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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  Enjoyed the car! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By SilverStarC230K - June 26 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for 2 1/2 years and finally selling it. I enjoyed the car. Wasnt quite as reliable as you might expect a car under 3 yrs old, but it is a fun car to drive. I had no major mechanical issues, just minor things. I considered buying a 02 TurboS, but instead bought a 03 C230K. Will be sad to see my car go, it was a lot of fun drive. The 2.0 (2.slow) has some pep, but you would expect better gas mileage. Roomy, fun to drive, and retro styling is very cool!

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  My 2003 Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By brueggemann - June 24 - 9:25 pm

  This is the 2nd 2003 Passt weve owned. My niece had a 2003 also and told me that they had to replace the motor once, and the turbo charger once, and recommended I dont get one. During the 2 years with our first Passat, we had it in the shop 6 times for engine lights. Finally they said it was caused by the turbo charger & wanted $4,300. We could afford the repair & traded it on another 2003 with lower mileage & extended warranty. Weve had the this second car for 3 years & the engine light has come on 9 different times. Sun roof opens on its own and the rear windows fall out of the tracks. The car is in the shop now for it 2nd new turbo booster and guess what? No more warranty. GRRRR

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  Routine Maintenance is the Key - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By AHK - June 23 - 12:33 am

  Engine sludge? You MUST use full synthetic oil. Ive had oil changes done at Jiffy Lube - you dont have to go to the dealer. Is the car perfect? Definitely not. Dashboard buzzing - yes. Flaking interior paint - yes. Turbo lag? Hell yeah. Overall, however, its a very good car.

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  Phaeton vanishes from US market - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Christopher De Jonge - June 22 - 11:36 pm

  I enjoy my Phaeton. It has beautiful interior trim. The exterior is sleek and muscular. The handling is sub-optimal, however I am used to more sport drive handling. It is a gas-guzzler. Perhaps the most disconcerting thing is that 2006 will be the last year for new model Phaetons. Already the resale value has tanked. Further, I question whether parts might be hard to obtain.

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  Jetta GL - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hilarie29 - June 22 - 10:00 am

  This is fun car to drive. My only issues have been with the O2 sensor (replaced twice) and the front bumper pulling off from parking over a sidewalk or curb (an expensive lesson that has taken me 3 times to learn). Its a reliable car but the automatic isnt as quick and peppy.

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  Pretty Good except for CLUNK - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By ejmurph - June 22 - 10:00 am

  Took delivery $29900 of Blue Silver w/ black from Patrick VW/Saab in Auburn,Ma. Good to deal with.Wish the drivers seat was larger - the lower bolster digs into my thigh. Acceleration has to be mangaged with a deft toe feel versus just booting it from a dead stop...otherwise, it just lags and can be scary if youre darting into local traffic. The ride is terrific, not quite as good as my 02 Saab 9-5 but very fun and reassuring. Gas mi. is 21.5 mpg in mixed driving. Unfortunately, Ive experienced the dreaded low-speed clunk. Fortunately, with help from the forum, the dealer pursued the factory on this and has scheduled a visit to correct the Trans. Control Unit.

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  Good points but - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By hilo2525 - June 20 - 1:00 pm

  Car is fun to drive. However, high cost to service and maintain from dealer. We are a multi-car household and there will no more VWs in our future.

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  grey ghost - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By dale madden - June 15 - 10:32 am

  Comfortable with lots of room and a huge trunk. Simple controls. Fun to drive. Acceleration and brakes are a little touchy. This is my second VW and they still havent gotten rid of the rattles. Going to have to take it to the dealer to see if they can fix the one in the drivers door cause its driving me nuts. But I still love the car. Good value.

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  Good deal!!! - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By bonded2u - June 14 - 6:40 am

  All around great bang for the buck.

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  AboveAverage - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Grommit - June 14 - 2:00 am

  Overall the car is mechanically sound and fun to drive. The VR6 engine is peppy and smooth. The car handles well and is good in the snow. When you shift from a stopped position to Drive or Reverse, the automatic transmission takes a couple of seconds to engage. I had a couple of electrical problems with the motors that operate the sunroof and the windows, they were covered under warranty. There are many features the Jetta comes with that I dont see on some expensive European imports and the car has a solid feel. I purchased one of the very first Jettas with the "new" design and attribute the minor problems with it being a sort of prototype.