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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  First Year / Bad Year - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By tybox1 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the touareg and loved it for the first week then all hell broke loose, electircal problems, battery dieing, front seats had imperfections,paint was damaged by wraping for shipping, spots will not come of from the plastic and foam. My Touareg has been in the shop at least 11 times and I am requesting VW under the lemon law act a replacement. Signed Upset Mr.Jenifer

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  Horrible Design, Poor craftmanship - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By luga - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car two years ago, and sold it last Saturday. I wish I had saved myself the $9000 (!!!) it depreciated. This is a bad car, very cheaply made. Within the first two weeks, four plastic items simply fell from it. Add to this cheap quality the tiny back seat area, the lack of grip on pronounced curves, where you always have to end up correcting in too sudden a manner, and the completely dumb electronics (the boot closes itself automatically all the time, even with the car open; the e-key is horrible and unintuitive...),and a horrible operating manual, and you have a recipe to go mad.

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  Smoke & Mirrors - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By mmrja - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Purchased this car 04/2003. my job is account manager for major company - sales. PROS - rides well, gas mileage ok,good interior space, trunk ok, CONS - Engine light has come on 3 times while driving,return to dealer for service. Wiper blades very cheap wears out very quickly. Fog lights have had to be replaced. Have some paint starting to peel under rear wheel lip. reviews were great on this car, this is the first and last VW that I will own. vw dealership service is very poor, also this dealership takes to long to get an appointment. Had a Nissan maxima 242,000 miles trade on passat. never had this many problems while owning the maxima.

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  i love my jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Toodlesbabe024 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  The car is great for zipping around town. For my first car while learning how to drive i think i picked a great one. Performance wise it comes with many great parts so you dont need to change any.

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  TDI- unbelievable - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Wendell - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my 2003 Jetta TDI wagon for 7 months now and I have to say its the greatest thing I have ever purchased. I get 45-50 MPG average with a Lead Foot! FUEL prices are as low as $1.45 at local truck stops and with a 700 mile range in the tank its easy to shop around. The car is well built with very little interior noise and a great factory radio. Overall Looks great, uns good, nothing but smiles here.

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  Most practical vehicle - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kwalter - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Driving from Detroit, MI to Dalton, GA on one tank of Diesel is quite impressive. This represents a distance of about 635 miles, and I got 49 mpg! It easily keeps up with every other car on the road, is comfortable and fun to drive, and it has plenty of trunk space. Just imagine how much money someone can save by using a VW Jetta Turbo Diesel 5M for going to work?

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  If you dont mind trips to the dealer... - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By mar7 - October 6 - 10:00 am

  Design complaints: - 1.8T engine valve tick/shudder for 1 minute after cold start - sunvisors block no sun! - after 1000 miles, fabric was worn off of door armrest Problems experienced: - check engine light at 1500 miles, now again at 2500 miles - drivers seat loose and could not fix - dashboard rattles and creaks ALL THE TIME (this is whats most irritating) - trip computer now resets itself when car turned off - lots of new driveline vibration when in Drive

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  2000 VW Golf GLS 2.0L 115hp - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By Matthew Morse - October 6 - 10:00 am

  This is an excellent car overall, I appreciate the emphasis on safety by the manufacturer. This car is worth the premium in price over other cars in the same class.

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  Disappointed - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By Julia3 - October 6 - 10:00 am

  My car has 3500 miles on it and so far: 1. the power steering fluid leaked out, 2. the drive tensioner belt broke, 3. the air conditioner compressor wore out, 4. and the right front window belt lift broke--the window wouldnt go up or down. How could anyone sell such a poor quality car? Why was I so gullible to purchase such a poor quality car?

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  Love My Bug - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By TTopper - October 6 - 10:00 am

  I bought my bug during the Beetle Maddness of 1998. Ive owned it for 4 years and have really enjoyed the experience. This is my 5th VW, and this one hasnt disappointed. The car is roomy, spacious, good on gas, handles well and great on a long trip