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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  Not worth the money. - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Johnson1 - April 20 - 10:00 am

  Pros : Overall driving performance ok. Accerlation, cornering, cruising speed, stopping all ok. Cons : Overall reliability below par. Wind noise loud, glove compartment arm broke, front passenger power window broke, drivers side window leaking (rain) when closed completely, beverage holder broke. There are better cars out there for the same or less price. I would never buy a Volkswagen again

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  Your Search is officially over! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Car Enthusiast - April 20 - 2:13 am

  Having owned an array of cars in the past and having searched the market many times over for the perfect convertible, I can say that I hit the jackpot with the Eos. Great performance, amazing build quality, head-turning styling, affordable maintenance, good gas milage, versitile top styling, and all around fun car to drive. This is a must for both convertible enthusiast and those wanting a more practical coupe. The design of the front and rear wind screen is ingenious and in combination with the windows up and top down, you barely feel or hear wind noise. Drive it, experience it, and please dont wait to buy it!

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  Excellent Choice - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Darblake - April 18 - 2:33 am

  Traded an 02 BMW X5 and at this point, mind you its been 3 days, couldnt be happier. The feel of this vehicle will rival any other German made car on the road. The ride is a little rougher than the X5, which is ironic for a car vs SUV comparison, but you "feel" the road which makes the drive that much more enjoyable. Having driven it to work, for the past 3 days, I have put a total of 205 miles on it and am still above 1/2 tank of gas. Nice bonus considering the price per gallon. The features/amenities are definitely high end. Originally a little hesitant about making the switch but the quality/ performance eliminated that.

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  Get one - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By meurio - April 18 - 1:10 am

  Went from a 2008 528i to the CC because of the economy but I have no regrets the VW is an outstanding value and has a great interior/exterior combination. I leased the car and pay only $319 per month with $ 1500 dow. My bimmer used to run me $ 650 per month with $3000 down!!! The cost, looks and included maintenance make this car the one to beat. Great job VW!

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  My 04 Bug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By my04bug - April 17 - 11:50 pm

  The car is fun to drive and fairly economical (the turbo takes premium). My only complaints have been with dashboard warning lights that light with no apparent reason, a center console that cannot be locked, and a balky roof that has had to be repaired on several occasions.

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  Amazing car! - 2015 Volkswagen Golf
  By dublove - April 17 - 9:39 pm

  Ive been a VW guy my whole life and when the mk7 Golf came out, I just knew I had to own it. And no that I have one, I just cant get over how awesome it is. The star of the show is this, gem of an engine, 1.8 TSI. It gets phenomenal fuel economy (over 40mpg, AND I have lots of power and can embarrass many cars on the road at a stoplight. And filling with 87 octane fuel is just another bonus. I love this car to bits! The NAV system is OK, touch screen response is okay, but zooming in and out is laggy and it glitches out sometimes but for the most part, this car is perfect.

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  Read reviews before you purchase - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By qbk2205 - April 17 - 1:51 pm

  I bought the car new and it currently has 90000 miles on it. Last year the fuel pump exploded. Dealership replaced it, saying it was under warranty at 70000 miles. The warranty is 3 years, 36000 miles, whichever comes first. Makes me think VW knew there was a potential problem with the fuel system. Last week we replaced the turbo at a cost of $2600. This one is most irritating, because while under warranty I told the service department how the car hesitated at initial acceleration and they responded with it was due to the double clutching action of the transmission. Liars. We did not expect VW to be of such poor quality

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  dont buy one new or used - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sadly VWed - April 17 - 2:00 am

  My first lemon. Trim peeled off the back and front door. In 8 months never fixed by dealer. 2 power window openers failed. Must pound on dash to get lights for heat to work. Wont start in the rain. Needs new computer at $500 which should be a recall. Cylinders constantly misfiring. Replaced most of electric system, the wires, coils, etc. Keys to doors break. Bushings in front end degrade. Dealers arrogant expensive and incompetent. Heat sheild is rattling. All of this in the first 50,000 miles. I am selling mine for $9000. Im going to buy a five year old Camry and take the loss.

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  My Wolfsburg - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Arthur Seabra - April 17 - 2:00 am

  I recently bought this car and so far it has been a very reliable car and is extremly fun to drive. The car has nice performance and is very easily upgradable.

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  really great!! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gtibeatsi - April 17 - 2:00 am

  near perfect, except tail lights, they look ok