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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  Good Value, So Far - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Matt - May 11 - 1:36 pm

  I just traded in my 01 Wolfsburg Edition for the new 07 model. The engine is solid; it whines a bit at low speeds but has enough juice. The lack of a Turbo takes some of the "fun factor" out of it. The old one had one, but the lack of a turbo but probably makes for a more reliable ride. The styling is OK, its grown on me a lot since I first saw it. I used to think it looked just like a Corolla but now think it looks a bit more distinguished, especially in black. It has lots of thoughtful extras. Overall I am happy, it has modest power, convincing leatherette, a moonroof, a 10-speaker stereo and heated seats plus a good warranty for under $20,000. I shopped the Altima (great but more money), Civic/Accord, Camry, and Fusion. This was the clear winner.

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  A Machine, Not a Appliance - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By BCarl - May 11 - 8:23 am

  If you are not familiar with cars then dont bother buying one. This is car more than any Honda or Toyota appliance. Yes, I had my share of issues (vacuum hoses, MAF, fuel pump) but they are all things that can be replaced by the owner. Or find a good independent shop, you just expecting the worse when you go to the dealer. The car feels solid, drives beautiful, and has good power for a 4-cyl. Plus I average 28 MPG in mixed driving.

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  Fun to drive but.............. - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By karma72 - May 9 - 10:00 am

  I really like this car but I cant believe the problems I ve had the past 2 years. Five times the windows have fallen down into the doors, various plastic pieces inside keep falling off or break, the headlights suddenly stopped working, and the tail lights have had problems. My dealer has fixed most of these problems without charge but Volkswagen will not even admit there is an epidemic with the window situation and are non cooperative on the customer service phone. The car is a blast to drive but I really have to question the overall quality of some of the design, and Volkswagen needs to fess up to the window problem and do a recall.

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  Great car, however... - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lupo - May 9 - 10:00 am

  This car is awesome to look at and drive. It trully is a pleasure to hear the "thump" of the heavy door and trunk. The engine is trully remarkable, however did have some serious problems. I had 3 recalls, oil service where the dealer neglected to add oil, and spent about CDN $3000 in repairs. Too bad it is not the company car where one just gets to drive it and not pay for reparis...

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  Fun to drive, choose your options wisely - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dandadtodandB - May 9 - 10:00 am

  The handling is superb, fun to drive. The automatic transmission shifting is annoying. Going above 3000 rpm is difficult to obtain, really needed when going up hills. Significant loss of power and difficulty in keeping up in traffic on upgrade and in the right gear. The quality of the interior materials are beautiful, reminds me of the BMW. This care has more rattles than any car I have ever owned. Wind drag is awful without more than 2 open. Extremely cramped back seat. Strongly recommend the manual for most fun. Not as roomy as the 97 Civic hatchback. Very poor fuel economy 18 mpg.

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  My New R32 - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Kathy Reck - May 5 - 10:00 am

  I used to drive a Chrysler 300M which was wonderful but this car has turned me from a old granny driver (as my daughter calls me) to a speedracer! I love my R32!

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  never again - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ccjello - May 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new, thinking I was getting a solid, reliable car. It looks good, handles well, and is fun to drive -- but it has so many problems, overall it has been one big frustration. Something breaks, I put the car on probation (and go look at Toyotas) it runs well for a while and then something breaks again. So far -- vents, latch on the center armrest & cupholders have broken (twice), glove box door fell off. Both driver & passenger windows have fallen & wont go up. Mass airflow meter, brake switch light have been replaced. Brakes locked. Check emissions light is ALWAYS on. And thats for starters. Service at local VW dealers is abysmal.

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  creekiest car Ive ever owned - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By creeky - May 5 - 8:10 am

  07 Passat sedan recently purchased (20K), looks great, handles well, but is the creekiest car I have ever owned. The dealer tried twice to fix the unacceptable noises in and around the dash/glove box/console to no avail.Is this typical for the 2007 passat? The service department said I was "very particular" even though they acknowledged that there are "minor squeaks, which, by the way, are noticeable on even the smoothest of roads.

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  this is why people prefer german cars - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By mike - May 3 - 10:20 pm

  As compared to my Lexus 350 AWD, Passat is quiet, responsive ,and fast. I was slightly disappointed about the fuel mileage which is as high as the Lexus has. Also a squeak from the sun visor when it is placed on side window annoys a little. A/C was not cool enough when it is really hot outside. Overall, I like this car, and am thinking about buying another one next time.

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  Noisy Engine - Test Drive Carefully! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dmcgrath - May 3 - 5:33 am

  The 2.0Tsi engine has a known "popping sound" at between 2000 and 3000 RPM. Many owners complain of the noise during acceleration, sounds like "pop rocks in a can" - I thought it sounded like engine knocking. VW confirms it is the wastegate on the turbo, but says it is normal. Along with the noise, I find it annoying that they have known about the noise for at least three years yet have not fixed it. Test drive with a purpose and make sure you can stand the noise before buying, because you are stuck with it once you take the keys.