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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  Love my TDI - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Diesel Fitter - June 22 - 6:23 pm

  Ive owned my TDI since July of 2000. It was purchased specifically for the gas mileage and I have not been disappointed. We have a condo in St. Augustine, FL and I made it there from my house in southern NJ on a tank and a half of fuel ... 52 MPG. I never get less than 42 MPG with this car. Only problems with this car have been the front windows suddenly falling into the door (recall), a mass air sensor going (recall), and this car eats brake light bulbs. Unlike a lot of the reviews I think the front cup holders are great and was disappointed that the new Jetta deleted them along with the adjustable armrest. Looking forward to buying a new Jetta Sportwagen TDI.

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  Design flaw & auto trans went out at 50K - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Not so good - June 21 - 8:56 pm

  The major design flaw in this car is that your hood will get chipped from flying rocks from normal traffic. Buy a bra on day 1 if you buy this car to avoid the body shop. Also the space for your gas pedal foot is too small for an male adult sized winter boot. Also if you have sun coming from the driver side, the visor is too small to block the light. My automatic tranny went out while under warranty (less than 50K) and would have cost more than twice what my 91 Dodge Dynasty automatic tranny that went out on the car before this one.

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  A Solid Little Car - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Joe - June 21 - 1:16 pm

  Im surprised by the smooth ride and the low end torque.The gas mileage is alot better than my 2008 Mazda 3 and absords bumps better and the engine is quiet. It handles great as it corners nice and the steering is tight. The cabin is topshelf like a cockpit with nevery thing in you line of sight. I tried the Civic and my Golf rides so much smoother and the Mazda was bad, too much road an engine noise.

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  Best VW Purchase So Far - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By TrashMan - June 20 - 9:20 pm

  I have owned four VWs and without a doubt, this is the best purchase so far.The performance is great and from past experience, I know that the reliability will be good as well. The trunk is massive and I can fit at least six bodies in it with room for luggage as well. Im always being asked what kind of car it is and if it was expensive. It looks incredible. HUGE bang for the buck. Read it & weep!

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  Fun for a price - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By monkeykins - June 19 - 11:51 pm

  Bought the car used in 2010. Selling it as soon as possible. I cant afford to keep sending it to the mechanic/fixing small things on the car. Ive had two tail lights burn out, both the xenon headlights go out ($80 a piece), AC compressor, electrical problems, and now it seems the coil packs need to be replaced. Its a great car, and fun to drive, but Ive had to drop it off almost every other month to get work done on it. Which wouldnt be as big a deal if the parts cost less than an arm+leg.

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  Traded in....what a relief! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Chelle - June 19 - 10:26 am

  I loved my Jetta VR6. When purchased I made sure it had all the bells and whistles...I was in love. It didnt take long for it to start letting me down.. AC went out- Heated seats went out- water pump went out- windows rattled until a piece finally broke. Last week I was told the transmission was leaking which was the culprit of the engine light coming on over and over. In a nutshell I loved this car. It was so much fun to drive and design was great... I was forced in to parting with it because mechanically it began giving way far too early. I had regular maintenance and it didnt help prevent problems. I would never buy another Jetta or any VW for that matter. Gone back to Honda, like home!

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  Jetta - 3rd Time Around - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jakeman - June 19 - 9:06 am

  This is my 3rd VW Jetta and so far is my favorite. I had two earlier models and this one is a much better car. I really enjoy driving it. Even the S was enough. Wheel upgrades are a must over the hideous hubcaps. Buy some online or upgrade at the dealer to one of the VW wheels. I went with the 17" Goal wheels and they are awesome looking. Make the car complete. Also added the silver taillights, What a good look that is.

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  Sweet Vehicle - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By PIMPAUL - June 19 - 3:46 am

  This is a great car. It is very fast. Only small things have gone wrong (Brake lights, etc). They were easy fixes. Actually, the plastic junk seems to break easy too. My dome light switch broke off. Anyways, this car looks amazing with some good rims and tinted windows. Ive had Toyotas, Hondas, and Fords, but my next car will definitely be a VW. I love em.

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  Lovein my new SportWagon - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mike - June 18 - 11:23 pm

  I was really wanting something affordable, but the Rabbits were too small and the Jettas were a bit boring. The SportWagon was perfect because it was affordable ($20 k)and very cool and different looking. Its one of the few cars you can drive that is truly unique. The quality of the materials is amazing for such an affordable car. Its definitely not as boss as my wifes Passat (4 cylinder turbo), but for the price is fantastic. I recommend the manual transmission to avoid the slight delay on take off found in other V-dubs. This should be anyones list who wants a beautiful, roomy, fuel efficient, fun to drive car. Nothing compares to it for the price.

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  Does everything well - 2012 Volkswagen GTI
  By michel12 - June 18 - 9:48 pm

  I recently purchased a 2012 GTI with a DSG transmission and I think I like it. This is a car that does everything well: comfortable, fun to drive, excellent build quality, practical. My only criticism is with the DSG transmission. While the car is really fun to drive on Tiptronic, the Drive (D) mode is sluggish because the transmission shifts gears at very low speeds which makes it unresponsive especially on steep climbs, where it constantly hunts for the best gear. For those who dont mind driving a car with a manual transmission, I would advise to stay away from the DSG.