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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  Solid value - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By rjm - October 17 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle delivers the quality and performance of an Audi for the price of an Accord. I thought about buying a more current model but I just cant part with a vehicle that feels new and costs so little to keep running. The only feature I miss is power seats.

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  Well Served - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Pleasingly Happy - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive been very pleased with my Jetta. Its fun to drive and it looks great. The only draw back was the standard roll-up windows. Im glad to know the 2003s will have power as part of the standard model. A little tight in the back seat. I would buy another.

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  Happy but.... - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GregL_STL - October 17 - 10:00 am

  My opinion seems to be along the lines of everyone else... the car is fun to drive, stylish and powerful. BUT, VW needs to work on their reliability. In the three years since I bought the car, Ive had the window regulators go out three times, the air bag light come on three times, and the 02 and airflow sensors fail. Luckily, only the sensors were not covered under warranty -- but that was still $600. If the reliability was better, I wouldnt have any hesitation on recommending the Jetta to others. Instead, I do so with words of caution.

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  Loss of Faith - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By nomoreVW - October 17 - 10:00 am

  At 20K, the car began to have a gear grinding problem. Took the car to 2 dealers on 3 occasions and on got the same explination, "Its normal." Can someone tell me what "normal" car grinds gears? I ended up bleeding the clutch and replacing the gear oil myself. Problem mostly solved. At 24K, the temp guage goes out. I found out at vwvortex that its probably the temp sensor, so I replaced it. At 32K, the check engine light comes on. Havent taken it to the dealer yet, but I suspect its the mass air flow sensor. Now at 34K and the driver window falls down! This will be the last VW/Audi I ever own.

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  MOST UNRELIABLE CAR IN THE WORLD! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Karla E. - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Ever since I got it at 0 milage, I have had mechanical problems. At 500 miles, cruise control went out. At 22000 miles, started getting valves replaced, hoses replaced, and many other parts replaced. Not to mention that every 2000-3000 miles, Ive had to take it to the dealership to get all of this fixed because its always a new malfunction in the engin. At 25000 I got stranded out of town in the middle of now where. My car would just not turn on.

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  Perfect reliability and so fun to drive - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By DaveInSoCal - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Bought a 2001 New Beetle Sport 1.8T for my wife. I specified the 1.8T motor as I knew I would also be driving it very often. The power and reliablity of the motor has been great. The handling and comfort is well balanced. Compact enough to easily park and drive in traffic and the city. Weve had it for almost 2 years and have not had one problem. My wifes friend got a Civic and has had several problems, so shes still so happy with the Beetle. The design seems timeless, too.

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  Fun Little Car - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By kda - October 17 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car to get around town and for long trips. It is very comfortable and handles well. Winter driving is great as well as we have found no real problems driving in the snow. The only problem is lack of trunk space but hey its a beetle..Great car...Love it!!!

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  I wanna push it off a bridge! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ashley - October 17 - 8:06 am

  My car has been such a hassle from the day I got it. There was electrical issues, fan problems, another part in the motor broke and the car died (the dealership had 30 parts in stock cause this happens alot!), I got a hole in my muffler and my CV joints broke (which is expensive!). Now when I speed up the car jerks back and forth, makes a high squealing sound and the check engine light comes on. 3 other people at my work have all had issues with their passat or jetta. I will never buy another VW.. I recommend that you dont either!

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  One nice 4 door rocket - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Scott - October 17 - 4:03 am

  This car gets great preformance, has lots of room, has good handling for a front wheel drive vehicle, and gets good fuel economy

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  I Love My Diesel Bug - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By vwbug2000TDI - October 17 - 2:50 am

  Ive never had a car that I have loved to drive so much. I always check out other VWs and they are checking me out also. It is like some secret club that I never knew about until I got my Bug. Who can forget the vase?