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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  Driver & Loving It!!!! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By vavwchic - January 27 - 10:00 am

  great gas milage, body style, dashboard lighting and comfort;performance rated a 9 due to hesitance to pick up speed w/AC on;interior issues regard location of front and rear cupholders; rear directly on "hump" no enough room to be secured;front has cups blocking radio controls; ocassional difficulty with master window controls when moisture is a weather factor although has been "repaired" twice since owning the vehicle.

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  I love my beetle - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By cabstewart - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I have had my beetle since Aug. 2000 - new. I have had less problems with it than we had on our Honda Odessy van. In fact we have had no real repair problems with the car. This car is fun to drive and gets pretty good mileage on the highway (30 mpg -gas engine). I agree with the reviewer who mentioned the interior door handles peeling, but other than that, it has been a keeper.

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  Love to drive!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By 42n81 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  The car has been awesome!! People are impressed by the stylish interior, comfort & good looks. Highway driving is smooth. Cant even tell how fast you are going (sometimes a problem!!) Would recommend highly....

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  What a car... - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Saone - January 27 - 10:00 am

  With almost 40000 trouble-free miles the Passat is the best car I have ever owned. My next VW will be the 8th VW for me, keep up the good work....

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  Passat Lover - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Little Henry - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I am really happy with this car. Ive had Toyota,Honda, Chevy, and Ford. Ive also driven countless cars. This is a great buy if your looking for a sporty family sedan with good traction and steering.

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  Volkswagen Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By mipafuro - January 27 - 10:00 am

  the best car ever made!!!

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  Charlie - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By 33ej39 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Love the car. Bad points include, transmission(automatic- dowmnshift seems to shutter.) Not smooth coming to a stop. Gas peddel is akward to my driving position. I have to change foot position from start to cruise position.

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  Waht a FUN Car - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Nedra - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I love it, I love it, I love it. They could do away with the swing over cup holder and possible intigrate a pop open cup holder. I wish you could come up with the front blinker lights on the front wheel fenders like the old ones. You did a great job of the chrome along the side, now lets see more of it around the headlights and taillights. I love it, I love it, I love it. Thank you

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  4 Time Passat Offender - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By Scott - January 26 - 7:32 am

  I have many years and miles of Volkswagen ownership under my belt. I simply like the feel behind the wheel of the Volkswagens; firm ride, tight cornering and firm comfortable seats. My experience with the brand is nearly 100% positive. I do take an interest understanding key maintenance issues as recommended by my independent VW mechanic. Keys to successful ownership include using synthetic oil, Top Tier gas brands and ethanol free fuel if you are really committed. The Passat 1.8 TSI engine coupled with the smooth shifting 6 speed automatic transmission is an impressive combination. The engines ability to hit pick torque at very low RPMs got me over my believe I would never settle for anything less than a V6 engine. The 1.8 TSI engine delivers brisk acceleration and excellent gas mileage. The option to manually shift plus the sport mode give the extra driver engagement I enjoy in the brand. In suburban driving I average around 28 MPG. I have gone as high as 39 MPG on an 800 mile freeway trip with cruise set between 70 and 80 MPH. One observation is that at 45 miles per hour the transmission goes into 6th gear taking the engine down to 1200 RPM. This low engine speed can cause the engine to lug. I generally do not worry about it. An option to avoid the lugging is to run in sport mode if you are spending a good deal of time at 45 MPH. I love the subtle look of the spacious interior. I like the classy exterior but I find it a little boring. I am not the type who craves extra attention. The Wolfsburg addition is the second least equipped version of the Passat but it has the modern essentials including heated faux leather driver and passenger seats (power seat for the driver) and steering wheel controls for the radio. I love Volkswagens trip computer system. Those who desire more electronic engagement in their cars will find the radio system inadequate at least in Wolfsburg addition. Stepping up to the SE level solves some of the short coming with the electronics like a navigation option and backup camera. Had I been able to find a nice deal on an SE, I would have stepped up to the next level. One other note, the Hankook tires that came from the factory are a poor option. I expect when I switch to my preferred brand (Toyo), the ride, handling and cabin noise will be even better.

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  2006 Jetta TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By nancy l - January 24 - 5:20 am

  The Jetta TDI handles very well. I like the ease in steering and the cornering ability. The trunk capacity was a factor in my purchase decision. The quality of materials and construction is most impressive. Also, we are pleased with the safety features such as the airbags.