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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  I love my new car! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Lindsay - June 28 - 9:23 pm

  I was in the market to buy a new car. Im only 21 but I do my research & I wasnt about to blow my money and money that my grandma had given me for a car. It came down to a Vue 08 or a Tiguan the Vue was roughly $4000 cheaper but after long nights of thinking about the reviews on this website on the vue and the tiguan I decided to get the tiguan & bought one on 9/12/08. Im so glad I made the right choice it is so much fun to drive and so far I have only had one problem which is the sat. radio & it has nothing to do with vw it is some technical issue with Sirius that is supposed to be fixed in a week..I really have nothing but good things to say. Great SUV! I will write an updated review later

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  You Gotta Get it - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By David - June 28 - 5:06 pm

  I am 16 years old, and I love this car. Both of my parents drive high end German vehivles and in my opinion this beats both of them. I suggest this car to any one, the Value Edition really is a value, its a lot of car for the price. It comes much better equipped than the Golf but for practically for the same price. I love it and its fast.

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  Amazing Vehicle - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By speedle44 - June 28 - 4:12 pm

  Love this Vehicle! I see a lot of bad reviews but honestly if you take good care of your car then you wont have problems! Do not buy this vehicle if your money is tight because repairs can be expensive. I have had no trouble with my touareg I LOVE IT!! Super sporty & you feel totally in control when you drive it also very safe! I have never been stranded! JUST KEEP UP WITH OIL CHANGES & REGULAR MAINTENANCE and trust me youll be fine!

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  Fast and Comfortable Snow Machine - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Justin - June 28 - 3:40 am

  Handed in a 2006 Subaru Outback 3.0R (great car) and picked up a V6 4motion black on black beauty last week, having chosen it over the Audi A3 S-line, MB C300 4matic. The VW is a dream machine in the snow, very powerful and elegant looking. Even my son and daughter whom wanted the snob appeal of Audi or MB said......we like it after a 2 hour blast to the ski hills of Mont-Tremblant over the weekend.

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  A Good Midsize Buy - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Bobert - June 27 - 11:40 pm

  I bought my Passat as a VW Certified Pre-Owned Car. Its been a good purchase so far. If I had driven 12,000 rather than 15,000 miles each year the car would have held its value better, but I can still sell it for more than I owe. The fuel economy of this carsV6 engine has been fairly good. I got 29 to 30 mpg on my last road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles. The best part is you can use 87 grade (regular gas) and it wont ping. I dont even notice the performance difference. The CD changer has been replaced once and is going through errors again. I would recommend an aftermarket CD player, except VW does diagnostics through the factory tape player so if you ever need maintance, youd have to put the stock radio back in.

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  Passat Piece of Junk - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By Former Passat Driver - June 27 - 1:06 pm

  My 1997 Volkswagen Passat is a completely unexpected bad product from Germany! This is the biggest hunk of junk we have ever owned. We bought it with resonable miles on it. Shortly after owning it all the electronic issues began. VW mechanics removed entire dash to fix some of the problems which reset digital mileage. There goes the equity! I have had so many problems with this thing (I agree with all other comments made here..too many to list...). We thought many times about finding one of the hurricanes and leaving it in the heart of the storm. It has finally died and we will not be sad to say goodbye! Buyer beware...looking at the other years after this car, it doesnt look like Passat has fixed any issues with this car!

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  Fun and Reliable - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By vandal - June 26 - 10:33 pm

  What a great car! It is smooth, roomy, and has plenty of torque. It is well appointed. The interior craftsmanship is top notch. It is easy to get comfortable in any seat, which makes it great for long trips. It is 5 years old and its still as tight and rattle free as when it was brand new. The exterior is a cinch to care for. It handles well in all weather conditions, Ive blown by other chain equipped cars on broken snow floor. This is absolutely the most reliable car Ive ever owned.

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  Looks great - rarely runs! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By el - June 25 - 10:00 am

  My VW Passat wagon has about 17,ooo miles and is 15 months old. It has spent 15 days in the shop and will go in again Monday, as the turbo is now making airplane noises. I have had all 4 ignition coils replaced. My car is on its 3rd defective stereo. The key was stuck in the ignition for 9 days. The faulty electrical system caused the locks and windows to go up and down while driving (in MN)! After several complaints to my "advocate" at VW, I was offered a free 20000 mile tune up for my troubles. I am constantly worried that I will need to be towed again. I have the roadside assistance number programmed into my cell phone speed dial.

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  Worth every penny - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By douglasu1 - June 25 - 10:00 am

  When the W8 first appeared last year, many of the reviews were extremely unhelpful, focusing on "who is going to pay almost $40K for a VW" rather than the substantive qualities of this unique vehicle. I have driven this car for 18 months now and have absolutely no complaints. Fact is, there is no other vehicle that remotely comes close to matching this cars standard features for anything like the price. It looks and drives better than the A6. I have no idea why VW doesnt market the car more heavily in the U.S., but I for one am happy to keep the secret. People who know about cars like this car.

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  fun but disappointing - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By birdy - June 25 - 10:00 am

  If I could do it again I wouldnt buy this car. Ive had it for less than a year and have had to fix a window and the brakes and at least one or both of my headlights blows out every month. The electrical system constantly tweaks out - alarm goes of, lights, etc. The transmission is already a little shakey too. And this is practically a new car!