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 this car - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By JKeiser - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car in 2003, only a couple years old and already had 66k on the odometer. 7 years and 120k later, this car is starting to show its age, but its still quick, agile, and very comfortable. even at over 180k, the engine feels great. like any german car, it requires a little more tlc. change the timing belt when youre supposed to, and dont freak out everytime the check engine light comes on. i may have just gotten a good one, but the only major repairs ive had have been in the last 30k miles or so. ABS controller, tie rods, shocks. like most cars at its age, its becoming to expensive to maintain, so ill be trading it in. i guarantee i will cry, this has been a great car.

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  Great car with major problems - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By lajsdl;jaf - May 22 - 2:00 am

  We love this car, but weve had to replace the head gasket at 26K and the steering rack is shot in it = $2,000. Well never buy a VW again.

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  Good Car - Fun to Drive - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mr. Moto - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive read some reviews about bad service-- I have had only good service from Ash Tisdelle. The car is great, very fun to drive. Peppy turbo- love the sound. Only a few minor issues and one recall. Coolant sensor went sour (20k miles), right side window fell into door (retaining clips were bad) and all was repaired quickly. A big portion of the car experience is the sales/service team. Velour interior looks great when clean-- but acts like a lint brush!

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  VW GOLF - mixed - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By Crossman - May 21 - 10:00 am

  Great power in a small package, but turbo system has many service problems. Corners cut on some interior and trim items. Velour interior captures dirt and grime and wont give it up. Dealerships too busy to give decent service. Goes like a champ through the snow, but very low ground clearance.

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  Bug is fun, but not practical - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By mollyfied - May 21 - 10:00 am

  My husband bought me a 2001 turbo Beetle for Mothers Day. Although its been great fun, having to get out of the car and pull up the seat every day, several times a day, to let our daughter out of the back seat quickly becomes a drag -- as does the five- speed manual stick. The performance has been good, although we had repeated problems with the ignition. The car would just turn over, and then die. This happened fairly frequently, but of course, not at the dealership. They didnt repair it. Im trading it in for a VW Passat wagon.

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  Wascally fun at a weasonable price - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By chromewheels - May 21 - 6:26 am

  After exhaustive research and test drives, I went with the Rabbit. I bought the 4-door with the manual transmission, which I hear is a combination that wont be available next year. Not to mention I really dont like the looks of the next generation Rabbit. I knew the gas mileage wasnt great before I bought the car, so Im not all that disappointed. I love the torque, this thing really pulls even from off-idle. The driving position and controls are top notch. I wish the diesel was available when I bought this, wouldve been a no-brainer. The inline-5 is a weird-sounding engine, not really worth revving up. All in all, Im happy with it.

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  Is this a typical VW experience? - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By eyebiz - May 20 - 4:05 am

  This is my first experience with a VW. While I love to drive it and the gas mileage is great, I have had 3 repairs since my warranty expired. First my hatchback latch broke. At 41,000 miles a glow plug had to be replaced. Lastly, the car quit on me at 49,00 miles. The fuel injection pump failed and there were metal shavings in the fuel line. Apparently there is a technical bulletin for the 2009 model. Thankfully VW of Pasadena paid for the replacement at no cost to me.

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  Great 3rd Row! - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Alyssa - May 19 - 7:09 am

  Over all the car is great. Amazing cargo space. Love the panoramic roof. Takes a while to get used to all the lane control etc...I personally think theres a lack of cup holders.

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  Horrible experience - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rachelnoli - May 18 - 11:34 am

  I owned a 2001 Jetta that ran like a dream, never had any problems even though it was 6 years old when I bought it. I bought my 2006 in 2009 with 28k on it. Right around 50k miles the check engine light started coming on and no amount of money would fix it. I took it to 3 different mechanics but as soon as I fixed one thing another problem would arise. Do your research before you buy a VW! If you find a good one, they are great cars. Otherwise itll be a nightmare.

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  Beats my Mazda 6 - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By KJBell - May 16 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car used as a VW Certified vehicle for my wife. Since, I own a new 2003 Mazda 6s, I was amazed at how well this car compares and excels vs. the Mazda. Once you get used to some of the quirky German engineering controls for wipers and onboard computer, all the controls become intuitive. This car is as fun to drive as any I have driven and when compared to my Mazda 6s, exceeds in just about every category. I especially like the cool blue glow of the instruments.The 4Motion is great in the snow and ice of New England winters.