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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  Its not you, its me... - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sissie99 - September 29 - 6:33 am

  Dear Jetta- Its not you its me. I think we need to go our separate ways. Ill have fond thoughts of you and the places that we have been, but then I will remember all the pain you caused me and the burning sensation on my credit card. I cant handle the trips to the shop, the dirty looks from the service people, the days of missed work because you broke down and despite what my Dad says, he does not like working on you. I have had every problem under the sun with you except the burning oil thing. Thank God for small favors. Im sorry your window broke and that your thermostat doesnt work and that you have a leaky cooling system. I hope you find a good home when I trade you in or sell you. Love- Me

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  Not for those over 58 - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By K - September 29 - 6:00 am

  I am so disappointed in my car. I am almost 5 9" and can not get comfortable in my seat at all. I started having back problem within about 2 months of having car and now my knee (which only hurts getting out of my car) It sits way too low. I had a bigger vehicle before this purchase and thought I wanted something smaller and more fuel efficient. I am getting low 20s for is partly due to the way I drive, it I can take off fast I do. This is definitely not the vehicle for me. Oh and I had no idea until someone told me weeks later that I needed premium gas due to the turbo engine. So I am paying the same for gas as I was for my larger vehicle. Very disappoint I chose this vehicle. If tall avoid.

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  Fun little car with some quirky issues - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Andrew - September 28 - 8:33 pm

  First thing, I love my Jetta. Despite its tiny 115hp, it is a blast to drive thanks to the manual transmission, great steering and fun ride. I have owned my Jetta for three years now, and have had very few issues. I live in Wisconsin, and this car surprised the hell out of my friends who had trucks and SUVs by its performance in heavy snow and ice. For some reason, it is unstoppable in winter weather. I am also 6ft 1 and have plenty of head and legroom while driving. I am disappointed with the gas mileage, I usually average 26 mpg combined, but have gotten 31-32 mpg on long highway trips. The biggest downside with this powertrain is undoubtedly the engine. I frequently have difficulty passing or I have to downshift 2 gears to make it up a small hill. I wouldnt mind if the return was excellent mileage but the mileage as I mentioned is somewhat mediocre for a car of this size. My only truly negative experience was an EPC censor that would put my car in limp mode. The censor randomly would go off when I would start it, and acceleration was limited and the car would max out at 50mph. I took it to several mechanics and a dealer and eventually found out that a botched repair from a previous owner was to blame. Just be careful with these cars though, as the electronics are really touchy and can be expensive to fix. Other than that, I love my car and have had no other mechanical issues to speak of. I highly recommend this car as a cheap, fun to drive car that isnt as vanilla as a Ford, Chevy or Hyundai.

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  Love my Jetta - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By littlebird - September 28 - 6:26 pm

  I bought the 1.8T with the sports package 225/45/17 and the car handles great I also took the manual transmission. So far so good. Dont like the cup holders blocking the stereo controls but that is it.

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  I love my Touareg! - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By sammy - September 28 - 8:40 am

  I love the way it drives with a lack of road noise. We have driven it in driving snow, hot weather, pouring rain- it hugged the road! In the snow, rain and ice- there was no slippage at all. I have a dark green/lt gray interior model. Tho only thing I would change is the availablity to get the US spec. asseccories in Europe!

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  You get what you want - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By Jeff - September 28 - 2:06 am

  The car is very fun to drive. I have never had a convertible in my life so I was not to happy when she brought it home. I figured it is her car and she will be the one driving it so get what you want. She loves it. The handling is good and speed is fine. Does it have wind noise. What can you expect when the top comes off. Great car overall

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  Stay away Sell Now and Stay away. Do not buy ever. - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By amravceng - September 27 - 11:03 pm

  I own a 2006 Passat 2.0 T with 62K. This is the worst car I ever owned in my 50 years. The positive about a car is cool exterior look. The interior is falling apart. The drawers are stuck, paint is peeling off, other plastic parts have broken hinges. The engine is losing oil. I have to do oil change every 2,500 miles to keep dipstick inside the range. The wheel bearngs were replaced for both rear wheels. Air conditioner compressor died and AC didnt work for 2 years. The compressor for this car is the most expensive, due to high demand. VW of America are useless. Many Technical service Bulletins were issued, admitting the design flaws, but not granting financial aid. Stay away.

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  jettas rock - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By smitty - September 27 - 1:40 pm

  I love my VW jetta its fun to drive handles like its on rails and runs like a cat especially when we go driving in the mountains

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  Best every day car I have ever owned - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ron - September 27 - 11:30 am

  I have owned 5 Jeeps since 1986, I like the size and looks of the Jeep but not the brakes or trips to the dealer for repairs. I have 4500 miles on my V-8 Touareg and love it. It is has all the power you would ever need, and is as much fun to drive as my Porsche 4-S. The build quiity is superior to the Jeep. The air suspension is a must. The Touareg V-8 comes standard with most everything unlike the Porsche SUV.. The only negative I have is the gas mileage and the way the rear seats fold down. If I drive sensibly I can get 14 in town and 18 on the freeway. On the road it handles like a sport car (air suspension) After a 400 mile trip my legs are not cramping up as they have in every other car I have owned.

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  Never, ever buy another VW - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Never Again - September 27 - 4:03 am

  Rarely driven, garage kept spouse’s car, only 33k in the past 7 years. Constant issues with recalls and poor service. Interior falling apart and in some spots the plastic flakes as though a form of automatic impetigo. Vehicle will not remain in alignment for more than 6 months. Common to other VW owners; hose failures, ECM malfunctions, cooling system issues, constant mold in the ventilation system ( although the most recent recall is suppose to fix this issue after 7 years of complaining). Service with authorized VW dealers is horrible, have tried two in the area, seems they are more interested in going for the value add transmission flush than working though a problem.