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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  VWs best yet! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By J Bombay - June 2 - 10:00 am

  What a joy to drive. The optional navigation system was very useful on out-of-town drives. The only drawback; the 19" sport wheels will turn your Touareg into a hockey puck on winter roads. The 18 wheels with appropriate M&S tires were perfect for Chicago winters. Next for me in 2005? The V10 diesel!

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  Great Performance, Badly Built - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sapiendut - June 2 - 10:00 am

  Rattle, rattle, rattle. Squeak, squeak, squeak. Low quality ICE. Continuous minor mechanical problems. Fun to drive, though.

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  Great little car - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By thomas6 - June 2 - 10:00 am

  This my first VW very impress with built quality similar to a BMW. The car handle great with lots of power and comforts. My only complaint was the service by the dealership. T he last time I took my car for service to replace my cup holder. I ask them to fill up the fuel tank, but instead filling it up diesel fuel the technician fill it with gasoline. Therefore the stopped in the middle of the street as soon as I drove it off the dealership.

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  YES!!this car is finally out of my life - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VWhater - June 2 - 10:00 am

  WOW!did this car turn out to be a true lemon. the first day we had it the clutch blew out with 250 miles on it in the mountains of wv. vw was very arrogant and we sat on the interstate for 3 hours! after that fiasco we just had small problems all the time. tread on tires was gone, squeeking, leaking windows, and other annoyances for a one year old car. car has aweful traction, driving on a wet highway at 6070mph it slips all over the place. we just traded it in last week and are thankful we did before the 1 year mark came around. the clutch and many other things are covered under the 1 year warranty. also, avoid larry simmons vw in parkersburg, wv.

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  Fun Car - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Whit - June 2 - 4:46 am

  My wife bought this car before we were married and before driving hers I never saw myself buying a Volkswagen. Now that I have had experience with hers I my be a Volkswagen/Jetta driver the rest of my life. The car is fun to drive, reliable and we feel a great value.

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  Getting used to it! - 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Jody - June 1 - 12:31 pm

  This is my first VW since the late 80s. Must say, theyve improved the interior! Everything is sleek and attractive. I do have a rattle, but havent been able to get to the dealership yet. Annoying! The road noise when going slow speeds or engine noise when accelerating is noticeable, but highway speed is quiet. There are too many neat little things to list - but here are a few: the side mirrors roll up when the car is locked (no parking lot dings!), the side mirrors go down when reversing for better visibility; adaptive cruise is outstanding!; the sill of the door lights up so you can see to get in; the headlights light to the right or left when turning so you can what you are turning into!!!! On the driving side, some reviews mentioned it being under powered; I thought that, but then realized I just had to get used to the turbo lag. In Sport mode, the lag is gone and accelerates fine. It certainly accelerates a LOT better than my 4 cylinder Subaru Outback! The shifting is a bit rough in Normal or Eco; again, Sport mode smooths it out. My fuel economy is much better than advertised - about 31 highway and 34 city! and it is true mileage; Ive calculated it when refueling. And a 72 month warranty! Do wish I had a green one instead of grey, but all in all, a purchase I would make again!

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  Feel 18 Again!! - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By JDISCO18 - June 1 - 10:23 am

  I love this car!! Traded an IS300 for an 2007 Armada (Gas Pig). Traded for the 08GTI. This is the funnest car Ive ever had! Stock car is fast and handles great! Love the DSG. I Added a APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade and this little rocket now has 252 hp and 303 ft- lb of torque! I took a long road trip and averaged 28.2 mpg at 90 mph. Ive read about the VW having cockpit rattles, however I havent noticed any. As a 37 year old single parent, I wanted something sporty and family friendly and the GTI was the best fit. 6 Airbags, seating for 5, good leg room in the back. Added the rear storage shelf under the hatch. I feel 18 again and with the Stage 1 upgrade, I make up reasons to leave the house!!

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  Brand new buyer- crossing my fingers Fre - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By joto284 - June 1 - 5:50 am

  What can I say about a car I bought three days ago for my kid? I will keep it positive.I am crossing my fingers. A certified jetta 2011SE ,70k miles with 24 months &24k miles warranty.VW was not in my radar screen. I was looking for a Honda or a Toyota equivalent and 4K-6K more. I like this VW handling and the leather seats, bluetooth. If I had read the reviews I would not have purchased it. I am waking up every day thinking that I screwed up. My local mechanic is happy because he thinks we will see each other more. How can VW be in business with such bad reviews. Sales dropped another 8% last year. Wish me luck, I hope not to return to add a bad review

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  Best Car I Have Purchased - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By colbygilbert - June 1 - 2:23 am

  It is really a great car with quick acceleration for a 4 cyl engine. Comfortable and roomy. I wish I had bought it for me and not my wife.

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  In Love with the Beetle - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Beetle Bill - May 31 - 10:46 am

  I bought this car back in 1999 drove it until our daughter turned 16 and gave it to her. She took it to college and her first job. I took it back when it had water pump problem at 100,000 miles. Otherwise the engine runs like a Swiss watch. A couple of buttons have broken but I figure that to be expected after 10 years. I would buy another in a heartbeat.