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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  Problematic car. - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Unhappy Jetta owner - October 6 - 10:00 am

  Loved the car at first. After 1 month, it developed a water leak in the driver door. Many visits later the leak is not fixed. Other problems include 3 of 4 windows have had the regulator go out. The lumbar seats broke. The emissions light comes on frequently. The air conditioner has built-up a bad smell. The water coolent light comes on but the guage is normal and coolant level is good. I have never missed the required maintenance and it still has these problems. The car drives great and is appealing to the eye, but these problems are not worth it. I wish I had purchased the extended warranty. Actually, I wish I could go back and never have purchased the car.

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  A Dud - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By DaveGr - October 6 - 10:00 am

  I wish I could write great things about this car because it really is fun to drive. The seats provide great comfort for long drives and I love the styling. However, the car has spent 50 days in the shop in the last 6 months. It started with an oil leak that took tearing the engine down 3 times. I also have had a coolant leak and the transmission has leaked twice. The last transmission leak also featured a broken windshield when I went to pick it up. Then it was scratched installing the new windshield. Those arent VWs fault. But Ive been told that there are problems with both the 4 and 6 cylinder head design that causes leaks.

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  Nice car! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jrbn11 - October 6 - 10:00 am

  Nice overall package! VW did a great job of putting this car togather! Very fun to drive!

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  Wicked nice car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Germ luv - October 6 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car for my wife, and we both love it. 115 HP may seem little on paper, but this car has plenty of power. Only problem was when her key eneded up in the wash. Awesome quality German sedan

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  Very Happy With Our 2012 VW CC - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By rjm2013 - October 5 - 5:21 pm

  We have been driving the CC for 5 months now and we love it! Cruises wonderfully and gives us just enough get up and go around the city to keep things interesting. Gas mileage is great, better than advertised. The 2.0 Turbo is a great engine that seems to perform better than the specs. The styling and quality, inside and out is classy lux for a price much less than similar lux vehicles. I definately like that we have yet to see another CC on the hwy. A truely beautiful car that performs admirably in its class.

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  Good Buy - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By orodavid - October 5 - 4:50 pm

  This car is very comfotable, reliable, and fun to drive. It has good interior materials. Its Moonson stereo system is great considering that it is factory installed. I have had a few of problems with the electrical system, but no major problems. I am very satisfied with the purchase and recommend this car to all European cars lovers.

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  my fast baby - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jose - October 5 - 1:26 pm

  When I first got in this car and heard the whistle of the turbo engine.. I was like this is my new baby.. its fast, handles great.. looks cool.. feels like luxury without the expense

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  Near Perfection - 2007 Volkswagen Touareg
  By MCARZ - October 4 - 8:26 pm

  This SUV has got it all! The acceleration on it is marvelous. I have enjoyed driving it most going up-hill with four passengers, thats when it really shines! The interior layout makes everything easy to reach and operate, a rare find these days! Volkswagen showed off on this one, the X5, M-Class, MDX, and RX 330 have nothing on this one!

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  Just the engine and tranny - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By rick - October 4 - 4:30 pm

  We purchased 2 value edition demos each with 5k on ODO, wifes coil gave up after 1000 miles of usage otherwise perfect, mine is perfect, 34.5 per gallon on hwy at 60 MPH, 26.7 average. Here are a few dislikes: idiotic ignition key which is difficult to remove, cannot set wipers upright for winter storms, poorly designed cup holders, blinker stays on when the ignition is not engaged, fuel cap error light, mirror noise, small inefficient AC vents, roof grooves drip water after rain during exiting, all doors do not unlock when exiting, winter windshield defrost way too weak.

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  Touareg - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Bob - October 4 - 3:10 am

  MANY flaws at delivery. Tires last only 14000 miles @$1150/set! Too electronically complicated.