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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  Burns oil?? - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Orion Cavins - October 26 - 3:06 pm

  I traded my 03 Honda Accord for the Passat. Love the car except the premium fuel requirement. Recently oil pressure light comes on in between oil change (10,000 miles between as recommended by manual). Had car towed to dealership. They said car can consume 1 qt for every 1200 miles, and Volkswagen considers that normal? This sounds like a design flaw to me. My accord went 10,000 miles between changes and never lost a drop. I had it well into the 80K area. I am not satisfied with their response to this so far. I didnt win this car in a raffle, and want it to last without worry. Other problems is radio had display glitch and air bag on drivers side had to be replaced. Not happy at this time

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  VW Wolfsburg - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Shambur1980 - October 23 - 8:43 pm

  This has been a sporty, well-built vehicle and I have not had a bit of trouble w/ it in 4 years. PROS: - tight steering / drive (typical of European cars) - safe - advises if road is slippery - appearance - sits up high CONS: - more costly to maintain (e.g. oil changes) - not super comfy for longer trips - fuel efficiency (average)

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  Love To Golf - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By Bryan - October 21 - 2:00 am

  The only problems are with the platic features in side. Cup Holders, all broke a few times.

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  Economical wagon - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Davey - October 20 - 11:16 am

  This car is best on the highway, where it gets great mileage and the firm seats remain comfortable for the whole trip. But as a city car Im not so sure. DSG transmission can be annoying. At 30MPH it wants to be in 5th with engine @ 1100 RPMs. You can shift it yourself though. Mileage drops from 45 on the highway to 25 in the city. Nav /radio system has glitches and sound quality is mediocre. Cargo space is really impressive for a car this size.

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  Good Overall, Some Problems - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dave Nadeau - October 18 - 6:46 am

  I just turned 80,000 miles on my Jetta TDI. Overall, Ive been very happy. The mileage is unbeatable, and the turbo works wonders in the mountains here in Colorado. Some of the other owners comments are well taken however. My suspension squeaks. Part of my panel lights are intermittent. The suspension is too soft, which means poor ground clearance, which means the plastic under the oil pan eventually gets beat up. The passenger side door handle requires two pulls to open. Other than those issues, the car has performed quite well, with minimal maintenance.

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  Been 10 great years - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By trazy - October 13 - 6:16 am

  I purchased mine back in 03 from a dealership with 35k miles. I just crossed the 110k mark. So far Ive had nothing Id consider a "major" problem. At 90k miles the water pump went out. I also replaced the tensioner and belt. Yesterday it started misfiring bad and learned the coil pack had gone bad. I also replaced the spark plugs and the wires while having that replaced. Aside from that just changing the oil, brake pads, filters...etc. Only needing 2 sub $500 repairs in 10 years of ownership. To me, thats great. Little things have broke though. Switches, trunk latch, knobs. But those are little DIY cheap repairs.

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  Domino Effect of Early Problems - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Allan - October 10 - 6:40 pm

  Really good car that I researched thoroughly but because of early electrical problems that required diagnosis by 2 shops and a VW specialist, domino electrical problems occur frequently. I have to say that my dealership has been excellent so I continue to be patient.

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  Love this Passat! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By VW Lover - October 8 - 4:46 pm

  This is a great car and it should be at this price. Optioned out, its not cheap, but its a car with great performance, even with the 4-cyl engine, which is what I have. Its fuel economy is good, the car is roomy, it has great built quality and awesome looks. I wish the steering wheel was power adjustable or easier to get to the adjustment handle. The navigation system is pretty easy to use, even without the owners manual. The sound system is great, and I love how easy it is to use the sunroof with the rotary knob. Its rear and side visibility could be a tad better, but it has great front visibility. I love the turn signals in the side view mirrors and the heated mirrors and heated washer fluid nozzles.

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  STAY AWAY! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By elijahmike - October 7 - 9:30 am

  I bought my 2006 Passat 2.0T loaded w/ everything but Navigation as a Certified PreOwned. Long story short. In the first 3 months of ownership car brokedown once and needed to be towed (electrical brake stuck and couldnt drive), transmission issues, buttons pealing, rear door wouldnt close shut, Tire Monitoring System Failure, and the list goes on. Car was down 27 days in first 3 months and VW put $5200 into it...thank God for the CPO warranty! Not to mention this car stickered for over $30K and now they want to give me $12K for trade in...what happened to VW resale. This Passat when working is much funner than Camry or Accord, and looks better IMO but just not worth the HEADACHE!

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  Great Car - 2013 Volkswagen Golf
  By beefoe - October 6 - 5:13 am

  Purchased this car four months ago and have about 12,000 miles on it. Very enjoyable to drive and car has exceeded nearly all expectations. Dont be fooled by the 140 HP rating. The diesel engine is super torquey and it has loads of power when you need it. Wont blow anyone off the line but has great pickup through the 40-80 mph which makes highway passing very easy. Handling is excellent and the car is great fun to drive. My wife has an Audi A4 and prefers the Golf. Interior design is good, but I wish theyd offer a leather seat option. But I guess if they did, it would canibalize audi a3 sales.