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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  Many problems, too many to be satisfied. - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By robin36 - March 25 - 3:08 am

  I bought this car straight from the dealer. This is a one owner car. Because of all the problems, I was tempted to sell. So if you are looking to buy, I have a feeling you may be in for an ugly surprise. It is very expensive to repair, and I have had a lot of problems with defects: 1) Exhaust pipe detaching from motor 2) Radio interference when lights are on (never fixed) 3) Small fan motor went out 4)Time on the clock jumps ahead an hour inexplicably some days 5) Defective trunk latch 6) AC Compressor went out. (All these WAY before they were due) Here is a list of regular maintenance expenses: 1) Use of Premium Unleaded 2) Oil filter is a cartridge 3) Timing belt change = $1,200

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  Great Ride - But Typical VW - 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By BN - March 24 - 1:46 am

  Now had 2+ months with SUV. Nice SUV, handles well, accelerates well, amazing breaks and nice handling. But in typical VW fashion, all the technological gadgets fall well short of expectations. The car is equipped with Apple Play, which is supposed to integrate with I-Phone. Well, it does, but then starts glitching when switching between phone/texts and transitioning back to radio which sometimes just stops working altogether. Sometimes (often) when connecting the i-phone through USB, the connection fails. Its frustrating and I prefer to not use this feature altogether. Sound system is poor, sound distribution not designed well the sound is poor. Although the gas mileage is acceptable for an SUV - the gas tank appears to be small and if you do any type of regular driving, youd have to refuel every other day.

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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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  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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  Disappointed with the Jetta - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Alli - March 19 - 10:00 am

  I previously owned a Jetta (1985), and thought it was the best car ever. I purchased another in 2001, and have been very disappointed. Although cute and okay to drive, the performance of the car is not as good as my last one. Maybe it is the inferior labor used in making it, but it is not as peppy as I remember.

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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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  Save Yourself - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Thomas Davis - March 8 - 2:00 am

  The reliablity of this model is far below expectations, requiring over $5,000 of repairs in the past 4 years especially exhaust windows and amenities and gear shift/gear train. Stay away from this lemon!

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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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  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.