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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  Fun car with spendy repairs - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lily - July 19 - 1:15 pm

  This car is a super fun and safe car. Lots of go, easy to manage, just all around a bad ass car. When its not broken down. Mine had problem after problem. The transmission finally gave out at 172,000 and with that being 5,000 to replace plus $1000 for a catalytic converter and $1500 for a timing belt we sold it for scraps and got a reliable Honda. Fun to drive but hard on your wallet

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  2002 VW GTI - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Carlos Z. - July 18 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car because of the exterior design and style but thats were it ends. This car was nothing but headaches and problems. I had problems with over heating, seat belt sensor, sunroof, alternator, battery, water pump, radio, ignition coils, engine hoses, coolant system, bad ECU, transmission, and thats just off the top of my head. Be ready to become best friends with your mechanic because youll be seeing him and a check engine light on a lot. Not to mention that all VW parts are extremely expensive. Safe your money people and get your self a honda or toyota. I would never buy another VW again i have sold it since and moved on to a honda best move ever made.

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  Mostly a good car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steve - July 18 - 10:00 am

  Overall it has been a good car. I have about 92000 miles on it now and needs some significant work. A wheel bearing is shot, the head gasket leaks, and a few other minor repairs needed. The real problem is that this engine seems to have a flaw as noted by many others. I began to get a VERY rough idle at about 50000 miles that was repaired under warranty for $5000. The problem is coming back now and can really only get a band-aid repair if I want to avoid paying $5000 on my own (which didnt really last anyway). Other than this, it has been a super reliable car and has had very few problems. It has been probably my favorite car I have ever owned but I am selling it now to avoid major repairs.

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  Love this car - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Leman - July 18 - 10:00 am

  This car is beautiful. I had 2006 jetta sedan but this new one is a fall in love :)

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  Dont go near this car! - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By stayaway - July 18 - 8:50 am

  Stay away from this car, unless you’re OK spending thousands of $ on repairs. Unreliable, constant repairs. VW Service Center unable to appropriately diagnose. $1OO each visit for them to even diagnose - never fixed. From check engine warning light to cracked hoses, leaks throughout the history of the car. A Lemon. Worst all around car experience from purchase.

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  Best VW Ive Owned Yet - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Empty _M - July 17 - 6:42 pm

  I bought the car new and have driven it for 16 years (150,000 miles) with no major and only a few minor repairs required. Its fun to drive, even though it is a medium sized sedan. I bought the 5-speed standard transmission because I love to actually drive a car and it was noticeably guttier than the automatic. It is powerful, even with the 1.8-liter engine, but then it is turbocharged. The turbo is smooth and has a pleasant whine of power. I can go as fast as I want driving up canyon freeways near my home, watching many "more powerful" cars falling back. The gear box is really hefty and positive; ditto the clutch (original clutch still operates perfectly). It is economical. I always get 28 to 33 miles per gallon and have gotten 36 miles per gallon on long trips. I dont use the cruise control much, but it does operate very smoothly, with no lag. The Monsoon sound system is great. I added a 6-disk changer. I drove a 2016 Passat and Id take my 2002 over it any day. They seem to have turned the car into a Chevy Malibu. My car feels much more solid and drives more like a European car.

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  Converted VW Fan - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Friscosmom - July 17 - 4:36 pm

  I was not a VW fan prior to seeing the new CC. After seeing the CC, I bought it without test driving due to a snow storm. When I was able to pick it up 3 days later, I was impressed. The car handles better than the BMWs I test drove and is more esthetically pleasing than the G35 sedan I almost bought. The manual is so fun and smooth. A passenger in my car commented that they almost forgot it was stick! Seats are comfy, styling is hot, Love this car!!!

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  Love it! / Hate it! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dirtwoman65 - July 16 - 4:53 pm

  I love my Jetta...however, I burn 1 qt. of oil every 1,000 miles. This is rediculous. Interior plastic is peeling, have had many electrical problems, including brake-relay switch. The VW dealership is a scam. They were aware of this problem and wanted to charge full cost for diagnostics to "find" the problem (which turned out to be a "recall") I will not buy another VW simply because of the dealership.

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  Great & Dependable - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By No major complaints - July 16 - 2:13 pm

  Ive had the car 3 years now without any trouble, our second VW (we also have a Beetle). The cargo capacity is terrific, the handling is smooth, the mileage is very good. Overall a great car for the price. One note: VWs do burn oil so I check the level about every 6 weeks or so.

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  Ausgehtzeichnet! - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By 14freud - July 16 - 9:04 am

  Writing this review after 5 days. Got base 2014 with only 8k miles on it. Great deal! So far, runs great. Turbo kicks in nicely when accelerating. Trans takes getting used to as "D" wants lower gears to save gas, but "S" runs more like a traditional trans. Son says back seat has more room than Honda (I traded in a 2002 Accord). Decent stereo..rides nice and is quiet.