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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  money pit - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By greg snodgrass - February 4 - 9:04 am

  I have had my car 5 years/100,000 miles. AC compressor went out last week=$1600. This week, the particulate filter/catalytic converter went out and that is going to cost $5100. At 120,000 miles, the timing belt will need to be replaced=$1200. The NADA on the car is $9000. I will never buy another VW.

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  A Lot of Bang for a Little Buck - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Justin - February 4 - 6:03 am

  We bought this car with 5000 miles on it for $17,000. It came with 19" VW wheels and was packed with all the great equipment the Wolfsburg comes with. We cannot believe how amazing of a deal we got. No problems at all. The blue lit up dash interior is great. The heated seats are fantastic and I am 6 tall and the car fits me perfectly. The turbo is smooth as well as the transmission. Plus the 6 disc/satellite radio system is amazing! I love this car!

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  2006 TDI Tiptronic - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Brett F - February 4 - 2:00 am

  We scrambled to find a TDI Beetle with package 1 options including sunroof, heated seats, and leatherette interior. My wife drives it about 420 miles a week and is averaging 36-38 mpg in mostly city use. The car got about 42 mpg hwy the one time we had it on the road at 65 mph with A/C on. The 6-speed auto transmission can be shifted manually or fully auto. It shifts smoothly and quietly and the 1.9L turbodiesel spools very efficiently. The ride is a bit stiff, but it is smooth. The seats are a bit of a pain to adjust but the controls work well. Dont expect the luggage room of an SUV, but it is good for groceries and weekenders. We liked it so much we went out and bought a 2004 manual TDI too!

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  Great used Value - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By 2LtRyan - February 2 - 8:26 pm

  The car drives extremely well. You are basically buying an Audi A6 Quattro, with less to fix. The car handles and stops amazingly well. Instrumentation is great, the cup holders stink and that is fixed in later models. Fit and finish is excellent. The V6 is much better than the 4cyl - less problems. Car runs and looks like new - now I have 160,000 miles! Oil leaks and the cost of parts is a bugger, but if you are religious with the maint enance schedule you shouldnt have any issues. Amazing value for the money. More bells and whistles than other cars for way less.

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  Great Car for the wet or snow - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By GreatB5 - February 2 - 4:03 pm

  My B5 2001 Passat now has 85,000 miles on it and still feels like new. We bought the car after finding the A4 to be too small and the A6 too big. This A4 based car is the perfect compromise. The interior is great looking and built to last. The leather has no creases or cracking, even after 85,000 miles of driving. There are no interior rattles at all. While the 4motion is fantastic for a wet and snowy climate, Id pass on it if I lived somewhere I didnt absolutely need it as the fuel mileage hit is pretty big.

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  Dont buy this if its cold or snowy - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By gheater - February 2 - 11:50 am

  This car cant move in 1" of snow. Brand new tires put on 11/12, and i cant make it up my driveway, or my small hill to my house. I had a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am that did this with zero problem with more snow on the ground. Also, the windshield wiper motors will freeze as soon as its under 20 degrees outside. Not a great feeling when the wipers dont work and its snowy/icy. Car is great in the spring - fall. Or get one in Arizona. Pissed that a German company makes a car with such bad performance in cold weather. Will trade it in as soon as possible.

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  Love the new Jetta!!!!!!!!! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Andy - February 2 - 3:10 am

  This new Jetta is great in every way. Its economical but also luxurious and so well built. Get one to see what I mean. It puts a smile on my face every day.

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  Perfect Fit - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By numberonecargirl - February 1 - 6:13 pm

  I had a Lexus SC300 so I am used to luxury. In purchasing this my 2003 Volkswagen Passat, I had to make sure it had all the comfort and options that I was used to. I was just looking for something bigger to fit my family needs. This Passat did just that. It is fun to drive, and my children like all the lights at night, they look cool according to them! LOL. I love that it plays my burned CDs and I love my heated seats. The 4Motion is wonderful, since I was used to the rear wheel drive with the Lexus, and that was an uncomfortable feeling in the winter. Now I feel stuck on the road. I also have room to fit a ton of groceries and my children are not cramped. I also get a ton of compilments, and that I like!

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  VW R32 - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Pathfinder - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I bought the R32 for my 16 year old son. However, I am really enjoying the car over some much more expensive choices. Performance is good, handling and braking are excellant. I am looking forward to doing some mods to extract a bit more power-probably K&N air filter, and a chip. I own MB and Audi and enjoy the R32 more than a M3 that I just drove. Price is fair for the quality of this German-built car.

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  Very impressive car! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By HAZER - February 1 - 10:00 am

  Have 2100 miles on it. Excellent low end torque/power--it glides effortlessly over mountain passes. Great mileage. Avg so far 41 mpg hwy @ 80 mph w/air on. Car handles really well. Passengers dont believe it is only a $27,000 car. So far, Im convinced you would have a hard time finding a better combination of comfort, power, class and economy in the under 30k price range. If the reliability is good, this will be a tough car to beat.