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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  oil sludge buildup - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By satisfied tm - June 6 - 1:00 pm

  I have only a few problems with this car. Currently have 24k miles. Ive heard from other Passat owners after 44k mi. "the sludge" can occur. VW sent out a letter about this problem. Use synthetic oil. The turbo produces excessive heat. Brake light switch replacement and MIL light which required a sensor replacement, are the only problems Ive encountered.

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  My new commuter car - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By scanman11 - June 6 - 12:35 pm

  Driving 100 miles per day to work & back was not doing anything for me or my 335i. I needed something comfortable and economicle-Diesel seemed to be the best thing. I had just bought a 2011 Jetta for my wife, & loved it. The golf was more fun to drive, and now after 1500 miles I can say that driving across Houstons traffic and getting 46+miles per gallon, makes me happy!! The seats are great for a slightly overweight 510" guy, it has all the "Pep" that I need (It supprises me frequently) ok, its not a twin turbo Beemer, but it goes. My only fault with it are the heater controles, which are a little "Cheap" but other than that, I love it. Bravo Volkswagen !!

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  TDI Performance - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BT - June 6 - 1:13 am

  This car gets excellent fuel millage. It gets anywhere between 33 and 35 mpg around town and 45 to 53 mpg on the highway. The best millage comes when driving 55 - 60 mph. This car is fun to drive. It has plenty of power.

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  third times a charm?? - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By 5peedornospeed - June 5 - 10:06 pm

  my mom has had Jettas as her past two cars (a 1997 with 170,000 and a 2002 currantly with 100000 on it) both cars have never given any problems out of the normal range of expected maintanence so i decided on the 2008 jetta s as my next car. so far im very impressed, i got it with 54000 miles on it and it now has 62000. i have only owned the car a month. the first week i had it i took it from RI, to NC to CO(phish) and back to RI. the car isnt old enough for me to judge reliability but so far everything seems solid and the car seems very well built. i will update this review once i have put some real milage on the car.

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  Excellent SUV - 2007 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Susan Curtis - June 5 - 9:16 pm

  I have owned other mid-sized premium SUVs and this one is my favorite. It handles so well and I feel very safe in it. It has surpassed my expectations and continues to do so.

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  TDI - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GWJ - June 5 - 1:10 pm

  Great car that averages close to 50 mpg. Could be easier to work on simply things like headlights.

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  Excellent Car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kayak - June 5 - 9:56 am

  I love this car. I had a 2002 Jetta, but outgrew it and did not like the cup holders on top of the radio which managed to get everything wet. Also, there was no room in the backseats and in the end the car had engine problems even after I had taken the car in twice to be repaired. I feel that the 2006 is more sophisticated on the outside and inside and roomier. It also has much better cup holders and other features plus more room in the back . It has better handling, a smoother, more solid ride, and a more powerful engine, even in the 2.5 trim. It is just a more "grown-up" car all around.

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  Curts 2006 TDI / DSG - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CAATS_Man - June 5 - 4:13 am

  This was my first VW purchase. I test drove new 2003, 2004 & 2005 Jettas but the interior was just too small for my requirements. Besides more room I also wanted the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) to go with the PD Diesel engine. When the 2006 New Jetta became available in the spring I was prepared to order, almost. I found that the options I wanted - interior colour and rear seat airbags - werent available until June but then I waited a bit longer due to "build quality" issues. I ordered in late August and took delivery on 28 October but I feel the wait was worth it.

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  More trouble then its worth - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Brittany - June 5 - 2:46 am

  Since I have had the car we have had to replace the water pump, put a new turbo in, thermostat, replace the timing belt (but that is standard maintenance), put 4 new coils in, replace one brake bec it was sparking, and this is all in a year and a half and around 80,000 miles. I have been in and out of VW so much they know me by my first name. Not to mention the money we have had to shell out for. I have had my car towed three times this year to VW. When its not in the shop, its a blast to drive but its not worth the money.

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  Problems since Day 1 - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Problems since Day 1 - June 4 - 3:43 pm

  I bought my VW jetta 2.5 in September of 2006, it only had 85 miles on it from one dealership to mine. The second day driving I heard the brakes squeaking. So I told the dealership and they checked the breaks saying nothing was wrong. The noise continued and progressively became worse to the point where my brakes were grinding, so they replaced the brakes as a one time good will replacement. Since then the problem has continued and Ive had my brakes replaced 4 times, the last time I had to pay 400 dollars later. My brakes still squeak and grind. The car is great except for the constant brake change and gas mileage which goes down once you go over 70 mph.