Volkswagen is one of the largest vehicle manufacturers in the world, selling over 9 million cars worldwide in 2023. This means there’s plenty of choice when looking for a VW to buy. 

Before you take the plunge though, it’s important to research which model is the best for you, both in terms of practicality and reliability. In this article, we’ll be going through some of the most reliable Volkswagen models to buy today. 

Most Reliable VW - The Up!

Introduced in 2011 the Up! was Volkswagen's entry into the supermini/city car segment, competing with the likes of the Toyota Aygo. It was available with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, and a couple years later as the e-Up! an all-electric version. 

The Up! probably owes its reliability to its simplicity, with most cars being sold with the manual gearbox, there isn’t a whole lot to go wrong, weighing in at only 980kg meant the engine isn’t too stressed too. 

As one of the cheapest new cars on sale at the time, the Up! has held its value quite well, but can still be had for a bargain price. An early 2012 car can be bought, with high mileage, for £2,500. £3,500 gets you a 2015 car with less than 80,000 miles.

Most Reliable VW SUV - Tiguan TDI

Volkswagen has models spreading across every sector, from city cars like the Up to SUVs. For the best reliability in the latter, we’d suggest a Diesel VW Tiguan. The Tiguan is a medium-sized SUV, with the current model holding plenty of road presence. 

Made from 2007, the Tiguan was the slimmer brother to the Toureg, a full-size SUV available with the legendary V10 TDI engine. The Tiguan has much more humble powertrain options, from the tech-filled 1.5 TSI petrol engine to the dependable 2.0 TDI. 

Emissions issues aside, we’d still recommend the 2.0TDI for reliability, the engine is used in a plethora of other VW group products such as Skodas and SEATs. An early 2008/2009 car can be bought for under £5,000 with 80,000 miles on the clock. For something a bit more modern looking we’d suggest a post-2016 car, where the price jumps to £12,000 for a nice one.

Most Reliable VW Engine - 1.9 PD TDI

If there was one engine we’d recommend seeking out for ultimate reliability, it would be the 1.9 PD engine. 

It was used in VW group cars from around 1998 to 2009, almost every car was available with a variant of this engine, from the smaller Golf up to commercial vehicles and people carriers.

PD refers to the system of fuel injection used, that set it apart from other engines at the time, it could achieve respectable MPG figures and moderate power figures ranging from 66 HP up to 130 HP in later versions.

However, the PD engine is most well known for its reliability, being over-engineered from the ground up it’s capable of hundreds of thousands of miles of service with simple servicing only.

What is the Cheapest Volkswagen to Maintain?

Because of its popularity, we would say the Volkswagen Golf is one of the cheapest Volkswagens to maintain, both with respect to routine servicing and replacing parts that have worn out. 

The sheer number of cars on the road means parts cost is generally quite low, and repair knowledge amongst independent repair garages is high. Being able to avoid expensive dealer repairs can save thousands.

We would recommend the Golf from 2012 - 2020, the “Mk7” offers the perfect blend of modern features, performance and safety, with cost-effective servicing.

How Much Does a Volkswagen Golf Cost to Maintain?

Expect to pay between £350 - £475 per year, this is for a car around 3 years of age, including regular servicing at an independent specialist, and a reasonable approximation of the cost for new tyres and brakes. 

Brand new cars are likely to not need tyres or brakes, and most servicing will be included in the sales package. Older cars are likely to need parts such as suspension joints, and brake discs that may add to the total cost. 

Are Volkswagens Reliable?

On the whole, Volkswagen makes reliable vehicles, and they often surpass other German brands such as BMW and Mercedes. We believe their reliability comes from their high standards in engineering design and production, combined with a functional and practical design philosophy.

However, there are some known weaknesses, for example, issues with the latest Golf have been well documented, mainly surrounding the software managing the infotainment systems. For this reason, they don’t usually rank as highly as some brands such as Toyota and Honda.

Does Volkswagen Still Make Diesel Cars?

Despite the Dieselgate scandal that started in 2015, Volkswagen still makes and sells millions of diesel-powered vehicles every year. The emissions scandal may have cost the company a significant sum in fines and brand reputation, but it didn’t affect its global standing as one of the biggest automakers.

Are Volkswagens Made in Germany?

Alongside Germany, Mexico, China, Belgium, and Brazil are just some of the countries that house VW manufacturing plants. Whilst the headquarters and their biggest manufacturing plant are still in Wolfsburg, Germany, many of the VW group products are not made in the home country.

This is typical of most modern vehicle manufacturers, and thanks to stringent quality control measures it does not necessarily mean the quality of the vehicles is lesser.

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Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.