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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  Great Car Overall - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By michaelb1850 - October 5 - 3:20 pm

  I purchased this car new. Ive had many of the same cosmetic problems as others, ie.. broken window regulator (twice, driver side), broken glove box, broken armrest cover, cup holder. Ive had multiple teenage drivers, its been in the body shop more than once. Mechanically its a wonder! It is now 13 years old with over 275,000 mi on it and it is still on the original engine and transmission (automatic). The only major maintenance has been replacing the timing belt three times I think and a coolant pump. Ive had to replace the blower fan and am now having problems with the A/C control but hey, its 13 yo. If they can get the cosmetic things fixed it would be perfect. Getting 22 - 25 mpg.

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  Great fun & economical car. - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By flagman2 - October 5 - 8:28 am

  Looks great, responsive in acceleration, handling, and braking. Had it about a month. Previous cars were Camry XLE V6 and Infiniti I30. VW has a 110+ wheelbase which gives it a better ride than my Camry. The 2.0 TDI is responsive - 3.9 torque and breaks loose if not careful. Ride is quiet on 18" wheels. Previous reviewer got a Base model, with a 5 cylinder engine. If he paid $32k it was well over List Price!

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  2011 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By yangk - October 5 - 6:02 am

  Bought vehicle brand new with 5 mi on the odometer. 1st month owning it, there were paint blemishes on the vehicle so that was taken cared of by the dealership with heat treatment. Vehicle just has over 9,000 miles, its been in the shop 3 times for acceleration problems. The vehicle stutters, hesitates, on acceleration and when it does this, there is a harsh shift to the next gear. VW Dealership has not been able to replicate problem. I always get my diesel fuel from Kwik Trip or Shell depending on my travel routes. VW Dealership has also did a software update since I purchased the vehicle too. So far I have been somewhat disappointed in the TDI for the acceleration problem - VW has no fix

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  Great Car - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Leroy - October 5 - 1:26 am

  This car has been the most fun ride Ive ever driven. Perfect example of a heavy German sedan, killer in any driving condition. The only problem Ive had with it after 130,000 miles is a coolant sensor going out, an easy $8 fix. Im a sold VW driver now.

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  Crown Victoria to Jetta TDI - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Beetle Juice - October 4 - 4:50 pm

  After driving a Ford Crown Victoria for 18 years, it is going to take a while to get used to a smaller car where I feel and hear more of the road than I would like. The 16-inch rims and low profile tires give the car a sporty feel but I prefer the smoother ride of a large sedan. I took the Mercury Milan Hybrid on a test drive first but it was priced too high. It was smoother and quieter than the Jetta. I am impressed with the fuel efficiency after 500 miles. I am getting 34 mpg city and 47 highway while driving between 65-70 mph. When the piston rings are seated and the car is more broken in, I expect to do better.

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  rewarding vehicle - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jack witty - October 3 - 9:16 pm

  Over 600 miles in the first two weeks of ownership. Great car. Easy to enter and exit.Handles well,comfortable, great visibility,performance and economy.Got 42.5 mpg on the first tank. 600 plus miles per tank easy to obtain.Great trunk space.We got the black with cornsilk interior, sunroof,dsg tran,17 inch wheels,southern package,ipod adapter. I have owned at leats 40 cars and this is a good one. It rivals the several mercedes I have owned in the past.I also have a 2008 Accord v6 and a 05 Tahoe. Great combination of vehicles. If you are considering a Honda or a VW..go with the TDI. It makes the vehicle.

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  2005 Jetta - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SpecialJohnny - October 3 - 2:23 pm

  The brakes are very loud. My brakes have made noise from almost day one. The stealership has not replaced or done anything. I hand wash the wheels and car and the problem is with brake dust. Other than that good car to drive. Nice performance. So the first mod should be new aftermarket brake pads and forget trying to get VW to do something.

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  A very happy Tiguan owner - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Katie - October 2 - 7:30 pm

  Traded up from a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix. I researched cars for about 6 months prior to test-driving and this was one of my top pics. If you are thinking of purchasing a Honda CR-V or Toyota Rav-4, be sure to check out the Tiguan before making your final decision! Driving this car is a lot of fun! I was very impressed with the overall quality I got for the price.

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  Great car for the price - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By fred - October 2 - 3:10 pm

  This car is fun to drive, yet at the same time a great car to haul the kids around. my only disappointment is the lack of some of the features available on European models, like the bluetooth. In an earlier post someone mentioned circuit city connecting the bluetooth for $20 dollars!!! Anyone have any more details, I called circuit city and they said they couldnt do anything for vws 2003 and newer

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  2.0t not bad, not great either - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By mikeb5773 - October 1 - 5:08 pm

  Ive owned the car now for about 4 months. Its an ok driving car, I find there is a bit of a turbo lag. I have had the battery go dead after driving home from work one day, and the in dash CD player doesnt work, the screen reads "CDC Hardware Error" This is unbeleivable as I had a aftermarket CD player in my older car and never gave me any problems. I just find there is no WOW factor with this car. I am nervous after reading all the bad reviews about the fuel pump and other electrical issues. The steering wheel lock module was a recalled item by VW, so mine was fixed. Overall I think someday soon I will trade it and get something more age approprite for a 26 year old. Maybe a Mustang.