap for a VW. No cup holders in the rear. No cruise control. Rear view mirror can obstruct.

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  Bang for the Buck! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By ChicagoVW - July 9 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I just purchased the Passat. We were comparing it to the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, So far, I can find few flaws with the car. Despite other reviewers comments on the 1.8T not having power, I have found that to not be the case. While there is a lag in power in a off the line start, when the turbo kicks in, it can throw your head back! Its passing power is excellent. I have one problem though. Having been used to my Toyota Camry, I found myself driving at 85mph when I thought I was going 55. It travels almost too well at high speeds.

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  Great Car Horrible Dealer - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dieseldog - July 9 - 10:00 am

  My 98 Jetta TDI has been a great car with few mechanical problems. The only disappointment has been the total imcompetence of the only dealer within 40 miles of me. Without a reliable independent mechanic who understands these cars I would never buy another one. VW has a great product but a common complaint is lousy dealer support. Where is VOA? This is a common complaint across the USA/Canada.

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  disappointing - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Russel - July 9 - 10:00 am

  Well I only have 1234 miles and I am already having problems. From day one I noticed that my drivers seat keeps reclining very slowly all by itself. I keep having to adjust it forward. I also have popping noise coming from my left tie rod when I am backing out of parking spots. I have a leak in the weatherstripping around my passenger door. And last but not least, my freakin window popped off of the track tonight. I would doubt that a Hyundai or a Daewoo would even have this much trouble in the first month. This truly breaks my heart, because I absolutely love this car. I pray that these are the only problems I have. Well see...

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  So I bought another! - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By SilverBlur - July 9 - 10:00 am

  This is my second New Beetle (I bought a 98 when they first came out). What a great car! Between the two (and theres not much difference beyond the engine) I have driven it from Washington to Los Angeles, from Florida to Nova Scotia, and 92,000 miles beyond. The New Beetle is par none one of the most comfy around-town and cross- country small cars. None of the aching back and butt you usually get after a few hours on the road. Well-placed controls, a full-size spare, and a Monsoon sound system make for an all around great experience.

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  The Best/Worst Girlfriend Youll Ever Have - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By lehmann108 - July 9 - 1:15 am

  I bought my 2002 VW GTI 1.8L turbo used with 50,000 mile on it. It is a rocket ship of a car: fast, nimble, quick as a cat. This car is a blast to drive. You can mod the car to make it even faster raising the HP from 180 to 240 with a new ECU chip. But, all this being said, this car is the best/worst car youll ever drive for this price. It requires dedicated maintenance and $s to keep it in top shape. Youll grown as you pay the $1500 shop bill every 6 months, but when you rocket out of the parking lot youll say, "Yeah baby!" The best/worst girlfriend you ever will have! Shell rock your world and drain your wallet at the same time. And youll just smile.

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  A great sport coupe for not a lot money - 2017 Volkswagen Beetle
  By D. Rod - July 9 - 12:26 am

  I originally went to the VW dealer to buy a GTI but I didnt like the car. It looks great and the GTI title suggests that its a grand touring car but its more of a track car, not what I was looking for. So, after testing the GTI, I rested my back a little bit (the GTI suspension is rock hard) then tried the Beetle S. And, I loved it. Its a solid sports coupe with the perfect mix of performance and comfort. Also, its quite a good value. These are the key features: an Audi derived turbo charged four cylinder (smooth and powerful), automatic transmission that can be shifted manually, Hankook GT tires (great performance tires with a lot of grip), multilink independent rear suspension, and a radiator grill done NASCAR style (positioned down low). You can get all this for about $21,000. Its hard to find another brand that offers all this at that price point. Bottom line, its a lot of fun to drive. I drove a 2007 VW Rabbit for 10 years and the only maintenance, other than routine, was the replacement of transmission driveshaft boots. So, I think its reasonable to expect this car to be just as reliable. Also, just a final note, VW engineers chose this car to race in Red Bull Global Rallycross in which it won two championships.