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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  This car is a piece of junk - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mikshift - March 23 - 1:26 pm

  Bought by 2000 Volkswagen Jetta GL Sedan pre-owned and "certified" by the dealer, though it is a mystery how it passed certification. Upon purchase the dashboard lights were out and the fuel door switch didnt work, so I couldnt even fill it with gas. The car often stalls while driving. I have had the mass air flow sensor replaced at least five times over the past 2+ years, but the stalling continues. The dealer service is incompetent at best. The last straw came when they wanted to charge me $2,000 to repair some wiring that THEY broke on a previous visit. I said no, and when I picked up the car the antenna was bent out of shape, and they told me it wasnt their fault. Owning this car has been a terrible experience.

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  136,000 Miles in Under Five Years - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Linda Finch - March 23 - 9:50 am

  I love my Volkswagen Jetta GL TDI. Ive made two trips to Portland, OR, 4,500 miles, and averaged over 51 mpg. I use cruise control and set it at about 65 mph. With effort, Ive gotten 44 mpg around town. With a tail wind, Ive gotten 55 mpg on selected trips of 600 miles. Its the only car Ive ever driven that goes over Raton Pass (CO / NM) with cruise control still working when I get to the top of the mountain.

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  Always broken, Expensive to fix - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ashton - March 22 - 11:33 pm

  Granted, this car was used and had 109,000 miles when I bought it, but it has been nothing but trouble. Had to have it after my cousin got one (and I got to drive it)! Both radiator fans broke within 2 weeks, $460. Multiple cylinder misfires. Some crazy coolant system-related engine code (P2182) that never goes away, had to have the thermostat and the thermostat sensor replaced, $400+. Strut mounts and CV boot joint need to be replaced. Transmission slips going into 4th. Finally found a good VW certified mechanic, but parts are expensive! Trying to sell the thing.

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  VROOM!! I am Loving this Car - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By HoustonMob - March 22 - 9:50 am

  I did enough research to purchase this car two days ago. Ive read lots of reviews on other convertibles like Audi TT, Audi A4, Volvo C70, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Mercedes SLKs, Pontiac G6, Ford Mustangs, Mazda Miata, etc, which are all between, $25,000 and $40K,000. After serious considerations, I finally narrowed down my options to the Sky, Miata, and Eos. I couldnt get over the Miatas small car look and sorry, for Saturn, I have heard bad news about that brand. I traded in my Nissan 350Z coupe to Carmax, and was able to get out of my 8-month remaining lease with only couple hundred dollars upside down. Many dealerships tried to rip people off in big city but finally found one honest one. I am thrilled to own this Black / Beige / Sport Package. I love it

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  VW Jetta 2.0T 2009 - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Anthony (NJ) - March 22 - 7:53 am

  I was in the market for either a BMW 3 series or Audi A4. The prices were too much. I found the Jetta 2009 Wolfsburg AM and took it for a test drive and was VERY impressed. Very close to the Audi. Great car bumper to bumper and the dealership (Palisades) was great unlike the BMW and Audi dealerships I went to. This car is very responsive with great handling. It is the Audi A4 without all the glamor and that is ok with me because I saved the extra $13-$15K in my pocket. You will not find a similar sedan in American or Japanese for the price.

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  Corrosion on engine - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By lvanderlinde - March 22 - 7:34 am

  Purchased new 2011 Golf TDI 4/30/11 and was excited to bring it home. Unfortunately, The engine had moderate corrosion on all aluminum parts. Unclear as to how this occurred. May have been exposed to sea water during shipment from Germany. Big disappoinment.

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  Conflicted - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jaimy - March 21 - 10:20 pm

  I bought the car new, and planned on keeping it for a long time. I love the way the car drives. However, the gas mileage is not great. (18 AVG. around town, 24 avg on hwy) Especially when you have to use premium. So far, weve replaced several ignition coils, two water pumps, two temp.sensors, and a timing belt. The front bumper keeps coming loose. And now the car makes a suspicious clunking noise. Its most likely the axle. And the radio has issues. We will be replacing it very soon.

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  2010 Golf TDI DSG - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Jimbo - March 21 - 5:53 pm

  I just bought a 2010 Golf TDI in the waning hours of 2009. In my limited time with the car is has exceeded my expectations. I bought this car primarily as a commuter vehicle for its high fuel economy. So far the mileage has been great and its performance has exceeded my expectations. Most other cars that get similar mileage are about as fun as an iPod to drive. The build quality is good and the car feels solid. The mark VI Golf looks like it will be a winner although time will be the judge of that.

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  You have to drive it to believe it! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michael Bauer - March 20 - 5:30 pm

  The title should really read "I LOVE THIS CAR!!!". If you want a fun-to-drive car, then this should definately make your short list. There is just something about good solid German engineering that just screams "drive me". I used to hate driving, but I actually look forward to driving in my Jetta. But, lets be honest...the ride is not BMW-like. I have driven the 3-Series, from the 325 to the 330, and the handling is much better. But, look at the price difference...is it really 10k-12k better? Probably not. Also, there is a certain feeling you get when you drive a VW. Its like your "in". With the BMW, its more of a feeling of superiority. My advice: test drive one, but get the 1.8T or VR6.

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  Fun, economical, but too many problems. - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Kristi - March 20 - 6:50 am

  I have been a VW driver my entire life and never even considered anything else, but this car has been a huge disappointment. The electric windows malfunctioned twice, the trunk latch has had to be fixed twice, the sunroof wasnt draining properly so every time it rained I had 2 inches of water in my car, the back seat head rests are broken, the lens cover on the headlight pops off randomly, and I have an electronic issue causing a drain on the battery, so the car is dead and has to be jumped about half of the time. Our neighborhood mechanic couldnt fix it so we took it to the dealer, they had it two weeks and still were unable to solve the problem. We sadly will not be buying another VW.