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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  Best Car In Class - Period. - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Angus - May 29 - 10:40 am

  I bought my Jetta 2.5 a few days ago and I must say that I am amazed with this cars overall quality, fit and finish and attention to detail. The interior design is excellent and all materials are top-rate. The AT is smooth shifting and includes 6-speeds. Theres every feature you can possibly want (with package #2) in a car in this class. No other car in this class is as well equiped or has the same attention to detail for the price (~$26k)- period. The performance of the standard 5 cyl. is "good", but its slightly noisy; brake performance is very good; suspension is slightly firm but not too much (and absorbs bumps well); the steering feels slightly light; and the seats are excellent.

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  Continuing the VW Tradition - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By bbhall - May 29 - 4:16 am

  Our fourth VW, the 2010 Passat retains a strong German character in ride, handling, interior design, and overall build quality. Great family car, with plenty of room for 4 or 5, comfortable front seats for all-day cruising, good power and fuel economy, and some very thoughtful design features. Just about the only reasonably-priced mid-size European car sold in the U.S. Weaknesses are slight hesitation when accelerating (plenty of torque and power, just a lagging transmission response) and the absence of certain features, such as auto-dimming rear-view mirror, automatic climate control, and rain-sensing wipers that were found in previous versions of the Passat and most major competitors.

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  This Car Needs More Accolades - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Luke Miracco - May 27 - 11:21 am

  I have driven in Honda Pilots, Toyota Highlanders, Ford Explorer and GMC Acadia on the lower end and Range Rover, Audio Q7 and BMW X5. This car is priced like the low end but delivers like a high end model. Note I have the SEL and the 20 inch black wheels (a great look), but it really impresses with the sky roof , Apple Play and leatherette interior. What I love the most about the vehicle is the German engineering. The steering and suspension are so supple and responsive. It is a really large vehicle but drives like a smaller more nimble car. This car absolutely deserves more praise. I highly recommend..

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  Not all its racked up to be. - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By ALE - May 27 - 9:33 am

  I love my car, if it would just keep working!! I have owned 3 VWs. But my 3rd is making me look like a fool. I love the way it drives, it corners like it is on rails. Very comfortable interior, awesome sound system. Other people dont understand why I still have it. I have now been stranded 2 times and have only owned it for 15 months, with 76,ooo miles. This car is well cared for. The coils have failed, CV boots replaced, and now oil cooler failed. I hate to get rid of it, but at this point I could owe a Lexus for what it has cost me to fix this one.

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  More than my moneys worth! - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tom D. - May 27 - 3:56 am

  The car is even more luxurious inside than out. When I drive in to work heads turn wondering who is in it .I personally love VW cars and this time I wanted all the goodies, well I got them in this car! I spent more than I originally wanted to but Im not complaining now!

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By VeeDubber - May 26 - 10:00 pm

  I love this car. In the past I owned a 95 Honda Accord and a 98 Jeep Cherokee. The Golf has been a lot more reliable than either of those. It has plenty of horsepower for me. I drive 64 miles round trip to and from work and it gets great gas mileage. Ill definitely go with another VW when it comes time to get a new car.

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  Great car but some annoying problems - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mike - May 26 - 9:26 pm

  We have had the car about 3 1/2 years. As I read these reviews I see that many of the problems are common to this model car. One was the power window falling in twice. Another was the console/ armrest breaking. Another, and most disturbing was both cooling fans going out. Fortunately all these repairs were covered under warranty. Beyond this the car is a blast to drive, looks great and gets about 28-30 MPG on the hwy. and 23-25 MPG city. I think VW could have done a bit more with quality control. Its a shame that so many people gave this car a poor review based on apparently simple problems. I for one would buy VW again. Ive owned many cars that were not as dependable as this one has been.

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  The VW Bug has the whole package. - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By plumandthegreenthumb - May 26 - 3:23 pm

  Im a stay at home mom of a 3 yr old and have always driven a suburban, and we needed another car since gas prices keep rising, so we purchased a VW convertible last year and just completely love it. Its a perfect car for our family, when we just want to whip in somewhere fast and get out. Especially now that parking spaces are not striped large enough these days. The gas mileage is FANTASTIC, and its fun to drive too!! Thanks, The Morgan Family of Texas

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  Great Jetta - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BelAirCarGuy - May 26 - 1:10 am

  My 2009 Jetta SE Automatic is about 3 weeks old, with 2500 miles. Went on one trip of about 700 miles (2 days). Car is very comfortable, great seats, firm ride, low wind/road noise, and loved the Sirius satellite radio. Transmission is very smooth and going up and down hills on the interstate through upstate Pennsylvania (very hilly) did not upset this transmission or cruise control. Always smooth and had plenty of power, with no straining or slowing on the hills. All the controls are simple and easy to use without taking your eyes off the highway. This seems to be a trait that many car designers no longer seem to remember!

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  One month of pure Fahrvergnugen " driving enjoyment" - 2012 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By bygrace - May 25 - 1:59 pm

  As of today we have owned our 2012 Jetta Sportswagon TDI for one month. After owning large pick ups for most of my driving lifetime; I was skeptical about comfort. But it is not a concern at all. The seats & interior design make for a very comfortable ride; even long distance. My husband is 64" & about 230lbs & fits comfortably & says he has plenty of head & leg room. We both love the power of the turbo charged diesel. And the MPG is GREAT!!! We have not gotten less than 45 mpg & that was due to city driving & sitting still in a drive through for over 10 min. Otherwise, it has been getting between 47 & 55 mpg on the Highway. Havent changed any driving habits either.