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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  Love it... - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mtbikercs18 - February 5 - 9:00 pm

  The new jetta is such a great car... I just traded in a 2001 1.8t Beatle for it. And i LOVED that car as well. The new style takes a little getting uesd to but the interior is sooo worth it. Over all i give ths car a 9.2... i love it....

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  Bang for your Buck - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Stuart - February 5 - 4:28 pm

  If you judge a car for what it is designed for, the Jetta is tough to beat. I got the 1.4 SE with a manual. Acceleration is more than adequate if not peppy. Handling is the same. It is quiet on the inside. I drove this back to back with a 2015 Camry SE thinking the Camry would be better, but actually liked the Jetta better. The Jetta had less road noise, smoother engine, and better ride. I also drove this with other competitors and still found this a cut above. This is not a sports car, but sportier than most in its category and is engaging to drive. The new infotainment for 2016 is great. I would bet that Apple Play/Android auto will be on most cars soon. The sound system is better than I anticipated. The only real cost cutting I see is the interior door panels. People talk about the dash, but to me that is a non issue since I never come in contact with it. In the end this is still basically an economy car. Gas Mileage is spot on with the sticker, maybe a little better on the highway. Back seat room is good. Trunk room is generous, but the trunk opening could be a little larger. So far no regrets. VWs can be had for significant discounts to sticker with diesel scandal going on. You can probably get at least $3k knocked off pretty easily. I also have kids who will be driving in the next few years. It will make a great car to learn in. It is a good size and easy to get used to.

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  2004 Volkswagen Touareg is $ out-of-control - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By rollinfickensc - February 5 - 4:04 pm

  Purchased thinking I bought a $60000 car with 60000 miles. It should hold up till 100000 miles. Not even close. I had $4580.60 of repairs in 10 months. Plus the gas milage was about 10 mpg in town and about 15 mpg on the highway. I would never recommend a VW to anyone and would do my best to discourage anyone from buying one. Absolutely the worst car I have ever owned in my 55 years of driving. Replacing anything costs a fortune.

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  happy to drive! - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Laurie Deadrick - February 5 - 10:50 am

  So far, so good. This car is fun to drive (turbo gives extra power) and is great on gas.

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  Own a VW for the Price of a BMW? - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By bkaw - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I loved test driving this car. It had the best seats of any car I ever driven. I currently own a 7 series BMW and while this car compares very favorably to the BMW, I have to wonder why any consumer would take a chance on a new, unproven luxury car for about the same price as the new BMW 745I. If this car was $50,000 I would have written a check on the spot. In order for this car to sell they will have to discount it to attract the BMW, Mercedes, Jag crowd.

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  Great little car - GT should do more... - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By oregongirl225 - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I really like my 1998 Jetta GT, there are a few things that I think VW could have made better, like the shifting is a little harsh. Sometimes takes a while for it to shift. Other than that its a great car... once it shifts normal its fast.

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  GTI VR6...Love at first sight! :-) - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By William Braddock, II - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I honestly think this is a great car. Truthfully the 20th Anniversary Edition Rabbit has the best sport-tuned suspension out of the three: Rabbit, 1.8T, and the VR6. However the VR6 delivers the most bang for your buck and is only around a thoughsand more U.S. dollars than the 4-cyclinder model. With a supercharger and a chip and maybe a custom grill this car is definately holds a spot in the "Fast and Furious" sequil. I love it and wouldnt trade mine for the world. I got rid of my 1999 BMW 328i to drive this car, I figured what the heck, they are made by Audi right?

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  Expected Results - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bensim - February 5 - 2:00 am

  Overall, I have to say that I love my car. I owned an 89 Jetta GLI and then a Subaru Outback before my current Jetta. The 89 Jetta had incredible problems, but it was always fun to drive. The Outback had no problem, but it wasnt fun to drive. I went back to VW because I wanted to enjoy driving again, and my Jetta has delivered. It is manual, and I would only get manual with such a great engine! But, of course, my Jetta has had its share of problems. They are the same as everyone elses: electrical, windows, O2 sensor, glove box, sunroof, etc. Perhaps because of my first Jettas many issues, I dont seem to mind as much as others.

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  The Red One - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By the red - February 5 - 2:00 am

  This Golf is solid-fun to drive, and easy to handle. There are areas in which there could be improvement. The first is oil consumpttion. Even though the consumption has now settled at 2300 miles per quart at the odometer reading of 29000 miles it was 500 hundred miles per quart of oil when the car was new. Maybe it is broken in now! The engine revs up higher at highway speed than I like. At sixty MPH the engine is at 3000 RPM. My auto could use a sixth gear or a different ratio in the top gear. City and highway mileage is 27 MPG. Overall, I love this car. Red

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  Passat GLX 2000 Review - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Fanfare - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. It drives sweet and is powerful. Nice styling in and out. Kids love it. Seat warmers are butt- savers in the winter. Not ostentatious like a Beemer or Benz, but feels like one and offers same amenities. Fold down back seats can be used as bed when going camping!! LOL