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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  German Engineered Passat GLX - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mike Xillas - December 20 - 5:03 am

  My last car was a very nice Acura TL but I like my Certified Pre Owned VW Passat GLX much better. At high speeds it holds the road better, reacts less to cross winds, puddles and rough road surfaces. It feels hunkered down, stable and capable of much higher speed. The seating is better bolstered, firm and much more comfortable for long trips. The 8 speaker sound system came alive when I added a VW 6-disc changer. The trunk is huge and I like being able to drop the rear seats (60/40) to accomodate cargo. The 5-Speed tiptronic is a blast to use. Love the heated seats, moonroof, rain sensing wipers, memory seats and trip information computer. Engineered for the Autobahn.

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  The best - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By cc3323 - December 19 - 8:56 pm

  This VW is the best. I traded in a convertible beetle for something with a little bit more power and boy did I get it. The hard top is fun to use and the car drives great. Gas mileage is a plus also. The only down side is the use of premium gas, but it is worth it for the power.

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  My Horror Story - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By azuki - December 19 - 7:34 am

  This was my first car at the age of 18. When I got my Beetle, it had about 72,000 miles on it, and not even 4 months after receiving it, the problems began. Immediately, my transmission died completely. My warranty company gave me a $4,000 check and voided my warranty after seeing the $12,000 repair bill. Then, the battery died. Twice. As did the alternator and air conditioning. My rear window also got stuck and that would have cost me 4 hours of labor fees just to get to the broken bits. Its not like I drove it a lot - over a course of 3 years I didnt even drive 10,000 miles. For the love of god, stay away from this car. It is one problem after another, literally every 3-5 months.

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  never again - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By nealmeg - December 19 - 5:53 am

  Car posed problems from the second day I had it. Numerous expensive repairs that were never covered under the warranty. Broken o2 sensor, mass airflow censor, brake light switch (x3), catalytic converter (was actually covered! Hooray!), coolant leaks, both front widows fell off tracks, sunroof leaked, broken engine coils, etc. Theres probably more but it makes me too depressed to think about it. I bought this car brand new one year after my mother bought a new Mazda and the same time my brother bought a Toyota, and guess what! Their cars are running wonderfully 9 years later! And mine? finally traded in for a beautiful Honda!

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  EOS-My Goddess of Wind - 2010 Volkswagen EOS
  By tbell - December 19 - 3:06 am

  The VW Eos is not only a marvel of engineering but a really fun car to drive. While I was somewhat apprehensive at first about the 4 cyl, one drive on the highway removed any doubts at all about the " get up and go" of this 21 century vwdub. At 61 years of age I fill like a teen again, by the way the girls on college campus like it too.

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  Performance excellence vw Passat - 2016 Volkswagen Passat
  By George - December 18 - 6:29 am

  Great car and price. Affordable luxury

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  certain problems, but fine ride - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By widow - December 18 - 3:50 am

  Repeat problems: links/arms in suspension lose "permanently sealed" lubricant, causing a disturbing grinding & squeeking noise. VW does not accept responsibility to replace these prematurely worn parts. Occasional problems starting car; may be corroded wiring on underside or faulty ignition switch. Problems known to VW but little inclination to help consumer fix problem. When all said, I love the firm ride and handling of my wagon.

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  great quality and fun to drive - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By shepp69 - December 17 - 2:00 am

  Love my jetta, its build quality is excellent with no problems. Interior looks good and heated seats are a must for leather seats in this part of the country. Quick with 1.8T engine. Going through tunnels you can really hear the turbo when it spools up. Great car no complaints. This is big because I have owned 13 cars in past 5 years, so far I plan on keeping it for awhile.

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  WOW...WHAT A GREAT CAR! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mike&Lacee - December 17 - 2:00 am

  The New Jetta is awesome. The gas mileage alone is worth the price...on our very first tank of gas, we are getting 48 mpg!!! Its so unbelievable. We would recommend this car to anyone who is in the market. Its very comfortable and so much fun to drive. We love our new car!! If interested in this car, and you are in the utah area, contact us and we will refer you to the dealership where we bought our car. They were awesome to work with and there wasnt a whole lot of BS! JUST GET THE VOLKSWAGON! It is guaranteed to turn a lot of heads!

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  Jetta is Junk - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tomcat42 - December 17 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this car less then 2 months. The car has less then 1800 miles on it. It has already been in for service 3 times, all with the same problem. Failed IG coils. The car just broke down for the 4th time and the dealer gave me an attitude. I have spent more money on rental cars then lease payments. I am pursueing relief under the Lemon Law. Due yourself a favor and steer clear of the Jetta!!!