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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  People need to understand their cars better - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By vw2003b5 - November 5 - 2:11 am

  This is my second VW i got this one very used it had 160K and one thing i can say for sure is you have to make sure all your maintenance is done up to date. These cars are very sensitive to that. I do my repairs my self Synthetic oil MANN filter Premium Gas and good K&N air filter Im getting close to 30mpg on High way and 25.5 mpg in the city. Dealer is the last place i would go they are rip off specially Valley Motors in Hunt valley MD Changing oil and never touche filter or charging for service they dont do. Help your self and find a good small shop tech that knows VW and go to him he will keep you rolling for my repairs other than oil change I go to Izzy auto service in Reisterstown

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  Great Car, Blows Away Everything Else in the Class - 2016 Volkswagen Passat
  By First New VW - November 5 - 12:24 am

  We looked at a number of cars in the class and none of them compared to the Passat. For about $19K, you get a great card that is fun to drive and very roomy. We have only had it a few weeks, but so far we think it is great and it still puts a smile on our face when we drive it. For all of you tall people, out 64" son and our 65" son in law fit great in the back seat with room to spare. Compared to anything else in the class it has better pickup and is really fun to drive. Great Job VW, cant figure out why these are not selling like "hot cakes."

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  nightmare - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tom - November 3 - 12:46 am

  I have had 6 sensors replaced at the same time, engine light came back on. Now the car went back to the shop and the mechanic said come get it I cant fix it. Now I have to let it warm up before it will go at all it will start and idle but stepping on the gas it dies. I shows differant codes at differant times. This car drives great I have owned it since new, but the things that go wrong no one can fix. What happened to "Its simple, but it gets you there" Everything on this car is complicated and the engineering is goofy (eg the rear seat cupholder)and everything is just differant so no one can work on it.

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  2006 Passat - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ptmarlowe - November 2 - 11:06 pm

  This is my second Volkswagen Passat and there is no comparison. The new 2006 Passat is awesome. The 2.0 liter tubo engine is a pocket rocket. The interior feels like I am in a Mercedes. For the money it is the best overall car around.

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  Passat Wagon - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By tgride87 - November 2 - 2:26 am

  I bought this car used and have since put over 50,000 miles on it without hardly having to put in any maintenance costs. It is really a great car - drives well, is comfortable, gets decent to good gas mileage and holds its value.

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  Solid A- for Touareg - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Rugsmart - November 1 - 8:30 pm

  Theres no question that the biggest problem with this vehicle is feul economy. Otherwise, its a perfect blend of power, luxury and utility with the V8. I did have to get the trunk mounted CD changer, due to the lack of an in-dash changer (which is a sin considering that 15K cars have in-dash changers now), but considering that I now have 7 discs to choose from (including the single disc in-dash player) its not such a bad situation. The in-dash player does sometimes have trouble reading burned CDs. Ride quality is excellent in this vehicle, as is noise suppression. One fault is the transmission gearing. 6th gear turns at over 2500 rpm at highway speeds, decreasing fuel economy.

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  Fun little car with great mpg - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By mishka1012 - November 1 - 11:11 am

  Ive had this car for couple month now and I drive everywhere on it. Even though mine was rebuilt from the ground up after an accident not shown on carfax and it was rebuilt from junk and old parts and silicone glue it holding up marvelously. I mostly drive everything it got out of this little car and let me say its not just faster than most four cylinders on the road. It beats some v6s because its stik and it only got 100hp! But I still manage to get 45 mpg consistently, never got less but once got 55 mpg on biodiesel and light driving style (speed limit and slow acceleration tryoing to stay in 5th gear at all speeds (even 30 mph)+ rolling down the hill). the rest sucks alot.

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  Nice overall, watch the blindspot - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By sc - November 1 - 5:30 am

  The Passats size is excellent. One problem is the low windows and size, create a blind area on the drivers side for oncoming cars. You need to crain your neck round to make sure there isnt a vehicle in the lane immediately on your left. Otherwise this is a fun car.

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  Good Overall Car, Minor Glitches - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Luczr - November 1 - 5:26 am

  The Passat is a very good car. Its handling is typical German (i.e. very good). It is also very comfortable. It gets good gas milleage yet has adequate power. It also has a good suspension.

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  Understated Head-Turner - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By adefiesta - November 1 - 1:33 am

  I dont see many Passats where I live, so people do a double-take when they see it. Despite what critics think of its understated styling, most of the people that see mine are impressed by its looks and clean lines. I just dont think it photographs well though unless you know how to work the clean lines. The diesels excellent fuel mileage, German-driving feel, and cavernous rear interior space are what sold us on the TDI SE Passat. Its great for our family of 5, almost negates the need for a larger crossover SUV. Free satellite radio for 90 days and 3 years free preventative maintenance also adds some value.