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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  Big Mistake - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By neverbuyingavwagain - September 7 - 10:00 am

  I watched the cool commercials. I salivated when I first saw the car in person at the dealership....what a great looking car. I test drove it....wow what great pickup it had. I bought it...BIG MISTAKE. The car in a nutshell is a piece of crap. Bad electrical system, Bad 02 sensors, bad window regulators, the car is so low to the ground everything scrapes,Bad water pump, bad starter, bad battery, the door frames leak water into the cabin when it rains heavy...the list goes on. Yes it looks great. Yes it has pickup...but the reliability and the cost of things breaking and going wrong at this mileage? I smell a lemon. Dont buy it.

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  2003 Passat Purchase - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mark Winegar - September 7 - 10:00 am

  I ordered a 03 Passat GLS in September 02 and took delivery January 03. Because of the color (Fresco metallic green with biege leather interior)combination and transmission (manual), I had to order it. It was well worth the wait. I consider this to be a entry level luxury car, not just a midsize sedan. The ride, quietness, performance and workmanship all have exceeded my expectations. The 1.8T works best with the manual transmission. I havent had any problems in the 6 mos. I have owned it. Its a beautiful German made car. It will go faster than most people realize.

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  Great Car - Only minor complaints - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Pat K. - September 7 - 10:00 am

  8 months and almost 10,000 miles. Great acceleration and handling. Cargo capacity is phenomenal. Lame cupholders. The leather is stiff and feels "vinylly." Monsoon sound is great, but I have speaker wire rattles in at least two speakers. I also have a rattle in the dash, giving concern for long-term durability. Rear knee room is also underwhelming, but adequate for adults on short trips. The Jetta Wagon GLS, 1.8T 5A delivers what it promises - exciting driving and the ability to carry a suprisingly large amount of cargo. Pat K.

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  German EngineeringExcellence - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Cory Graner - September 7 - 10:00 am

  Monsoon stereo is great but a speaker was blown the day I picked the car up. Power is awesome with the turbo, but watch out for turbo lag in first gear. Think real hard before cutting someone off. Car is solid. I drive it hard and it does not complain. No squeeks or rattles. Ride is very nice. Overall handling limits are not that high, but driving at the limit is easy, and fun. Good four wheel discs with ABS. Tiptronic is fun, but you have to think ahead and plan gear changes. I have a black/black leather car. Seats are unsupportive in turns and hard to adjust, like all Jettas before it. Overall I love it. I would buy it again in an instant.

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  VW Jetta - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tim Naprawa - September 6 - 11:16 pm

  I drive this car every day and it gets better than rated mileage. On longer trips have gotten up to 49 mpg. The acceleration is good for a compact, the steering is tight, and its fun to drive. would like to see a few more options available.

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  is this a VW - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By paul kaizer - September 6 - 7:26 pm

  The Passat should not be compared with some ot the cars it is being compared to. It is truly a European sedan. The design, performance, and fun factor are all evident. I cant believe the power that comes from the 2.0T engine. VW has hit the bulls eye with this one.

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  Winner - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By jllcat101 - September 6 - 1:50 pm

  The 2002 Volkswagen Passat has lots of get up and go and good mileage for a V6 vehicle. Its fit and finish are awesome and it has classic lines that dont get old. It has a roomy interior with room for two adults in the rear, it is a squeeze with three. The engine fan is loud though. All in all, this car is a great buy that will retain its value.

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  The Best Vehicle for Under $150,000 - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Joe - September 5 - 12:46 am

  The Phaeton is a fantastic vehicle - really, its the same as the new Bentley Continental Flying Spur. It is fun to drive and much nicer than the S-Class and 7-Series that I have driven in the past. Its fuel economy is not great, but it is a very heavy vehicle - approx. 5,300 lbs. In light of the weight and performance, its fuel economy could be much worse.

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  Engine tried to fall out. - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By vwdumpsterfire - September 3 - 1:57 am

  I love the gas mileage my Passat gets, in fact I have averaged 48.2 MPG over 71,000 miles. Everything I have ever gained in gas savings has been completely erased by repair bills. The engine mount bolts fell out and the engine fell forward into the radiator hoses. Apparently the nuts and bolts for the DPF and EGR filter were missing as well, lucky me! I contacted VW and asked them how long they expected their engines to remain in the vehicle along with other miscellaneous nuts and bolts. In short the answer was, "just long enough to get you through the warranty!" In short I was told that none of this could possibly be VWs fault (since I was out of warranty) and good luck!

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  A great SUV - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By hawk - September 2 - 9:20 pm

  Still love the truck after 5 years owning it. Only 2nd set of tires with a lot of tread left after 75000 mi. 1st set of tired was replaced at 48000mi. Still original brake. Replaced battery at 70000mi. One annoying issue was airbag light lit after my wife adjusted driver seat. Check engine light was lit once for no reason but cleared after a visit to the dealer. didnt come back for 2yr but lit again last week. beautiful interior (better than my BMW 5 and MB E class), fit and finish is top notch. gas mileage is poor but not so bad for a performance SUV. feel very safe driving it, great road manner, very solid, no rattling, no loose parts. took to the beach played sand, a very fun SUV.