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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  jetta - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By aike - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Had suspension problems at 15,000 miles. Dealer fixed (under warranty!) Stated that it probably came off the line this way. good pick-up at high speeds. Go with stick shift. It is, after all, a VW!

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  Great commuter car! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By deesle - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Love this car so far. Only problem was sunroof switch that had to be replaced. I expect to keep this car for a lot of miles.

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  Touareg - Dont Buy It - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By BrwIGrl - March 30 - 12:33 am

  I have had the vehicle for approx 4 years. It has continuous problems. In the past 2 mos, I have driven it only 3 days, the remaining days it has been in the shop. The following has been "replaced" : the instrument control panel, cruise control system, back up sensor system, tire monitoring system, water reservoir & Drive Shaft. I have replaced brake pads & headlights. There is a noise the dealer cannot find. It has lost computer modules, so the entire computer system was erased and reloaded twice. If you are thinking about purchasing this vehicle do not do it. I have been paying for a Touareg and driving a loaner Jetta. This is one high priced Jetta.

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  *** Unless no costs involved ever stay away**** - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CAT - March 29 - 4:04 pm

  The only reason that I bought this car was for the mpg ; however even an oil change is $85 and is recommended every 3000 miles ; regarding the comfort only the front seats are the best part of the car and also only straight roads such Floridas roads are the best feel with this car otherwise every sharp curve feels like youre falling off the cliff :) fortunately didnt have it for long enough to get any mechanical issues however only the belly pan cover was $460....and that is just a piece of plastic from underneath....inside is very loud and the glove box always had issues closing as well the trunk....best and only good part of it is the MPG otherwise if you are a heavy footed driver youll pay the price at the VW service where the parts are insane $$$.......switched now to a Ford Taurus and could not be any different smoother ride while a sporty feel very happy with the Ford and getting close to 30mpg hwy;

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  Great car, but high maintenance - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cl002004 - March 29 - 3:35 am

  Ive had this car for about 8 years now. Im not really a car enthusiast, just need something to comfortably take me from point a to point b without any issues. It does exactly what I need it to do most of the time. The only thing is that unexpectedly random things will go wrong with it. In the past 8 years, power steering broke, oil leaked, trunk door got stuck, and my favorite, the ignition lock(?) broke so that my key would not go in the ignition. Very costly to get these issues fixed, on top of high regular maintenance costs. Replacing the ignition lock cost $700 + towing expenses.

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  Worst Car Ever Owned - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By John Doe - March 28 - 10:23 am

  The Jetta ia a popular car and I know why. It is fun to drive. Good power. HOWEVER, he car has been in the garage being fixed more than it has been on the road. In two months over $2,000 of repairs and now they say the turbo is going bad - $2,500+ This car is immaculate and a piece of junk. Buyer beware - the turbo generates a lot of heat - causing lots of little problems. The engine will not last.

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  Passat passes - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By mat72 - March 28 - 10:00 am

  Solid ride coupled with unsurpassed fuel economy makes it the easiest choice Ive made in a long time. Fit and finish is tight and interior is well thought out. Doesnt give you that cheap feel/look of its japanese counterparts.

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  Just like my fathers VW van - lousy - 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By Exeurovanowner - March 28 - 10:00 am

  We had our Eurovan for about 1.5 years before we traded it in on a Honda. The car was in for warranty work on a regular basis. Fortunately, once something was fixed, it didnt seem to break again. Overall, the van was tippy, noisy, and poorly designed inside without convenience items like reachable cup holders. The rear seats are almost impossible to take out, which defeats the purpose of having a van in the first place.

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  Eye Catcher - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By lovemyvw - March 28 - 10:00 am

  Overall, I love my Beetle Convertible. Its a ton of fun to drive. It turned a lot of heads this summer with the mellow yellow paint and the top down. Its certainly not a fast car, but it will get moving on the highway. The cup holders are hard for more then one person to use and the back seat is tight. If you take it on a trip, plan on packing lite. If you dont have anyone in the back seat, use the windscreen; it really cuts down the wind and makes for only a moderate wind on the highway. If you buy and the windscreen doesnt come with it; it is worth the money to buy one. The car is great in the snow as well.

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  I would not recommend this car. - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By SAM# - March 28 - 10:00 am

  This car to me is very much not worth the money. There are way too many problems with the car as you can read on the other forums here in edmunds. I have had mine for four months and overall am not happy with it. The automatic transmission is not good at all - horrible shifting at all the wrong times. Cruise control is the worst Ive used on any car. At cruseing speed the engine whines at a most annoying pitch also. MANY problems with the Beetle and check engine lights, airbag lights, power windows not working correctly, motors on the hatch not working with many other problems. This is not a one car problem, so watch what you buy.