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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  volks - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By richard coughlin - August 10 - 9:13 pm

  so far I like the car. The car handles well and is fun to drive. It is good in the snow. The fuel mileage is not impressive. I got around 26 mpg in mixed driving. There are a lot of rattles when driving over potholes. I bought the car for the fun factor. Im waiting for the spring so I can put the top down. Also I plan on wintering in the sun-belt starting next year so I bought the convertible. I hope gas prices do not rise a lot more. To early for a fair reliability assesment

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  Extremely disappointed - not recommended - 2012 Volkswagen Touareg
  By sk14msk - August 10 - 4:08 am

  I bought my 2012 Toureg certified used with 12k miles on it. The steering wheel shakes at 65-75 mph and I took my car back to the dealer two times already. Every time they returned the car to me, they said the problem has been fixed. New tires, alignment, nothing is helping. There are numerous other VW Touareg drivers out there who are as disappointed as I am. The steering wheel shake makes longer trips very uncomfortable. I am extremely unhappy with this car.

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  Its Worth More as Scrap Metal - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jim - August 9 - 7:50 pm

  I have a 1999.5 Volkswagen Jetta and for starters, Im on my second engine. The recalls, the small glitches, the leaky trunk, the fact that the computer randomly decides to lock the doors, the countless repairs. AUGH! I fell into the trap of "just one more repair" but after this latest alternator fiasco, forget it. Im too embarrassed to tell you how much I spent on the car thus far.

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  Best SUV for the price, Major Power - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By JD - August 9 - 6:06 pm

  I bought this vehicle new almost off the line pretty much base package, no nav. Its a remarkable SUV with amazing power capability and the safest thing you can own. I have driven this car across the country four times, up and down the coast and mountains alike, and there is nothing that handles extreme weather, harsh conditions, or long rides in any category better. I love this car despite recalls (free fixes) and other issues that occur on any luxury car at a cost. I wish people appreciated the real capability and power this SUV has, its not an around town vehicle, use it, love it, or leave it.

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  New Beetle - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Cary - August 9 - 7:56 am

  This is by far the worst car I have ever owned. I am a mechanic, and I can barely keep this thing running. It only has 49000 miles on it, and it costs about $200 a month in replacement parts alone. This car just falls apart, and you cant keep up with all of the broken items. This is definitely the last Volkswagen I will ever own.

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  Bang for the Buck - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By J.B. - August 9 - 2:13 am

  Youd be hard-pressed to find a combination of styling and features in a similar car. After driving the Passat V6 and Jetta VR6/1.8T, I opted for the 2002 GLS 1.8T w/ every option available. It was just a fun car to drive. It was a tough car to find (9/01), so the dealer tried to give me the supply & demand surcharges for silver, rare options, etc. You’ll experience the same headache with the New Beetle Turbo S about now. Needless to say, I worked a good price and have been extremely pleased.

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  Now Thats A Car! - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By RheyLEW - August 8 - 4:36 am

  Was initially interested in a Mazda6 for a long time. Made the mistake of sitting in a Passat CC first, went to Mazda and wasnt impressed, the German design and meticulous attention to detail is phenomenal. (Its the little things) cleverly designed umbrella holder in door, pull-up window shades, radar for adaptive cc and parking assistance, bi xenon headlights, LED tails, cargo and shopping bag hooks in trunk, heated side mirrors that point to curb when reversing, auto door lock, moon roof, rain sensing wipers that you dont even have to touch, wonderful lighting and dash, power windows all around, 4 cup holders, secret compartments. Powerful v6 engine with paddle shifters! Whooo- weee!

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  Best compromise for $15k - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By 04passatvariant - August 7 - 10:30 pm

  Wanted an A4 Avant but too expensive and Quattro slaughters gas mileage - I recently bought an 04 1.8T wagon 5 speed - all I can say is FUN. Came from a 05 Grand Cherokee at 14 mpg, the Passat has more room, is SO much fun to drive, and returns 23/30 mpg.

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  Ouch - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Why Me - August 7 - 9:50 pm

  I loved the looks and still do, but I have had this thing in the shop 4 times: transmission, engine light, major vibration at highway speed - twice. I spent a great deal of time researching before I bought a VW. I wish I had paid more attention to a few reviews that I had seen referencing quality problems. I feel like I have no choice but to sell before the warranty runs out.

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  New: Impressions by a Civc and Jetta Own - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Boyd82 - August 6 - 12:16 pm

  After a few days with my Jetta, Im amazed at the detail of the interior and exterior compared to my Civic. Too early to really gauge the fuel economy, but the performance of the car in handling, power, and braking is superb. Besides all that: it is super comfortabl to drive and the stick shift is easy and smooth. Im looking forward to many years with it.