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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  STAY AWAY - 2012 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By - March 9 - 1:37 pm

  I purchased this vehicle about a month ago. Automatic Transmission. I commute 50 miles to work each way daily. I traded in a reliable and loved subaru for the TDI for fuel economy. BIG MISTAKE. It drives terribly. From the second day of ownership the car bucks terribly the first few miles of driving if it has sat for longer than a 4 hour period of time. Dealership says this is normal. Whiplash is not normal in a brand new car. Also, the fan stays on for extended periods of time after driving. Also told this was normal. Cooling is fine, but an hour for the fan to stay on? I dont buy it. My relationship with VW isnt off to a good start. I have a feeling I will be returning to Subaru, and soon!

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  MPG 45/55 - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By brother_unknown - March 9 - 1:03 pm

  Fuel economy is 45mpg on an 18 mile rt commute in traffic. All the comfort features weve wanted for years including bun warmers. Ample seating room front and back. Our next car will also be a Jetta TDI

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  2004 GTI 1.8T Automatic - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By SF-Aaron - March 9 - 10:00 am

  I have been quite happy so far with this vehicle. This car is way fun to drive, and has a nice roomy interior for a small car.

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  i love this car - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jettaluver - March 9 - 10:00 am

  the jetta is great to drive. i think its very reliable. its standard stereo system is phenomenal. i dont regret buying this car at all.

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  Vroom Vroom Vroom - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sugarfootvwgirl - March 9 - 10:00 am

  I cant get over this CAR!!! This is my fifth VW - third Jetta. I started w/a 71 beetle, then to an 86 Jetta GL, then to a 88 Cabriolet, then a 96 Jetta GLS, now to the 03 Jetta GLI VR6. The acceleration, the braking and the gimme all you got attitude of this car is phenominal. I love the interior, the gal said earlier that the black sport interior (cloth) does attract dust etc. but, leather is no better, as my mom has an 04 Bug Convertible w/leather, its just as bad. Mine is black, and although not first choice I wouldnt trade it for anything. I LOVE MY CAR, the 17 rims, the trunk, the head and tail lights, you NAME IT (EXCEPT the stupid drink holders).

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  My Year old jetta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jettagrl1.8 - March 9 - 10:00 am

  I dont know about anyone else, but I love my Jetta 1.8T. I test drove the standard engin, and (Blah) no power. I tried out the turbo, and (WOW) never more fun. I have only have one warrenty problem with my windshield washer things. Other than that Nothing. I love my car! Everyone should go buy one, but not all in the same color (ie. reflex silver, I can never find my can in a parking lot right away).

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  Love it! - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tanya - March 9 - 7:26 am

  Love this car, sturdy, dependable, yet fun on the highway due to its turbo engine. I feel very safe in it.

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  Nice Car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Allen Pearl - March 9 - 12:36 am

  Just cannot think of anything bad to say. The car is perfect and what I expected it to be. I have the XM radio and love it.

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  sad volkswagen - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Drodgers - March 7 - 11:23 pm

  The car is fun to drive. It gets good gas mileage, handles very well and has good power when its not in the shop. Ive had the car about two years and now with about 118k miles on it I have replaced the clutch, transmission, alternator, AC compressor, brakes, all 4 ignition coils, catalytic converter and now it looks like the cars computer has gone bad. The engine will only idle. The gas pedal is useless and frankly so is the car. No more junkwagens for me.

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  Great EV -- Extremely Pleased - 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf
  By teconnor - March 7 - 7:39 pm

  I Highly recommend this eGolf. An EV with range that feels like a solid, real car. Im extremely impressed with how it drives and feels. Its sporty, smooth, responsive, and more powerful than expected. It feels comparable to much pricier luxury compacts. Range is solid (100+ achievable under right conditions). The Car-Net (think OnStar by VW) bugs are a nuisance. If you need delayed charging, Id wait for VW to resolve this (keep an eye on myvwegolf.com). As of May 15, some report success with the VW updates/fixes. My opinion (as a non-delay charger) is that the flawed extra features do not distract from an otherwise solid vehicle and great EV.