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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  Second Passat in 1 year - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By DanaRich - January 11 - 10:00 am

  Originally owned a 2001.5 passat V6 FWD. Was totaled in accident and, due to the excellent safety features engineered into it having saved my hide I bought a new 2003 GLX V6 4motion. The 2001.5 V6 FWD had great acceleration, good gas mileage (22/25). The 2003 V6 AWD has poorer acceleration and much poorer gas mileage (19/23). I understand that the AWD is 400 lbs. heavier than the FWD, but this difference is way more than I expected or can write off to weight. Love the tiptronic. Love the interior lighting.The suspension on the 2003 seems mushier than the 2001.5.

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  Best small car around!! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dcpo - January 11 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my TDI Jetta Sedan for a over 8 mos. and 12.5k miles. MPG as high as 52 before I put a roof rack on it. I still get over 40 with a kayak & bike on the roof. I love the fact that there are studs for mounting the roof rack firmly already built into the car. You wont win any drag races with this car, but you can easily merge with traffic on highways & pass cars on back roads. The shifter is smooth & direct. With the back seat down, storage room is great. Handling & ride are great. Seats & ergos are the best Ive had. Other than a blown fuse the 1st weekend I had the car, nothing has gone wrong. I am very pleased with my TDI.

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  6 months and 5,000 miles - 2013 Volkswagen CC
  By thurston3 - January 10 - 9:43 pm

  I think I have a firm grasp on this car now... Great computer features, headlights are awesome, bluetooth and other techs are top notch. I have found SOME build quality problems: loose door bolt, some auto start issues on occasion and window squeaking when the weather stripping is met my the glass. Overall a great car with great mpg and gadgets. Be warned however, this is not a "drivers" car. It is comfortable and smooth but it IS NOT a fast car and it does not corner really well either. Finally, because of the soft suspension and low ride height, take it easy over speed tables... you CAN bottom out. Would I recommend this car to anyone, YES! Does it have SOME faults... yes.

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  My Favorite Beetle Ever - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By 1drbug79 - January 10 - 9:33 pm

  I love this car more then any of my other Beetles. Its power is great, I dont even mind the fuel economy after all Im the one driving that way. The change VW made to the cupholders is great. The style charges, as small as they were, are terrific. This car needed to become a real good looking car and it did. My husband can even drive it and not feel like hes driving a girly car, that kind of bugs me though now he takes it golfing on nice days. I miss her. Yes its a her, Rosie.

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  Great car after 2 years - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jeff - January 10 - 4:30 am

  No problems to report after 2 years of ownership. Highly recommend this vehicle, particularly if you want to get combination of good fuel economy and performance.

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  New Beetle Convertible - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By meyer - January 10 - 1:26 am

  After driving the Audi A4 Cabrio and Nissan 350Z convertible, I sat in the Beetle. What a difference. Unlike the Audi, the pedals are far enough apart so you dont hit the brakes while touching the gas. Unlike the Z, you have SPACE! Needless to say...after taking a quick spin, I wrote a check for the car. I got mine for a fair price - less than its Edmunds.com TMV...on the road! I just took an extanded long weekend road trip. What a blast. I wish they had lumbar in the seats...like my two Passats though.

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  From MB to VW - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sdhayes - January 9 - 6:23 pm

  My wife was driving a 1995 C220 sedan. We had a good one, but decided to trade it in on a new VW with FWD and way more safety features. This 20K sedan is far away a fantastic value for the build quality and level of equipment it offers. Seats are comfy, and the trunk is huge. Performance is average with the 2.5 motor. the tiptronic trans works great! I only hope we got a good copy of the Jetta and it proves to be as reliable as the MB was.

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  VW Passat with Lifetime Warranty!! Seriously - 2016 Volkswagen Passat
  By Art - January 8 - 3:28 am

  I am finishing up the process of owning a Passat. First time for me. Weve been a Honda family but after I drove this car, I was sold. Smooth ride, excellent acceleration and handling around turns. I was going to buy a Jetta but after the rebates and trade in I went for the Passat. I traded in my GMC pickup truck. This is mainly a commuter car since my roundtrip is 120 miles. The mileage will pay for the car. What really sold me is that the dealer, Lunde Volkswagen in Peoria, AZ, is giving, yes I said giving, lifetime warranties on the car. Since repair bills are at the top of peoples mind when they purchase a vehicle, I couldnt pass up the deal. I by no means overpaid for the car. It was a great buy. If you live out of state, it is worth the trip just for the warranty and peace of mind

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  Worth every penny! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Nicole - January 8 - 2:40 am

  After much research of different makes and models, which didnt include VW, I test drove one, on a whim. I was sold! It made me lose the desire to have another SUV like my Ford Escape. It had all the bells and whistles I wanted moonroof, cruise control, 6 CD changer, great gas mileage, sporty, safe and fun to drive. Not to mention, a HUGE trunk! The seats are very comfy, front and back. Even my arthritic 76 yr old dad loves the fit of the seats. For him to say that means a lot! The sport mode is fun but drains gas. Also, the manual transmission mode is a fun diversion. Id buy again, in a heartbeat!

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  Not Perfect, but Still Going Strong! - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Elly - January 7 - 10:36 pm

  My Passat 4Motion is a "mystery wrapped in an enigma" when it comes to the panels and sensors. However, Ive had the (used) car for three years now, and aside from a few electrical issues, its been pretty reliable. And I love the combination of driving pleasure and practicality. The engine is still quite peppy, it handles very well and has a great turning radius. It was more comfortable than any other midsize wagon/small SUV I test-drove, and can carry everything from a 9 ft. long 2x4, to three kids in car seats, to a fully constructed hutch from Ikea. As a mother, investment property owner, and part-time teacher, Im very happy with my all-purpose wagon.