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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  Nice Solid Compact Car - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bob - March 3 - 1:00 am

  This car drives and handles well. Its fun to drive and is nicely appointed, but its the most expensive Jetta package, costs over $25,000. Trading in a 01 V6 fully loaded Passat, I didnt want to give up any extras. The new styling is great, and the upgraded 17" wheels make the car stand out. I did not test drive the car on the interstate before buying...big mistake. The road noise is very noticable, much louder than what Im used to. I keep turning up the radio to compensate. If I had it to do over, I probably would have looked more at a midsize car and checked for a quieter ride. If youre looking for a small car and can get past the road noise, its a nice car.

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  decent quality and great mileage - 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By boatbum - March 2 - 12:23 pm

  Frankly I am a bit stumped by some of the other reviews. This little car is pretty sound and easy to maintain. Granted, if you try to take it to a shop that is now VW savvy, you might end up with a major headache. I recently replaced the waterpump - got quotes from $475 with timing belt replacement to $1400 for just the waterpump. Same with the brakes - Midas quoted $1200 but I got them done at a small local German imports shop for $250. Do your maintenance and the car is fine. It is fun to drive, fits me easily (I am 65) and it gets great gas mileage. I have owned alot of convertibles and this one is very practical and dependable if you maintain it.

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  Great design, suprisingly not as well made - 2013 Volkswagen GTI
  By jcfarnham - March 2 - 10:55 am

  Ive had my 2013 GTI for nearly one year. Love driving the car, performance, economy, styling, are all excellent. My car went in for a 10K Service at the Dealership and came away with a clean bill of health. Then 6 weeks later, the coolant light came on. Dealership diagnosed as a fault with a new water pump part on 2013 models. Significant work removing and reinstalling engine bay parts to repair. While it was at dealership, they identified an additional fault - apparently through engine diagnostics - and it required a replacement intake manifold. More engine bay parts removed and reinstalled. I am now very concerned about the long-term reliability proposition for this vehicle.

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  NOT A GOOD CAR... WILL NEVER BUY ONE AGAIN - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By bashkimpopaj - March 1 - 5:37 pm

  i bought my passat 2.0L 2007 three months ago and have sent it to the garage three times already. the first of many problems is the injector witch has left me stuck on a road 200 miles away from home and i also had to pay £560 to be taken home by the AA. the other problem is with the key which dosent start the engine easily. the turbo which makes a bad noise. it does not have good power while you drive it. i am very upset and angry with the car and i would never consider buying such a car again and i most certainly will never consider buying a volkswagen again.

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  Happy Driver!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By A Passat Driver - March 1 - 2:00 am

  This car is what a family sedan needs to be. It can be efficient and safe as a family sedan. It can also be a sports car that accelerates faster than most. (Did we mention this car has front wheel drive)The tiptronic transmission is a lot of fun and can easily mistaken for a real manual transmission. The steering on this car is excellent! The suspension has no lean in cornering.It is an excellent combination of comfort/luxury/sport.

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  sweet engine, need upgrade suspension - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By seb - March 1 - 2:00 am

  All I can say is that my wife thinks the ride is excellent, but Im already planning on doing a suspension upgrade. Engine is excellent. Plenty of power for this little car and it sure loves to go. The engine by far out does the handling, but that can be fixed easily, although for for between $1-2K.

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  Terrible reliability - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By poor quality - March 1 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car for my parents to drive being a supposedly great car. Unfortunately, we have never seen such terrible reliability in a car. This car visits the dealership every other month with every breakdown possible from turbo, glowplugs, electrical, engine problems, carbon build up, door locks, lighting contols, stalling, not starting etc. etc. My parents are stuck driving their older Buick LeSabre most the time because it is the only car they can trust.

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  Best SUV - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Polsky - March 1 - 2:00 am

  5500mi.and no complaints.Comfortable smooth ride. Great in snow.Plenty power for a V6.Fuel consumption as expected from a car that weight. Worth the money. Well recommended.

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  J-J-JETTA! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By yacky - March 1 - 2:00 am

  This car is sporty and fun to drive. The car sold itself, and I have had no complaints. For such a small looking car there is tons of room in the trunk and backseat. Stock stereo sounds nice too. Interior controls are functional and easily understood.

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  A Wagon for the Banana Republic Crowd - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ChadPT - March 1 - 2:00 am

  Our was quite a step up from the college car (Honda Civic) and worht the wait. It has all the necessary bells and whistles, and I would highly recommend the GLX model, because youll want the extra features. The backseat has ample leg room for passengers, and the stereo is very nice! A great entrance to luxury cars that is less than other luxury makers.