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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  Beware of very expensive 40K service - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By cheapcar2012 - April 7 - 10:51 pm

  The MPG really drops if driving above 75mph. 40K service includes DSG transmission fluid drain, and it costs $$$$. Back seat tight for 3 adults. Impossible for 2 Adults+baby seat.

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  Worst car I ever owned - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Norman - April 7 - 5:46 pm

  I bought it at 65k. At 80k everything needed repair. Engine, transmisson and electrical. The 1st repair shop will repair anything but VW and Audi. The 2nd shop said the VWs are the #1 car they see and to sell it now. #3 shop said the same thing.

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  Passats Got it all--except a cup holder - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By msummers10 - April 7 - 3:10 pm

  While I am only 15, I know what how to test a car and have fun doing it. My 1999 Passat GLX definitely is fun to drive. I have noticed that going through sharp turns and quick acceleration with the Tiptronic Semi- auto transmission happens without any problems. The 6-disc CD Changer is great and the audio is magnificent. One drawback is that the changer is in the trunk, but 6 CDs should be more than enough for one sitting. Gas mileage is great, sometimes. When we push the car, gas mileage drops slightly to about 15 mpg, but standard driving is about 26 mpg. One thing that seems to be a problem with a lot of Passat owners is the suspension.

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  Money Pit - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vwdesign22 - April 7 - 4:26 am

  I love my car, or at least I did the day I bought it. I wish I had done a little more research on this make and model before I purchased. I am a young designer just out of school and this car has caused me to go into debt. It was uniformed decision and I have spent well over $7,000 in rapairs on this car. I thought it was a practical and smart choice, yet I have been proven wrong. VW did reimburse me for a mass air flow sensor that was replaced 3 times in a 3 month period. I have had less luck in trying to get a proper diagnosis and repair for my car at a dealership. It seems that they just cant figure out what the problem is, and I just cant seem to aford paying for parts I dont need

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  Dont Let the Name Fool You - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By af britton - April 6 - 9:50 pm

  I used to drive a Suzuki Forenza. Dont get me wrong, that was a nice car but there was no aftermarket parts and no horsepower or performance in that car at all. The new Rabbit beats out any car you can find for the price. With the new engine being in the Jetta also you can find all kinds of parts for it. VW makes a number of cosmetic parts which lets you make your car unique. There are a lot of cars out there now days that say they get incredible gas mileage. I have driven those cars and I am not going to pay up to $10,000 more for a lot less of a car. This car get great gas mileage. I am very pleased with what VW has done.

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  Could have been great... - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By pikers - April 6 - 6:56 pm

  At my first oil change I complained that the shift lever was violently shaking in 4th gear, so VW replaced the shift assembly. Things went well for a few months and then the shaking came back. I brought it back to the dealer for the 10k checkup and told them the shaking was back. To my amazement they told me they had to rebuild my transmission!! This should never happen with a manual gear box, especially one with 9500 miles on it. But it doesnt stop there. Today the automatic up/down feature for the windows stopped working. Ive owned the car for a year and put 9500 miles on it and it has been in the shop for over 4 weeks in one year...not a good ratio if you asked me.

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  Should be a Ford fix and repair daily - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By THILDRETH - April 6 - 1:23 pm

  Constant repairs only 20,000 miles and most of that to repair shop been towed three times now the Windows fell out looks good just needs lots of glue and bumper to bumper for life would not recommend this car.

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  Great Car For The Money - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Pcola - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Love It! Much better build quality than the Lexus ES300 or Acura TL for alot less money.

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  Great Jetta 1.8T - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ian Stern - April 6 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle has performed flawlessly for the past 12 months. Service has been limited to oil changes, scheduled maintenance, and one selective coil replacement paid by VW.

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  Great Car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tony Allison - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Great car, VWs answer to the BMW