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:

• 

  Wanna Love My Passat, but... - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Wex - June 11 - 10:00 am

  All the great german engineering went into mechanics, not fit. The drive is fast and smooth with great handling. Interior fit and finish is TERRIBLE. I have had knobs fall off all over, all of the interior felt is peeling off the B and C columns, and the roof is drooping. I expected better from a car just breaking 40,000. Squeaks and creaks are all over the car, including the well knowns "middle of the air vent" creak at about 35k. Great car to drive, but if you like quality and attention paid to construction, consider another car. If you just worry about the drive, on the other hand, best bargain around.

• 

  A Lada would be better - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ripped Off - June 11 - 10:00 am

  This is the worst built car I have ever purchased. I have had it for 15 months and the doors have twitched and squeaked since I drove it off the lot. (Dealer has tried several times to repair with no success. They are also a piece of work. They have basically given up on the car and won’t even follow up on my calls.) Also, the brake light switch, the turn signal relay and the ventilation fan motor have had to be replaced. There is a problem with a noise coming from the front suspension. The front left power window usually re-opens when it is closed on auto-up. The paint seems very soft as it chips very easily. Overall, a Lada would be a better bet.

• 

  Goodness... Where to begin!? - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gary12345 - June 11 - 10:00 am

  12k miles I have already taken it in 5 times, most recently 2 of my gears in my windows melting which will have my car in service for 20 days. 4k miles check engine light goes on and car dies on freeway. dealership laughs at me almost dieing than steals my keychain when I go get my house key from them. 5k miles front window breaks when Im washing my car in 75 degree weather, and in the shade, also knocking on right weel when I reverse. This car is a pile of crap built in Mexico. Do not buy a VW unless you have a crush on the mechanics because you will be there a lot.

• 

  Beetlemania - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By thegretsch@aol.com - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Great,no problems except brake dust on rave rims. gets dirty fast Im trading it in for the convertible...

• 

  Great in the snow - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Nancy Gause - June 10 - 8:46 am

  This is my 2nd Passat wagon, the all wheel drive is fantastic! This was a tough winter on Maine and the Passat was like a tractor when the going got bad.

• 

  2 years and still fun - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By vincevw329 - June 9 - 9:29 pm

  I live in the NE and use my 2011 VW GTI, DSGwSunroof as a commuter, after 2 years. I continue to enjoy driving with no breakdowns, rattles, or any problems. Mileage is up to 16000 and I recently drove a 750mi one way road trip and this car was fine, but of course small. Everything still applies from my 1 year review. I read in depth about the Bluetooth problem and there is no solution. When using the system and go to make a call with the voice, the volume is simply too loud, Ive tried all different adjustments. I have had the experience to use other BT systems and overall the VW system is the best. Only wear after 2 years is the side bolster. Customer service at the dealer has been good.

• 

  Classy Small Car - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mike - June 8 - 2:56 pm

  My car has the 2.0L engine and the "Cold Weather" upgrade (seat warmers, leather seats, steering wheel controls). I like the look and size of this car over the new Jetta design. I get about 35 mpg with conservative highway driving(not hybrid numbers but at least its a PZEV), and while its not a race car, it moves with plenty of purpose. The proof of this is was driving with college students in all 5 seats, a full trunk of luggage and 3 bikes on a trunk rack, and still having power to pass on the highway(of course the mileage was not the best on this trip). I keep up with maintenance and care, the reliability on the early model years was not great but it seems problems were fixed on this year

• 

  Do not buy a routan - big mistake! - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By Omid - June 8 - 11:43 am

  Unless you want to spend a lot of time at the VW service dept, do not buy this minivan. We bought new 9 months ago and it has been serviced numerous times for same malfunctions: electrical, brake rotors, sensor failure, seats getting stuck, steering wheel vibration, and most importantly safety issues which VW and the dealership fail to recognize. The electric sliding door pinned our 2 year old son and the sensors failed to re-open the door. Others have experienced the same issue and yet VW keeps saying the doors are safe and the sensors work fine. Also, no alarm sounds if the doors are open and the car is in motion. This is quite unbelievable from a German manufacturer!

• 

  Sad I sold, buying a new one - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By golfer18 - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I have owned 2 jetta tdis, a 98 and 02. this review is for 02, beautiful car, cool look, exc gas mileage at 53mpg at best, tank range i maxed at 765 then i got nervous and filled up. Loved both cars, but dumped the 02 due to some aesthetic quality issues. I had a door/window rattle that had me take it back to dealer 6 times in a year. Despite ripping car apart, removing seats, etc, damaging the vehicle during repair etc, it was never fixed to satisfaction. I pursued lemon law, but found a buyer in the meantime and sold the car. I miss it though and will likely buy a new jetta 04 or passat 04 turbodiesel only. .

• 

  8 cylinders & AWD in a VW! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By ebmaxse - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought the W8 Sedan 4Motion w/Sport Pkg. The Sport Package in 2003 was a wise offering after the 2002 intro of the W8, due to the additional weight of the engine. This version of the Passat is not an off-the-line dragster, its forte is at-speed highway touring. Its autobahn pedigree comes out when accelerating on the hwy. The torque from the W8 is impressive. Still from a standing start, 60mph takes only 6.5 seconds, fast for a family sedan. No other import sedan with 8 cylinders, awd, and the amenities in the Passat can be had for under $40k. Mine is white w/two-toned black & beige interior,...nice!