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:

• 

  Earlay 99 GLX - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Inver306 - December 18 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car new right off the truck. I have had no problems with this car. I felt the suspension was a bit soft so I upgraded it with a Stage 3 Newspeed suspension, which included springs, struts and big anti-roll bars, a huge improvement. Latest mods include 17" wheels and a Newspeed chip. The car has developed some rattles and squeaks, but I understand that they all do. Car has 53k miles on it now and still looks and runs new. Ive love the VR6 since new and have taken several long trips with it; the car is a great compromise of space, comfort and performance. I think Ill keep it for a while longer.

• 

  My Dream Car!!! - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Daisymae - December 18 - 10:00 am

  I love my bug!!! I have wanted one for years and have enjoyed every second of driving and owning it. The dealership has been great about fixing anything in a short time with no appointments. It is so fun to drive, handles great especially steering into turns. I traded in a minivan so this is a dream to drive.

• 

  Good car for young drivers - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Niels Pace - December 17 - 11:39 pm

  Bought this car used for my children to use. Have had minor reliability issues but easily fixed. The most disappointing is the interior - I was brought up in the era of the Golf Gti and owned several of them, have always loved VWs and their solidity and good finish, inside and out. Unfortunately with this generation of Jetta they screwed up during the manufacture and cut the headlining material too short, so it is overtensioned on the foam moulding and comes away. The car is only 5 years old and roof lining is falling off! Obviously VW are completely uninterested in standing by their product and fixing this.

• 

  Love it - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By VWforLife - December 17 - 10:43 pm

  I bought this car used with 70,000 miles on it and so far its been a joy to drive. As a college student, I enjoy having a unique car because noone my age has the same car as me. My friends are always surprised when they get in my car and find out how comfortable and spacious it is, not to mention how fast this car can go. I do have issues with the check engine light coming on but it goes away. I got the extended warranty so its not a big deal to me. Ive driven many different cars because I used to work at a car rental company and this is one of the best cars in its class. Also a great deal for a used car because of its depreciation. Im probably buying another VW after this.

• 

  Excellent, Fast, Reliable, Looks Great - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bryans - December 17 - 6:26 am

  As you can see, I have an 03 Jetta 1.8T Tiptronic 5-speed I bought with 28k...now has 91k 2.5 years later. Ive owned four late model Cadillacs (two DeVilles and two Eldorados). I was so disappointed in the Northstar V8 and the very cheap interior in all of them that I decided I would buy imported only now on. Boy, am I glad I did!!! First of all, the 1.8T is strong, reliable, FAST, and easy to work on and upgrade. The interior is sleek and leather is high quality and durable. Monsoon audio is awesome, but better with a subwoofer. The exterior is very sexy and stylish. The 17" wheels are great, especially with a good set of Z- rated performance tires. Too many good things to list.....

• 

  Worst Car Ever - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By jlmurray81 - December 16 - 1:07 am

  I leased this car back in August on 2008 and have had nothing but problems with it and the dealership ever since. Four weeks after I leased the car, a transmission valve had to be replaced. I learned about his problem only after nearly being killed on the freeway because my car lost all forward momentum. To add insult to injury the dealership insisted it was my starter that caused this issue. Only after speaking to a mechanic was this issue actually addressed. The dealership had my car for over three weeks and tried to charge me for the rental car. Approximately a year later the manufacture issued a recall for this transmission value issue.

• 

  Best New Car I have Ever Purchased - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By N.J. Dad - December 15 - 9:13 pm

  My 2006 Volkswagen Passat Value Edition has a great ride. It has a lot of rear leg room. Its quality is great inside and out. This is my first Volkswagen and I love it.

• 

  Problems - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JETWHITE727 - December 15 - 2:00 am

  This is my first VW and to be honest it will be my last. I have had no major problems with the car , however a number of minor issues. I think anyone who is looking to buy VW should look around before buying.

• 

  The Oil Consumption King - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sabre01 - December 15 - 2:00 am

  We had our Jetta GL since May 2000. We babied this car. My wife loved this car. All maintenance was done on time. Then it starts to use oil. It used about 1 quart per 1000 miles! At first I thought it was a fluke. Then I checked the internet for other owners that may have the problem. This seems to be common with the 2.0 Litre engine. I even found a web site that has the Technical Bulletin (provided to dealers from VW)that instructs the mechanic how to deal with complaints of excessive oil consumption.

• 

  I LOVE MY BUG!!! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By drkim - December 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Bug used over a year ago and I just love it. I have had NO mechiancal problems with it. It has a lot more room than I thought it would have. The car is a fun car to drive! I would buy another one in the future Im having so much fun with this one.