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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  2005 Passat GLX Wagon Experience - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By ZoomZoom718 - May 14 - 3:36 am

  After looking at a variety of upscale wagons (Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Jaguar X-Type, Volvo, Audi, and VW Passat), we chose the VW. The Passat handles well, accelerates smoothly and the interior appointments are on par with the finest luxury wagons. The heated leather seats are incredibly comfortable. Its cargo space is more than adequate for shopping trips or travel. The rear passenger seating and leg room are great and you can actually fit three adults in the backseat. The GLX trim comes with a Monsoon stereo system that puts the Bose system we had in our former car to shame.

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  VW are Lemons! - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Disappointed - May 13 - 9:40 pm

  Owned this car for 6 years and it was nothing but problems. After 40,000 miles, car falls apart. The interior fell apart 2 years after I got it. A week after I bought it, the EPC light came on and didnt let me put the car on Drive, had to learn a trick to start the car on Neutral and drive it. It did this through the 6 years I owned it. Replaced 3 batteries in 6 years, $300+ each. Water pump and timing belt busted on me at 60,000 miles.3 engine hoses replaced because they are made out of plastic and burned. VW dealers are incompetent and steal your money. Tranny began to fail and wouldnt shift gears. VW dealers say trannies never need oil changes, it is a lie.

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  To Heck With the Hybrids! - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dolphin - May 13 - 2:06 am

  This car will grow on you and you will be very happy you no longer own a gas-guzzling SUV; it is an excellent car with great cargo capacity, perfect for my family of 4, absolutely awesome highway car. I got the GSL with Leather + wood, ESP and winter package, and added the rear 6 CD-changer. Solid handling, and this thing is built as solid as a tank.

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  Caveat Emptor - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By joeschmoe - May 12 - 7:43 pm

  We bought this T-reg with 7K miles from fleet use. We are very glad we bought the extended warranty, as this car has required over $6K in repairs over the last year. Finally traded it in this week with 97K miles on the odometer. This vehicle performed well in all weather and road conditions. We live in Minnesota where the snow and ice can come quick and strong, and the T-reg could handle all conditions, with good style and comfort. The V6 is a bit underpowered for a vehicle this heavy, but we did not do any towing, so we were OK. There was not enough room in the drivers seat for my 62" frame, so I would frequently get uncomfortable on long drives. Reliability problems are bad.

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  Great Design - Poor Engine - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Mariops - May 12 - 6:03 pm

  Ive owned this car for about a month. Got it because of the design, nothing looks this good and exclusive for $30k (even compared to luxury brands). Interior looks good but having owned 3 Audis, the VW interior is not in the same league (and intentionally so). My biggest complaint is the engine (2.0T with Auto; I wanted an auto for commuting, my 2nd car is a manual). From a stop, the engine sputters and is seriously underpowered but when the turbo kicks in it takes off. Dont get me wrong, I love turbos like the next enthusiasts, but doesnt feel right in a car like this. Im sure the auto trans doesnt help. Despite engine performance/FWD handling, the design makes up for its shortcomings.

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  Would buy again!! - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By Robert S - May 12 - 2:00 am

  Having owned a few problematic VWs over the years, I was pleased to be reminded of how reliable these cars can be. I purchased this VW at a time when I wanted an Audi, but could not afford one. I was surprised to find that the build quality as well as design and function of the car was on par with that of Audi.

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  Awesome Ride - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Carmine Cupani - May 12 - 2:00 am

  Forget about the Jap Crap. Get the GTI. Chip it and there is little that will beat you in that price range. Awesome car for the money. The dash colors rock.

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  Beauty is Skin Deep - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By George Martschenko - May 12 - 2:00 am

  This is a love/hate review. I love the looks, the 17" wheels, the ride and performance. I dont like the lack of seat space when you fold down the back seat and use the car as a wagon. I am 57" and had to move my seat forward to make room for the folded back seat. If you need a wagon as a wagon, I would suggest you try something else. Another issue showed up immediately. The driver seat keeps heating when you think its turned off. I turned on the front seat to heat myself up after buying the car. Once I was warm, I couldnt get the seat to turn off. So much for one day with the car.

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  Love my new car! - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Misa77 - May 11 - 3:16 pm

  I just purchased this car about a month ago, and I absolutley love it. I cant say enough about it. I live in Florida, and being able to put the top down and drive around is great. I have been admiring this car for a few years now and finally caved to buy it. It is so much fun to drive, and all my friends still want to take a ride in my new car!

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  4months 5500mils……so far nothing wrong - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Antonio - May 11 - 8:44 am

  good about vw atlas：great price at this class、roomy、comfort、quiet、avg20mpg auto brake works great（saved me onece ^_^almost rear ended someone）4motion works pretty good during the winter in north ohio…6yrs 72k 👍…2.bad about vw atlas：stop&start 、apple CarPlay、remote start、bad bad bad！！！no any free oil changes！bad bad bad！！！its a great suv for family for sure. so far 5.5k everything is good，will see what happens after72k