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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  Ill miss my VW - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By Disappointed VW fan - January 13 - 8:46 pm

  I bought my VW used and I was okay with having to replace the clutch almost immediately as well as having a rod in the trunk snap which made the trunk impossible to use until I found a mechanic willing to weld the rod back together. But after 9 months of VW ownership, Im calling it quits. I love VWs and will look for them in the future, but definitely with more skeptical eyes. Besides the normal repairs and somewhat non-normal repairs, I had an air flow sensor malfunction, and needed to replace the throttle valve because my Passat was driving itself. 3 weeks after those repairs, I either get to replace the heater core, fix a radiator problem, and replace the oxygen sensor or call it quits.

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  7 year review - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By bjss - January 13 - 9:26 am

  Bought new (3/02), have approx 72K miles, no major problems. Several recalls, but dealership tended to quickly/efficiently. Had the Timing Belt job completed at 65K, did not want to risk going to 95-105K as VW suggests in manual. Very fun car to drive. Based on some posts, I guess I have been lucky. But I do follow the maintenance schedule religiously and use Synthetic oil!

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  Solid! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VWdriver - January 12 - 10:16 pm

  After reading reviews of this model and trim level, I was a little wary about purchasing this vehicle. But all of my worries have been disproven, as this car is awesome. The only problems I have had were from the buyer passing on due maintenance, and otherwise I LOVE this car. It is fast, fun, the stick shifts smooth, the interior is fantastic, I love the sporty boxed-out styling, the sunroof and remote locks work flawlessly, and the trunk is cavernous, bigger than my old 96 accords. 95,000 miles and still going like a tank, no problems with the drivetrain. This car is great because of the extra touches: the dialed in steering, the wolfsburg leather accents, everyhthing. This car is great!!

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  Love this Bug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Momsmoose - January 12 - 7:23 pm

  My wife has always wanted a Bug ragtop. This is our first convertible and we just love it. It rides well, looks great, and really goes. Ours is a silver, 1.8 Liter Turbo with a black top and black leather. It also has the low profile tires and custom wheels. An older gentleman asked me if it was a Porsche, so I told him, Why yes it is! While no Boxster, its great fun. Do yourself a favor and buy one!

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  So Far, Love this Car - 2012 Volkswagen GTI
  By caseydog3 - January 11 - 8:45 pm

  After buying a new 2012 VW passat in July 2012, I decided to trade it in for a new 2012 GTI. While the passat was a nice BIG family sedan, I wanted to drive something fun and sporty. Also, I was having alot of trouble seeing at night with the Passat. Anyway, I got the new GTI over the weekend. It is so entirely different than the passat. I can understand why people say they look forward to driving it everyday. I feel the same way. The visibility, comfort and feel of the car is so great. Its smaller, but still has plenty of room. I find that Im playing the stereo less now because I like listening to the sound of the engine and the turbo.

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  Oklahoma City 2010 Jetta TDI Sedan - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By OklaVolks - January 11 - 3:56 pm

  I bought my Jetta TDI sedan in September and have been very pleased with it so far. Ive put over 1,000 miles on it in city, mixed, and highway driving and have averaged 38 mpg per fill up. My previous car was a 2004 Acura TSX which was fun to drive and very reliable but which used premium unleaded gas. The Jetta is about 60% more fuel efficient than my TSX and almost as much fun to drive. I like the DSG transmission just fine and have no complaints as do some other reviewers about lack of "creep" at a stop, the engine downshifting, etc. The fit and finish are very good, the handling is excellent, and there are a lot of nice little touches in the car that were unexpected pleasant surprises.

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  GLI Kicks Ass! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By petron - January 11 - 10:00 am

  The car is fast and thrilling for a small sedan! Great traction contol and ABS system. Although there is a slight float to the suspension, it corners and handles very nicely at higher speeds. With the 2.8l engine and the 6 gears, who needs turbo?

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  All VWs Suck - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dean Gitters - January 11 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd VW. My first Jetta. It is the 8th VW to be purchased in my family. And, my family will never buy another one. Within one month of owning it the problems began; from poor assembly fuzzing upholstery. I have been to the dealer at least 9 times for all BS things. If no driven for more than a day the battery died it took 3 visits and 5 days without a car to fix it. 2 days to tighten a loose heat shield. 3 visits to figure out why the coolant light kept coming on. VWs used to be reliable cars. Now they are made like cheap disposable lighters that do not work. I am very disappointed with my VW and with VW of America.

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  As Good As It Gets :) - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Airwlf0028 - January 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Jetta 1.8T 5M on April 02. Ive been searching around for cars for 2 months and i skipped a Physics Test to take a look at the Jetta. 10:15am: searched around for a Jetta. 10:45:test drove a silver 1.8T. 12PM:went to work. 8PM:Got out of work. 8:30PM:BOUGHT THAT JETTA!!! With just one test drive that car has impressed me! Ive owned that car for lil over a yr n it has 16k miles on it n all 16k miles were fun to drive! The acceleration is awesome! i luv the sound of the turbo kicking in and iv gone 135mph!! If your looking for a car with good fuel effiency (26-28 city/hwy as of now for me) and good performance, the VW Jetta is the way to go! :)

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  My first fun VW - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jeff Ogden - January 11 - 10:00 am

  After owning FOUR Honda Accords, I decided to go for more. Great styling, handles like a BMW, excellent features like 200 watt Monsoon sound system, power seats with memory and great moonroof. NOT as quick as the V6 Accord, but traction control and handling are superior. Nicely styled too.