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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  Avoid like the Plague - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By harold - June 23 - 10:00 am

  You may think its cute, but dont let that exterior fool you, this thing is an engineering nightmare. 2 headlights burn out quickly in under 2 years, rear brake light in 1 year, ALL four windows get stuck or regulartor breaks, 5 visits to fix the convertible stop getting stuck, lots of issues with convertible cords breaking and snapping.

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  Looks Good, but Always in the Shop - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Debbie - June 23 - 3:50 am

  We bought the Volkswagen Touareg because it was a nice looking, comfortable, and easy driving SUV - without being HUGE in size. From DAY 1, this car has been nothing but trouble! Nothing that has caused it to stop running, but stupid annoyances that cause it to always be in the shop. In 2 years the car still isnt 100% corrected. If they find the problem, they cant get the parts. There is one item Ive been waiting 2 years for (yes, since I picked up the car). My advice: Look at something else until they get all the bugs out. Even now, in 2006, VW can not tell me they have all the bugs worked out of the new Touaregs.

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  VW Sold me a Lemon - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By ngibieti - June 17 - 10:00 am

  This has been a very dissapointing car to own. Correction, this car is a nighmare. The engine has blown due to a faulty timing belt along with the breaks and electronics. VW has not stood by the warrenty. They will use the fine print to get around it. Take my advice BY ANY THING ELSE!

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  Always Broke Down - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By HOLLY - June 17 - 1:30 am

  I bought my car new in 99 & was so happy for about 2 yrs. The wipers never really cleared the windshield sufficiently & the radio never picked up ANY stations. Cup holders were a joke & the emergency brake would stick when it was cold out (makes it hard to warm up a standard when you cant set the brake) Heater took too long to warm up & if the ac fan was on high forget accelerating. The brake and headlights were a constant hassle as was the O2 sensor (replaced it 3Xs & only the 2nd was covered by a recall) I had 3 breakdowns while traveling, costing thousands. Melted fuse box, blown motor, peeling interior & exterior. I cared for this car properly but always wanted to push it off a cliff!!

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  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.

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  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 wonÂ’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.

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  Mixed Bag - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By takaouna - June 7 - 1:56 am

  This cars pros include its nice Interior, 6 speed auto transmission with Tiptronic and S mode, how it is loaded with options for a base model, its safety features - SAB/SC, ABS, traction control standard, its good torque, and how it is a new model. Its cons include its dreadful fuel economy for this class of car (19-20 mpg), how its 5-cyl. engine is rough for its size, its rattles, concerns about interior build quality, its weight for car of this class, its lack of acceleration, poor VW sales and service experience, and VWs poor reliability history.

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  Sarahs Bug - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By freeman525 - June 6 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive but totally unreliable--Check Engine light stays on even after repeated trips to the selling dealer-- Interior: a niggtmare- plastic casings at seatbelt housing, temp gauge... have roken repeatedly after normal use

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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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  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.