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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  Terrible Car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Max Allen - March 28 - 2:00 am

  It’s loud. It vibrates. The dash rattles, The windows squeak. There is no back seat. No usable cup holder. According to dealer, it’s all within mfg. Specs. My worst driving experience ever. Stay away from VW.

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  Worst Car Ever - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By All Max - March 28 - 2:00 am

  The VW Jetta TDI gets great mileage, but that is where the greatness ends. On the highway the ride is tolerable but around town it sounds and feels like I’m driving a “Big-Rig”.It gets louder the more I drive it. Not only is the motor loud, but when I’m stopped I can feel my entire body vibrate. At speeds from 0-40 there are rattles in the dash and all the windows squeak constantly. The dealer says this is all within the manufacturer’s specifications. Essentially no back seat. Cup holder location is ridiculous. Unless you live for 40-mpg stay away from this poorly engineered, poorly constructed automobile.

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  VW Cannot Fix My Jetta After Ten Attempts - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By maxwellTN - March 22 - 3:10 pm

  My Jetta has had problems since it hit 15,000 miles, when it needed a new transmission. The issue was not solved by this repair and has continued even after 10 attempts to fix it by the local dealer. The car skirts erradically / hard in all gears, it stalls from park to reverse after sitting overnight, it does not downshift properly (or at all) when going up hills, and is unreliable in when and how it will shift. The dealer tried to fix it, but the issues came back. I have been told that this is common in 2002-2004 Jettas - and was told this by the dealer and the service manager. VW customer care has also offered no recourse - I am stuck with a car that is now out of warranty and has yet to be fixed by the dealer.

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  Never Buy a VW - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ihatevw - March 21 - 3:10 pm

  I really hate this car with a passion. Literally every day something goes wrong. Yesterday my starter went. I had it replaced. Today the idle is going crazy and its smelling like gas really bad. The coolant system is terrible. Pretty much everything on this car is designed poorly and made of plastic. The exhaust rattles of the underside of the car. The electrical system is total junk. I have had problems with this car since day one. If you are reading this and are considering getting a VW, please go buy a Honda, seriously.

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  Trade this car - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lukas - March 13 - 11:56 am

  I traded this car for Mazda 3 with 0 % interest , payment less money , more fun and no problem so far. Passat is junk with nice body. If You like to pay for service, spend a lot off time in dealer i strongly recommended but if you like your car to run and keep the car without of problems trade this car.

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  It feels old - 2015 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bender - February 24 - 5:00 am

  Transmission... shifts like: toom-toom. Diesel is good on gas? Think again: you got to buy solution to add to the fuel. Dealers cost $150 every 5,000-10,000 miles. It ruins all savings. Or a car wont start. I didnt like: cheap interior materials, old style, price is too high. Car feel like 10 y.o. already.

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  Run dont walk from this car! - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Angry VW owner - February 24 - 12:00 am

  I purchased this car from a friend who had won it. So, I was considered a 2nd owner, so I got cheated out of a 50K mile warranty by VW, even though my friend never insured or drove the car. Beyond that the car is plain and simple--JUNK! The catalytic converter needed to be replaced at about 52K miles, VW wouldnt warranty it. They finally did up to 100k by that time I had over 100K. The check engine light has been on forever, and the transmission is sketchy. The interior is a mess. Cup holders broken, seat fabric is torn, rear view mirror is a joke, not to mention the interior light. Trunk release broken and the fuel release door broken. Dont buy this car unless your are a masochist

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  VW Jetta Wolfsberg - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By azaero - February 22 - 5:50 am

  One of the least reliable cars I have ever owned. The interior is cheap plastic that constantly breaks and the dealerships will not replace it. The glove compartment latch has broken 3 times in 60,000 miles and the center arm rest is broken from normal wear. The engine reliability is very poor. The struts have failed twice, the oil leaks constantly, the brake lines leak, the computer constantly says to"check engine," it requires at least 91 octane or it gums-up, the vacuum hose plastic parts fail and leak. Ive put thousands into this car. Never again will I own a VW.

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  POS Car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rob a - February 8 - 10:00 am

  500 miles clutch master replaced, 5,000 miles water pump replaced, 10,000 miles power windows replaced, 12,000 miles climate control repaired, 20,000 interior plastic trim falling off, 25,000 new rear brakes and rotors, 32,000 engine coil being replaced. Everytime I need a repair I have to call 5 or 6 vws so that I dont have to wait over a week for an appointment. This car absolutely sucks and I will be getting rid of it asap. DO NOT BUY THIS POS. You have been warned.

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  Adam Sandlers Car Song must be a Jetta - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Never again! - January 30 - 3:40 am

  All of the problems listed here I have dealt with too, except for the green stuff in the door. The latest: it thinks it is in reverse when it is in park. It wont start in park (only in neutral). When I have it in drive all the gears light up on the instrument panel. My mechanic called TWO VW dealers and VW claims that they have never heard of such a thing! Mechanically the car is in park, but the computer senses its in reverse. (I replaced the neutral safety switch because thats what they thought was wrong, but it wasnt that ... $250 down the drain). I will NEVER buy another VW.