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-but noisy - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Knickerbocker - November 16 - 2:00 am

  I live in a big city where small parking spots and tight turning radious are at a premium. The car never lacks for power and can do circles around all of the 8 cylinder taxis, as well as easily cruising at 80 MPH on the interstates. The short wheel base base makes the car very responsive, but it does cause you to rock forward and backward a little-but that is the same with any small car. One mechanical problem with the air sensor, but VW just the warranty and is paying even though I repared it two years ago. Negatives: serious wind noise and some interior parts (rear ashtry, rear cup holder, front-passenger door handle, wood grain) have jamed, cracked or just broke.

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  Manchester NH Dealer Sucks - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By khh_13 - November 16 - 2:00 am

  Ours arrived w/windshield scratches. The dealer placed a warranty claim. The dealer sublet to Glass America (GA) who installed their own glass. The glass did not fit & installed it anyway causing a safety issue. GA severely scratched the hood. Our car was no longer a new car. We contacted VW of American. VW of American stated it was not their issue. After a week Manchester VW replaced the glass again & a hood from a new car. They scratched the front bumper & chipped the paint in the driver door. Our VW is now for sale. We will NOT do business w/ Manchester VW or buy another VW. VW of America did not support us w/making the dealer provide a new Jetta.

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  Wolfsburg- A very, very fun Jetta - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VW freak - November 14 - 8:36 pm

  The Jetta Wolf comes with a 2.0T and has an amazing DSG strapped to its back. The two amount to a very zippy car that will destroy 80% of the cars on the road. The body is rather bulky, and hardly resembles the Jettas of yesteryear. I gave it a lower rating for reliability because the car spent a total of 14 days in the shop within the first 10,000 miles, but no issues to speak of there after. The interior is beautiful and high quality, but begins to make some squeaks when the temp drops. The standard tires get noisy after 15k. Some of the stitching on the arm rest and steering wheel is coming undone, may have something to do with 6 hours a day in the car. Overall a great car! get one

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  So Far So Good.... - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Howie99 - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Car handles well, and the 1.8T is quick. Interior is well laid out. Monsoon radio is overrated. Overall a solid performer

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  The last of a dying breed... - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mike - November 10 - 12:10 pm

  Good overall vehicle. Decent gas mileage, plenty of available power, smooth opertation. Its a heavy car that needs more power to compensate.

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  2015 Jetta TDI SE 6 Speed Manual - 2015 Volkswagen Jetta
  By 3angelsfly - November 9 - 3:00 am

  I have about 250 miles on the car so far, so this review is my first impressions after owning it for less than a week. My previous car was 2005 Toyota Prius which was super reliable and went well over 200k miles with zero problems. I was hoping for something that still got good fuel mileage but had more power and was more fun to drive. In these respects the Jetta has been excellent. It is super quite on the road and absorbs the bumps better then my Prius. What I miss about the Prius is the full smart key system (available on Jetta SEL). Fuel economy so far according the computer is 45mpg on the first half tank of fuel. Thats about 85% highway at 65-75 mph with some spirited driving.

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  Exploding Glass!! - 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
  By jeffjj7 - November 8 - 3:13 am

  Weve had our new VW Bug for about 8 weeks. Made one payment on it. Wish we knew about the window issue prior to purchase! 2 weeks ago traveling at 50mph the driver side window literally EXPLODED... yes I said exploded... sounded like a collision. Called the police as I thought someone may have thrown something that hit the window. Not so. Took to dealer where they prepared to fix the prob only to find that they called people in from Detroit Corperate to have a look see... the next day! Picture and all in hand the fix procedure was on only to find out the glass was backordered. Couple this with rude no-customer service and no reselution my next stop is the AG in the great stae of GA.

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  Caution Germans dont do Electronics - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Gene - November 5 - 10:46 am

  Over $6000 in repairs, thank goodness I bought an extended warranty. Mostly electronic, including power seat, heated seat, heated seat control, dash instruments, check engine light, climate control temp electronics, cv boots, leaking camshaft seal. Would buy again if it came with a 100K warranty, otherwise forget it. Really a shame because it looks good, rides good, handles good, has plenty of power.

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  Another oil-burner - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TJMan98 - November 5 - 10:00 am

  We loved our Jetta from the first day we purchased it. We couldnt believe all the features you got for the money. We got it fully loaded with heated leather seats and all. Little did we know that after not even 2 years and 35000 miles that it would start burning up to a quart of oil per 1000 miles. We did a little research only to learn that the 2.0 L engine is known for this. In fact, at 45000 miles we called the dealer for an engine service light and told them about the oil. The service person stated, "yeah, volkswagen 2.0 L engines are notorious for burning oil." She said that she had one and her husband had to check it every 1000 miles.

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  A Drivers Automobile - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jettaguy420 - November 5 - 10:00 am

  I love my Jetta. I only wish i could drive it in an area which would allow me to "open it up" more. I long for 4th gear. The 1.8T exhibits very little lag, compared to my Saab 91 900T. I like the new silver accents around the grill and along the side. It looks a bit more refined and distinct than other Jetta IVs. If you live in a snowy area, get the 15" wheels on the GLS. The sport package (17" wheels, stiffer suspension) is nice in the summer, but useless in the winter. Lots of upgrades available for tuners. Changing your oil yourself voids warranty, and is very difficult, due to a plastic protector plate. Cool Key.