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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  My Dream BUGGIE!! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By esmeraldamd - August 14 - 10:00 am

  I recently earned my bachelors degree in elementary education. I was hired as a 4th grade teacher in May, and I new my first major purchase was going to be a bettle. I was going to go with the regular hatchback, but once I got to the dealership, I fell in love with the convertible. I love everything about my galactic blue baby! Oh, my convertible has a Tiptronic transmission that allows me to drive my buggie as an automatic or standard. It is fun to drive and it causes a great comotion as I drive by with the top down.

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  Great, fun, reliable car - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By bodhizuffa - August 14 - 7:49 am

  I traded a Nissan Titan for this about a year ago when gas prices began to rise. I was worried about not having a large, practical vehicle with plenty of storage. I can say, with a bike rack installed, I havent had any issues with space or being able to haul stuff home from Target or Lowes. There is lots of room with the rear seats folded down. I live in NC so no experience with snow yet. The car is fun to drive (especially around town), gets very good gas mileage even with premium gas, the DSG transmission is great, and the interior is at least one price point above the GTI. I have almost 10,000 miles on it, drive it pretty hard, and havent had one quality/reliability issue.

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  Brake Issues - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VIP - August 13 - 10:40 pm

  Had to replace pads and rotor only at 15K miles. Dealer said that this is normal. I just think 15K is still not that much miles to worry about your brakes. My other cars usually get up to about 30K to 35K miles. The repair is also very costly. $419. This is my first time to own a VW and probably my last too. The car drives great though but maintaining it would be quite expensive.

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  Love the Mileage - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By C-Bird - August 13 - 5:50 pm

  I love this car. I am routinely getting 44 mpg in all-around driving, and have exceeded 50 mpg twice on highway driving. The manual transmission version is a must... when I test-drove the automatic it was a slug. I had a problem with the drivers side seat heater, which subsequently became a recall. One of the instrument panel lights doesnt work. Aside from that, the Jetta has been flawless. At 550-620 miles per tank, you can pass gas stations a whole lot!

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  Great Practical Value! - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By hpowders - August 13 - 1:03 pm

  Came from a BMW 545i; and while this is no BMW, it is pretty much fun to drive. Terrific value for what comes standard. Love the Satellite Radio. Drivers seat is more comfortable than the BMWs. Legroom is more generous too up front. Would love a bit more power. Could use larger side mirrors. These create blind spots. Adaptive steering should be optional. I dont care for it. Mileage could be a bit better too. A lot of room in back with back seats folded. My 68" road bike fits in completely when I push the front passenger seat down. I have the car for two weeks and everything works the way it should. My first two fill ups were 24 mpg. The last one was only 22.6. All in all, a steal at $20k.

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  Cute but terrible - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By Brittany - August 13 - 10:46 am

  I got my 2001 VW Cabrio as a high school graduation gift two years ago. My dad was so proud that he could get it for me, but now we are very very upset! Its been one thing after another with this car! It may be cute, but the upkeep and all the money going into it is an awful lot of hassle. First both front window dont roll down or up. My AC doesnt work. Timing belt wore before it should have. My seat is broken, my shifter shaft is completely worn. I took it to the dealer two days ago and the price to fix the AC and the shifter shaft was 1900. Youd think because it was German designed you get what you paid for, no. You dont. Dont get this car. it is cute but you are naive if you do.

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  Fomer SUV owner - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By trailmower - August 13 - 4:20 am

  Chose the Passat Wagon over several mid-SUVs and Accord. Ride is crisp and lots of road feel without being harsh. The Komfort level trim is good value, at least for me, for the money as I like a sunroof and this is not available on the Turbo level car. The sound system is outstanding. Like the exhaust note as well, especially at highway speed when you push the accelerator a bit. This car has plenty of power without being a gas hog. The rear of the car has enough room to haul a full assortment of baseball gear without putting the rear seats down. I find myself looking for reasons to run errands so I can drive the car.

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  MONEY PIT - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Brandon - August 13 - 2:20 am

  I loved this car in the beginning. I thought it was really cute and loved the turbo engine and other features like the heated seats. After the first year of ownership EVERYTHING started breaking. Ive spent thousands on repairs. The last two years alone Ive spent over $4000 dollars. Even the inside is falling apart. Many of the interior features are made of plastic and easily break. This car is in the shop every other month. Also as a sidenote the backseat is almost too small for passengers who arent children. Very crowded.

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  Awesome Disc brakes saved my car from crashing - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By aviamar - August 12 - 9:48 pm

  I am proud of the brakes on my 2012 VW Passat. It not only saved me from any injuries but also from causing any damage to the car. I was driving down at 45mph towards a traffic signal. Slowed down a bit but picked up my speed back to 45 as soon as i saw it turn green from a distance. There was a vehicle, in front of me, which had started moving too. I then took the eyes of the road and before I realized the vehicle in front had come to a unexpected halt. I was at a distance of 25-30 ft, I guess, before I hit the brakes hard. I was almost certain that I was going to crash (used to driving cars in India) But the ABS kicked in and made a perfect stop. Passat - totally worth the money.

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  Fun and efficient diesel, questionable reliability - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By austin28 - August 12 - 3:56 pm

  I have just finished putting a 1000k miles on my 2012 Jetta TDI. I have averaged 39MPG in moderate city driving. I highly recommend the diesel to anyone who is looking for added driving fun, longevity, and a higher resale value. The leather steering wheel, heated seats, and touchscreen audio system make this car seem luxurious. Despite negative reviews on the cars interior, I suspect it will please almost everyone who experiences it. Unfortunately, within the first week of ownership, I had 2 different problems with exterior body work. 1. The gas door would not shut. 2. The trunk squeaks loudly when you open or close it. The dealership noted both problems would be fixed under warranty.