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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  Killer seats - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hippobean - September 19 - 4:47 pm

  Dont buy this car unless you want back pain. the bucket seats were designed too deep and low and tilted down on the back so its putting all the pressure on your lower back. Even the back seats were low and give you back pain. If not because of the seat, this car would have high ratings. but because of the poorly designed seats, it took the driving pleasure away from this car. And VW absolutely refused to do anything about the seats. Will never buy a VW again!

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  Jetta sportwagon SEL manual - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By eurosteve - September 19 - 3:53 pm

  This is a great car! Buy it. It gets better gas mileage than my mini cooper S. Its fast, corners wonderfully. Is a great family car for 5. Its a GTI with kids. I still dont know why people buy minivans. Its hard to keep it under 95. Had it for a year without any regrets. Oh by the way, either get a manual transmission, or ride a bicycle instead.

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  vw gti 20th anniversary edition - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By scott1234 - September 19 - 10:00 am

  This is one awesome car. I love it!

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  Really like it - 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf
  By sweetwagon - September 17 - 6:03 pm

  I wanted to try out an EV. After over a month with the car, happy I chose this one. Best interior and looks out of all the budget EVs. So far this car is great. Ive got two kids. Its become the primary car for just going around town. Definitely a great experience with my first EV. Cant wait to see the next iteration of EVs.

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  Fun to drive, but MANY quirks - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jfromphilly - September 17 - 4:09 pm

  My Jetta got totaled a few weeks back. She was a great car in many ways, (fast, fun to drive, gas efficient) & I got 130,000 miles out of her. However, I decided not to get another Jetta. Here are a few of the reasons: -Anytime theres a repair (and there will be many) you will pay $1000, minimum. -REEKS of crayons. (inevitably the first comment anyone makes setting foot inside the car) -Strange clicking noise coming from the turn signal -Lights turn on and wont turn off again (had to have the mechanic take them apart to get them off) -The electrical outlet/cig lighter stopped working a month in & after multiple repair attempts I had to just give up on it

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  Excellent Sedan, Almost a Luxury - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By phani9 - September 17 - 10:00 am

  I Just traded in my 09Jetta 2.5 SE for a 08Passat komfort. Its a wonderful sedan with so much interior luxury & killer looks outside.

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  Big Loss - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By ex-owner - September 16 - 2:13 pm

  Stay away from the 1999 Passat especially if you live In Kentucky. This car has too many problems and is more expensive to mantain than any other European car. It has lubrication problems on the engine, bearings failure, suspension failure... Nobody can service the sealed transmision and it DOES need service. If you own it, change the oil (synthetic) every 3,000 - 4,000 miles regardles of what the shop tells you. Also be careful, the new design will also have suspension problems. This car is fun to drive but a terrible investment.

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  What a blast! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Team Young - September 15 - 8:40 pm

  I was looking for a 4 door car with a manual tranny that was fun to drive, has some get-up & go and wasnt going to break the bank. I think I found the best car out there that fit those requirements. I puchased it used from a private party. He took good care of it and had all records and services and the local VW garage. It has run great! It jumps off the line and has plenty zip. Watch out or a speeding ticket will follow. I did a lot or research before I purchased this car and there was some talk about the engine problems but I think most of those are with the newer version that came out in the start of 2003. Mine has the 174 HP motor and it runs great with no problems. I love the tight cornering and the handling is awesome!

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  Traded 06 Oil Burner for 09 - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By gluiz - September 14 - 7:43 pm

  So far, very few problems with 09 Passat compared to 06 previously owned. Small rattle, ipod adapter issue dealership addressed immediately. 3200 miles driven since purchased. Keep checking my oil to make sure dont have same issue as 06 model. Fun to drive compared to Nissan, Honda, and Toyota family sedans. Unfortunately, my experience is that you trade performance, fit/finish for reliability. Keeping my fingers crossed...

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  Piece of Garbage - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By David Perruzza - September 14 - 2:36 pm

  Dont let the great ride and fancy features fool you, if you get a 2004 it is a lemon. The Thing was in the shop more then I drove it. Lots of interior issues with falling apart, apparently there are 27 recalls and when I went to trade it in I lost about 12,000 in 6 months. No dealer would even take it, I had to bring it to carmax.