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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  Camper Van Nightmare! - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By JoeySass - May 15 - 8:46 pm

  I have the Winnebago Camper version. Original owner and its a horrible lemon. Im on the third set of tires (recommended tires are no longer manufactured!). A/C ($1500) went out at 3 yrs., 58,000 miles. Brakes replaced 2x so far. And now I have to replace my timing chain ($2000). All this on a 5 year old, 75,000 mile vehicle. Oh yeah, the transmission is starting to slip a little, thats next! Dont buy this lemon!

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  6 year review - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By bjss - May 15 - 3:53 pm

  Wagon running as good as new....yes, there have been a few recalls and maintenance can be expensive ($75 oil changes). But maintenance is the key to these cars. I would never buy Used unless I had copies of all oil changes, etc...

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  My First New Car Treated Me Well - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Claire - May 15 - 2:33 pm

  My Golf was perfect until after I had put 60,000 miles on it, then things started to fall apart. I had some mechanical trouble that ended up being quite costly. Other than that, I loved the car. It was fun and sporty.

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  Expensive to Own and Operate - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lars - May 14 - 4:50 pm

  I bought this car new and still own it. At 67,000 miles the timing belt broke causing the valves to hit the pistons. This was covered under the warranty, but the dealer was very confrontational and I thought at one point that I may have to sue them. The ingition module has gone out twice, and now it has some other yet to be determined problem. If you buy one of these be aware the timing belt needs replacement (~$750) every 60,000 miles or you will ruin your engine and you need to uses synthetic oil in it

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  I love this car - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Midori Alexandros - May 14 - 4:46 pm

  It has been a great- car. We have had to do a lot of mechanical repairs to the car, who ever sold it did not do them and that was probably why they sold it in the first place. We have done timing belt/tensioner, both drive axles, breaks, struts, engine mounts, and turn signal switch, spark plugs, plug wires, and had the engine detailed. The car has been excellent with no mishaps.

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  My Dream Car - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jennifer - May 14 - 1:35 pm

  This was my dream car. I bought it new for a good price back in 2007. The front seats are comfortable but theres not much space for the back unless you drive with small children. The AUX hook up is very inconvenient, it is located on the far upper right side of the glove box (inside). The a/c is actually really loud, you pretty much have to yell with your passengers to hear. The a/c vents in the back do not blow as much as what they should. I had to replace the outside door panel (black part) because of the South Florida sun beating on it. So in the beginning it was a very good, reliable car. Once you hit the 65k+ miles on it thats when the problems start .. first my a/c went. At first they told me it was the antifreeze but then it turned out to be the compressor which cost a lot. Then my coolant holder broke, unknowingly I was driving from work and I noticed that the engine temp was sky high I pulled over only to see that it had broken. The leather seats began to crack and the dealership said to repair it would cost a lot. My car currently has 83k miles and the transmission is starting to go. Needless to say, I am getting rid of it and getting a new NON-Volkswagen vehicle. Good car at first but just be aware of the costly repairs down the road.

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  Awesome Car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By smitpat - May 14 - 10:00 am

  Awesome car! Although Ive driven a lot of cars, this is the first that Ive owned, and Im thrilled. Great pickup at lower speeds, tight handling, and really good-looking.

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  Good run - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By little_eva - May 13 - 7:10 pm

  Bought this car new after 14 great years with a Jetta. This car has more bells/whistles than the Jetta but is not as rugged, tho I have hauled more stuff in the Golf and done more city driving. But I have 105K on it and havent had to do any major repairs except it now needs a timing belt. This car is fun to drive and comfortable as I am short, but it is difficult for passengers with long legs. The latch to allow trunk expansion over folded rear seats broke, which is inconvenient and I broke the antenna off on the excellent sound system which limits its radius - both pricey repairs but work arounds. Good maint from dealer.

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  Not so bad - I dont get the other reviews - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By backhoebob1 - May 12 - 7:07 pm

  131K miles. The car had a couple of problems, but I dont understand the reviews. Yes, you have to change the timing belt every 80k or 95K miles. Same for my Camry. The difference is Ive spent $5500 less in gas to cover the same miles! (43 vs 28 mpg, $3.8 vs $4.1/g). Ive put a wheel bearing on it ($300, my bust for using a dealer) and four glow plugs ($440). Ill have to cam it in 50K miles or so. SO WHAT! Ill have saved $8500 at that point. Three sets of shocks, plugs and O2 sensors on the Camry - $800. No squeaks, firm, smooth, tons of leg room (68"). I cant believe people complain about $3K in maint for 200K miles with $5000 in their pocket.

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  Not a great ownership experience - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Iggy - May 12 - 2:46 pm

  The Jetta Sportwagen is a nice car with decent performance and fuel economy. However, the dealer experience leaves a lot to be desired. Ive been told by the service dept multiple times that "VW doesnt cover squeaks and rattles after six months". I made an appt & dropped my car off first thing in the morning for a routine 90 minute service. Four hours later I telephoned for a status and was told that customers who wait there are given preference and theyd call me back in an hour. Before you buy ask about whats excluded from the "free" routine service - itll cost you about $40 to have a turn signal bulb replaced. Less than 18 mos & Im already looking for my next car. It will NOT be a VW!