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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  Excelent Car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dan - October 22 - 11:40 am

  The 2006 Volkswagn Jetta Value Edition is an excelent car for its price. It comes standard with a lot of extras and has a wonderfull triptonic transmission.

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  125,000 Miles, Still Waiting for it to Go Wrong... - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By theahnzzz - October 22 - 6:15 am

  I have to say, coming from a Lexus to this car, I mentally prepared myself for a host of problems and maintenance issues after hearing horror stories of people owning Volkswagens and Audis. But to my surprise, this has been the most reliable car Ive ever owned. Change the oil, and the car is like brand-new again. I think that folks have issues VWs because unlike Japanese cars, you really should stick to the maintenance schedules otherwise I can imagine you have a lot of problems. This engine for example, eats oil so you really shouldnt go over the recommended oil change intervals. Having owned this car for almost 8 years now I can say that Ive only had a few things go wrong with it, there was an issue VW fixed under and extended warranty for a particular part. The 90K service was the only thing I ever paid for it, but that was the only major maintenance I have ever done on this car so far. It was about $2K for that services. $2K in maintenance over almost 8 years is not bad at all... This really is the perfect everyday car for young people or retirees without kids or for kids who have left the nest. The best thing about this car is that it is quick and responsive. The clutch travel is short and the torque means you have instant responses to input which means you can get out of tight situations in traffic, pass with ease, squeeze through cars and obstacles, take tight turns with stability and confidence, and you have enough space to carry pretty much anything in the trunk and more if you fold the seats down. The ride is rigid for sure, but refined in the same way. Its very comfortable at highway speeds, but the car seems to get a bit more frazzled as you approach the top speed the more and more you go above 115 mph or so. What I love most about this car however is that it thinks about practical things about the driver of the car and has little nuances Ive never seen in American cars or Japanese luxury cars. It, for example, will automatically engage the rear window wiper when your front wipers are on and you go into reverse. This is so you can see behind you (very thoughtful). It also allows you to lock the car with the remote before closing the door so you can get your groceries out and close the door without worry about engaging the lock button with your hands full. Besides that its got a great stereo and great xenon lights. Its such an awesome and well thought out car! The weaknesses of this car largely have to do with its size. Because its light, small, and quick, its not terribly great at being a car for all seasons and not my ideal car for the long road trip (especially if you have 1 or more passengers). The cabin space can feel cramped after a while and with me being 61" I cant ever get the seat low enough without seeming to stare through the top part of the windshield. Large puddles have a way or really slowing this car down and its not that great on snow. The major weakness of this car though I would have to say is the air conditioning. On really really hot days, 90+ degree heat with 90+% humidity in the D.C. area, it never seemed to get nearly as cool as you would want it. I guess it never gets that hot in Germany... who knows? But on days like that I always wish the air conditioner was better. The heating however is immaculate, with the window open on days of 50 degrees or less, it radiates heat automatically so you never feel cold. Having kids soon with more storage needs I kind of wish this car would start having problems, so I can have an excuse to get a larger car, but so far, it hasnt happened. Its really a great car, a masterpiece!

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  My dream car! - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Florida Nancy - October 21 - 6:36 am

  Ive wanted a Bug since they came out in 1998, but was scared away by the bad repair records. I finally couldnt stand my 03 Camry anymore (what a lousy car!) and traded it for my little silver Beetle. Its terrific and has exceeded my expectations. Dont be afraid of those earlier years bad reviews. The 2005 is perfect. And many extras are standard on this car.

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  Great Car!! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By bjbird2 - October 21 - 2:00 am

  This car is everything I expected it to be and more. I love it> Its had some reliability problems, but the dealer has been very good about repairs, offering loaner cars, etc.

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  Just a Great Car and an Excellent Value - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Just Tim - October 20 - 10:00 am

  I have now had my Passat Wagon for 7 weeks and 2600 miles. At first I was a little leery of getting the 1.8, wondering if it would have enough power. After having had the car for 2600 miles, I would recommend the 1.8 highly!! The car is a blast to drive, the Monsoon sound system is excellent, and the comfort for me (62", 215lbs) is just great.

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  Much better than my Hyundai - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kegger - October 20 - 5:03 am

  I had a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT 6 speed before I traded it in for my new Jetta. This car is such an amazing car for the money! Its comfortable, quiet, and handles great! This car is amazing on the highway. It definitely holds its own.

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  Whoa - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By booger - October 18 - 12:06 pm

  Im a former VW owner, and I traded up my 2003 Passat for a 2006 because I had heard so many great things about them. The 06 Passat 2.0T accelerates very well, and it seats 4-5 passengers in comfort. The 6-disc changer, satellite radio, and night gauge illumination make the drive fun and enjoyable. Im most impressed with the suspension! This updated Passat feels stiffer than my 03, and it corners on rails. I love the 3 transmission options (N, S, and Tiptronic). Theres more usable room in the 06, and Ive found no problems in build quality. My 06 has the airbags that wrap around the passengers. There is no comparison to this car at this price!

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  2005 Volkswagen Beetle - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By arlene - October 18 - 1:50 am

  I love this car. But here are the negatives in order of importance: Poor visability when backing up. Paint chips off easily inside and out. Problems with flaps and windows (recall).

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  German Beauty - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Genco - October 17 - 12:43 pm

  I have been driving this car for 2 years and i recommend it to anyone. I love its handling and cornering. Go 100mph and you wont even feel it !! Highway merging is no problem beacuse it has a great engine. The braking is good too.I had no major problems with it, just the regular oil change and afew trips to the vw dealership to change bulbs!

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  Theyre Not All Lemons - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DenverKen - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Im surprised to hear about so many major problems others have had. My car has been pretty great. Last car was a Honda Civic. The Jetta is fun to drive, super peppy, comfortable, and Im getting about 30MPG. The car was recalled for the coils (after I had to be towed once because of poor behavior related to the coils). Mechanically, the Honda was perfect - never a problem with it. The coil issues, and frequently blown taillights, are annoying, but all in all Im very happy with the Jetta. Mine was manufactured/assembled in Germany - it was the first year of the wagons.