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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  If your not a mechanic dont buy the Bug - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Not a mech dont buy - March 14 - 9:06 am

  Windows failed out of warranty, rip off repair. A/C quit needed new compressor, condenser and expansion valve, I put them in. Front wheel bearing right side went bad, I put new one in. Lights fail alot hard to change both rear and front lights. Parking brakes cables stuck from rust, I replaced. Rear brakes wear way too fast, calipers go bad for no reason. Water pumps fail randomly, I replaced that. Beetle needs may parts redesigned for reliability. Simple things cost too much, center of hub caps emblems fall off cost 30 dollars way too much for nothing. Gas door gets stuck, adjusted alot to make it work right. VW engineers have no clue on design for easy of maintenance nor reliability.

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  Reliability does not meet expectations - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By MarkusK - March 13 - 9:20 pm

  I purchased my Passat in 01/08 as a Certified Pre-Owned with 15k miles and have driven it 18k since then. After the test drive, I was hooked by the performance and feel of the 2.0T engine. Also, the build quality appeared very solid. For road trips with the family, we often leave the other car (SUV) at home and enjoy the ride in the Passat. Gas mileage can exceed 30 mpg highway, even when fully loaded. However, a concern and disappointment is the lack of reliability. AC failed at 22k. A temperature sensor almost left me stranded at 26k. At 32k, an ignition coil failure resulted in the need for a tow truck. The warranty and my dealership have kept me and my wallet sane (for now).

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  My First Jetta or VW for that Matter - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TripVWowner - March 13 - 12:13 pm

  I really like this car, I think the exterior styling which is considered bland by some is sort of sporty and elegant and it shares the same large chrome grille feature as VWs luxury counterpart, Audi. The car handles very well and I have the base 2.5L 5-cylinder engine which may not be race car fast but does the job. I notice that the car is very heavy for its class and I like this as it helps keep the car feeling more stable at highway speeds.

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  I would not recommend this SUV - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Noir Authentique - March 13 - 8:20 am

  Coming from a 2002 Toyota RAV4 which was 100% reliable, I can say this so far has not been the SUV I imagined. The test drive went well at Potamkin VW. I like the interior and exterior design- typical clean design. The interior has a few cheap pieces but you get used to it. On par with the Toyota. The inside is quite roomy but the seats are not so comfortable. Cargo area is useless. With 4k miles- the power around town is peppy but it lacks power on the highway. I also notice the gas goes quicker than expected. It should average 21 MPG and I barely see 15MPG average. On the highway I have seen 23 with the cruise set at 60MPH. Around town it dips to 12-13MPG. Overall, not the best small SUV.

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  Bad Buy - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JMull - March 13 - 5:30 am

  This car is horrible. I brought it brand new and have had it fixed about seven times. I would not recommend this car to anyone. This was the first car that I brought myself, and is nothing but a dissapointment. It was never a smooth ride. It has always been to loud. I can not wait till the day I can afford to get another car. No more Volkswagens for me.

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  Great Car...Engine noise when cold - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Stu - March 13 - 4:13 am

  Previously have driven the Passat since 2003. Lease every 2 years. First experience with the Jetta. When starting from cold, annoying engine noise until motor warms up. Usually only last for 15 seconds or so...but very noticeable. Dealer tells me the oil needs to get into the lifters b4 noise will go away. Havent found any recalls or so regarding this condition. Miss the 2.0 turbo. What a treat to drive that engine. Perfect fit for the VW line.

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  VW R32 - Just as advertised :-) - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Gianpaolo - March 12 - 10:30 pm

  From the first time I test drove this car out of the dealership I was impressed. Its true, it might not be as fast 0-60 as the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO or the Subaru WRS STi but this car was built to get to 155 MPH safely and fast! For a hardcore VW fanatic, this car beats hands down the competition due to the great refinements in the interior and the agility of the car. I have friends that have the EVO and STi, these cars need to be reved up really high to get the max torque whereas the R32 provides full torque at 3,200 rpm. The V6 engine can be easily upgraded with drop in supercharger / turbo charger kits making it a Porche / Evo / WRX / Ferrari killer.

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  My third diesel, 2012 Passat TDI SEL Premium. - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By rfb70 - March 12 - 3:45 pm

  My wife and I have driven it approx. 3,400 miles and have no rattles, squeeks or any other problems. We use it almost all open road and average 43 mpg. We drove from Pa. to Fl. and back, 2400 miles, got to try almost every gadget in the car. The Bluetooth was very easy to set up to our cell phone, also the seat memory settings and the remote key memory. The radio and nav. took quite a bit of reading up on, but operate very well after using them on the trip. I didnt baby the car, drove with the traffic, about 75 mph with the air on and still averaged 43 mpg.

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  Best car I ever bought - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tim - March 12 - 10:46 am

  Buying this car was one of the best decisions I ever made. Im extremely happy. Quiet, smooth, quick, reliable, safe. I can go on and on.

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  Wonderful Value - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steve - March 12 - 10:15 am

  I bought this car one year old with 12,000 mi, certified at a VW dealership, for $12,700. Its been an excellent car for the money. On a level highway, I routinely get more than 40 mpg. The car is quiet, composed, comfortable, and hasnt had any reliability problems. Its worth taking a look at, especially if you need something simple for commuting. I only wish the car had 6 forward gears as the 5-speed gearing shows some gaps on mountain roads.