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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  Super special Golf, regular build quality - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By canyondrive - March 7 - 2:50 am

  In the price range of new c300, 328i,G35 and is350, this car is truly for the VW enthusiast who doesnt mind paying a lot. You get a great sounding engine (thank you VW engneeer!), transmission, semi-sleeper styling, more than enough power for non-racers. But this is basically a golf, which first came to EU in 2003. Especially the interior is feeling a bit old already (shame on VWoA for being so slow). This has been my second day with the car, and I already started to hear interior pieces rattle on rough roads. Stereo sounds ok until you crank up the base - then it sound like some economy speakers.

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  Buy a GOLF!! - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By LaUN - March 6 - 3:51 pm

  This is the most fun car I have ever owned. As a die hard Honda owner, found this VW Golf on a used car lot when I had to replace my 2003 honda van. IT IS AWESOME. Ridiculous mpg and road handling. I heart this car. You should get one too.

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  BAD LUCK - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JLD2004 - March 6 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE HAD 2 JETTAS A 1999 AND A 2002. THE FIRST ONE I BOUGHT WAS USED WHEN I BROUGHT IT HOME I NOTICED A CRACKED WINDSHIELD THEN EVERY OTHER MONTH MY CAR WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE OXYGEN CENSORS. IT WAS ONCE IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR 2 MONTHS. THE SECOND CAR I BOUGHT WAS NEW AND IT WAS OK BUT THE VOLKSWAGEN CREDIT BANK WAS HORRIBLE TO ME.THEY DIDNT CARE ABOUT ANYTHING EXCEPT MY MONTHLY PAYMENT. THEY HARRESSED ME REPEATLY NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION.I WOULDNT RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO MY WORST ENEMY. VOLKSWAGENS ARE NOTHING BUT HEADACHES.

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  Great for everyday use! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DANIEL - March 5 - 10:20 am

  I picked this car up for cheap, reason why its a 2.0 and not the infamous 1.8t or vr6. Stock the engine is just enough for A to B driving. Great for a working car or long trips thanks to its decent milage per gallon. If you looking for performance you should look at the 2.0 unless your into engine tuning and are willing to spend another 2,500 to supercharge or turbo the engine.

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  Great vehicle-lousy on gas - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Cheryl Kahner - March 4 - 6:26 pm

  Maybe due to weight (5700 lbs.) and AWD, the gas mileage is closer to 10 city/15 highway. Smooth ride with comfortable seats. Fair amount of cargo space. Rolling control on steering wheel for information display can be confusing to use.

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  2005 Volkswagen Touareg V6 AWD - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By thesabels - March 4 - 2:10 pm

  My 2005 Volkswagen Touareg V6 AWD is fun to drive and has excellent handling. It is beautifully engineered. The rain-sensing wipers are a very poor idea though. The computerized comfort options are good, but the computer often resets itself with its own ideas. The only reason I would not buy another one is the high cost of routine VW dealer maintenance.

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  Burning oil - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By brandon - March 4 - 12:00 am

  Beautiful car. I like almost everything about it. The HUGE exception to this is the fact that it is a new car with 28k miles and it burns crazy amounts of oil!! VW is not inclined to do anything about it. This is a common problem. VW claims it is normal for this car to burn almost 1 qt of oil per 1,000 miles.

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  2014 VW Jetta SE-Basic is what VW does best - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Andrew Cherouvis - March 3 - 10:43 pm

  After reviewing a variety of cars, the Jetta appealed to me . The Jetta can be considered austere in many regards. The interior is basic, with a clutter free dashboard. This is what VW does best. I love how clean the interior dashboard is free of the over techno interiors found in many cars. The front seats are extremely comfortable with plenty of room in the rear. The trunk is very large with the ability to drop the back seats for added storage. Driving the Jetta with the 1.8 Liter turbo with the manual 5 spd is where the Jetta shines. The shifter has short throws between gears and has a great feel to it. The car handles great, with an adequate suspension for daily driving. My gas mileage averages between 37-41MPG. The Jetta is a very solid and safe car. I also am very happy with base stereo.

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  E-Golf - Be Ware It is A Newly Introduced Car - 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf
  By het3 - March 3 - 4:54 am

  BUYER BEWARE. We recently purchased an e-golf that stopped driving. Car was charged and electrical system worked but it would not drive while in gear. It was towed to dealer (Capital VW in San Jose, CA). Service department reported that diagnostic showed power button was pressed, which was not the case, even so it should not stop functioning. After couple days we were told that firmware is updated and that car can be picked up. No explanation of actually what had gone wrong. We were told to open a case with VW service. VW response was that car now works and is under warranty, take action outside of VW if you like. Be ware that this is a newly introduced car with potential bugs.

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  Almost worth the Trouble - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By youareslow - March 2 - 2:00 am

  I leased my 01 Beetle and it has been in the shop about 4 times in the first 2 years for various things. They are all minor things, but still issues. The window regulators, the speedometer, center console, and gas cap have all failed since it was new. These are not huge issues but should be noted. The window regulator has a recall so if you have this problem go get it fixed. Otherwise the car has been everything I hoped it would be. The Turbo motor is quiet, smooth, and very powerful. The heated seats are great in the winter and car is very quiet at highway speeds. Overall I would call the car "Not so trouble- free fun."