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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  The convertible beetle I own - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Tom Ratliffe - November 21 - 10:00 am

  handling, manuevability excellent. Gas milage not outstanding but satisfactory. Overall, a fine car for roaming around the island.

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  Well-Crafted GLI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JF - November 21 - 7:10 am

  I picked my 2006 Volkswagen Jetta GLI up 2 days ago. It is equipped with Package 2 and is Platinum with a gray leather interior. It looks very Audi-esque. I could not be more pleased with the dealer experience, they did not play any games. the GLI is a totally different driving experience from the standard Jetta, very tight, crisp and responsive. It is definately a drivers car. I agonized over choosing between this and an Audi A3. With my trade allowance and discounts, there was a $3,000 difference in price. After owning three Audis and four VWs without any major problems and always receiving great customer care, I will remain a loyal customer. The intangible feel of a German designed car cannot be matched. If you are shopping in the $25,000 price range, this is a very worthy contender. In my humble opinion, this is probably the best VW built yet.

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  Blew Me Away! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By danfan521 - November 20 - 5:46 pm

  I first drove the 06 Passat in October 05 before the review on Edmunds.com. The Value Edition had enough standard features and styling to convince me at first glance. After that initial drive I was still not convinced, so we spent a week test driving the Nissan Maxima, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry LE, Ford Fusion and the Ford 500 - thoroughly comparing features. The Passat won hands down. It has better interior styling, and its solid German road feel left us speechless everytime we saw it. We purchased a 2.0T in Mocha Brown with the Latte interior. Its upgrades were package #2 and the 17" wheels. I highly recommend the wheel upgrade. The Dynaudio stereo is a great options, but we opted out on these. Im blown away!

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  Wolfsburg 2.0T automatic - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Robert - November 20 - 6:46 am

  This is my third Jetta. The first one was a 2003 1.8T w/ 180 HP which then traded for 2005.5 150 HP 2.5 L in which i drove 54,000+miles, a perfectly reliable car with the exception of burned out brake light when it was about 1 year old and a recent burned headlight. So overall, id say that this new Wolfsburg is the best overall. It has huge amount of power. I love the way the engine sounds in the freeway when Im speeding up a bit. I got the red Salsa and its great. Although i do miss a few features that the previous model but its okay. As far as fuel efficiency, its not that great especially during aggressive driving and driving up the hill. But its better than driving an SUV.

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  Nothing short of Amazing - 2009 Volkswagen GTI
  By Vanbosch - November 19 - 10:00 pm

  I traded in my 2008.5 Mazda 3 Hatchback for my 09 GTI. After driving my wifeÂ’s 09 Rabbit I was sold on VWs build quality and driving dynamics but wanted something sportier than my 3. I absolutely hate the boy racer look of the new 2010 Speed3. I got an amazing deal on my GTI and havent stopped smiling since I parked it in my driveway. The new GTI is one of the best purchases I have ever made and have zero regrets trading in the Mazda. Volkswagen has earned a life long customer from my wife and me with their fun to drive, reliable and well built vehicles. The GTI satisfies in every way. From the precise handling to the punchy 2.0 Turbo engine and quality feel, I could not be more pleased.

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  Good Golf - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Long distence driver - November 19 - 4:26 pm

  I purchased this car new for long distance commuting (170 m. one way) and at 3000m it was nearly totaled. The VW dealer put is back together and it has been a great car. It is quick, comfortable economical and reliable. It now has 130,000 miles and is a superb automobile.

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  Fun ride, a few things to be aware of... - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By Andy - November 19 - 4:10 pm

  Absolutely love my new R32 but a few things to know during test drives. Note that the door speakers do rattle with moderate to high bass music. Also, there is a electric buzzing noise produced by the fuel pump coming from passenger side rear (listen for it at idle). If you can get over those two, and the 19 mpg fuel economy...this is a fun car. The note on the exhaust sounds similar to the BMW 330 at idle and M3 with full throttle. I got mine for $31,995 (with no Nav) but Im sure you could do much better.

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  Thank god its gone - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Naomi - November 19 - 12:20 am

  When I bought the car it had all the features and performance I was looking for along with great all weather traction. That was the good news. Over 6 years it would spend 1-2 months in the shop every year. Electrical problems, replaced fuel senders x2, fuel tank, engine coils, torque converter, cv joints, numerous other recalls and finally the dreaded cam adjusters failed at 43k. Quoted repair cost $8500, and happens to just about every w8. A quick fix is to try an oil flush like k&w, but it is a ticking time bomb of whats going to fail next. Worst reliability I have ever seen, and this holds for other w8 owners I spoke too. We all traded ours in for a more reliable car (just not a VW).

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  VW Jetta TDI - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ghostrider8 - November 18 - 1:41 pm

  The VWs that were built in Germany,rather than in Mexico were much better quality.I have seen a decline in the overall quality & reliability, also the VW dealers like their cars service has declined.The Jetta TDI is a small compact car, it is a very safe car,but service on the engine can be very costly.Fuel Economy is excellent & I would recommend a Turbo Diesel anyday over a Hybrid.Diesels are proven engines that can take 300k-500k miles.The A/C does not cool very well & it takes a long time to heat in the cabin in cold weather.Technology is shared between the German Car Co.,which is good,they are safe,& reliable,but also be prepared they have high service cost.

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  Beautiful Car - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Eric - November 18 - 8:33 am

  I extensively researched this car before purchase. Its exterior design is unique and the interior is luxurious and comfortable. The car (related to the Porsche Cayenne) appears to be worth more than what I paid for it. Also some great deals on 2005 models. Fit and finish are excellent - I poured over every square inch of it and didn’t find any defects. Nada! No excess carpeting, paint overspray, etc. One complaint is the back seat leg room is a little tight - the middle “hump” doesn’t help. Also steering wheel and air conditioning controls are complicated - will have to take some time learning. I look forward to 36 months and/or 36,000 miles of pure enjoyment! LOL