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:

• 

  title - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By miguel - October 17 - 2:00 am

  My experience with this vehicle was very good,i just cant find anything i can supe it up with

• 

  title - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Miguel - October 17 - 2:00 am

  My experience with this vehicle was very good,i just cant find anything i can supe it up with

• 

  mix&match - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ajkula - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Just got rid of my 2001GL.What I am going to miss in a Odyssey I traded it in for: -absolutely superb handling, braking and style,excellent fuel economy, and its "ugly duckling in the mood" charm. what I am not going to miss: -absolutely horrible auto transmission (get a stick by all means),misting in all and any type of weather,rear seat passengers complaining about lack of comfort, troubles with alarm system.

• 

  SENSATION OF THE ROAD - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By J. GUTIERREZ - October 17 - 2:00 am

  I DROVE IT ACCROSS THE COUNTRY, FROM CALIFORNIA TO FLORIDA. THE PERFORMANCE, THE DRIVING WAS ABSOLUTELY AN EXPERIENCE, LOVED IT. THE CAR ITSELF WAS THE SENSATION OF THE ROAD. EVERYWHERE WE STOPPED SOMEONE WILL APPROACH US TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE CAR AND OF COURSE THERE WAS ONLY ONE ANSWER: WONDERFUL!!!!!

• 

  Great car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Maebee - October 17 - 2:00 am

  I like my new 2002 Jetta TDI (5 speed/Man)better every day. Just went over 11,000 miles with it. Except for the fact that radio stopped working one day, which the dealer fixed in 30 min, Ive had no problems at all. Started fine all winter even at -15 F. Gas mileage keeps getting better now Im averaging about 46 mpg. Does not smell, smoke or have any of the diesel problems that were common in the 80s. There is a terrific website for TDI owners that is very helpful.

• 

  Jetta Review - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dan - October 15 - 5:43 pm

  I love the car. I had a great experience with the dealership and service has been great.

• 

  Sold me twice! - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By K Mac - October 15 - 3:11 am

  I leased the car when we traded in our 2011 Jetta Sportwagon. I was considering the Volvo S-60 and the Ford Fusion and wasnt too keen on this car until I hit the gas in the 280 horse V-6. I have a Corvette and know what acceleration feels like and, let me tell you, this car has it. Despite some torque steer and a tendency to spin the wheels if you get on it too quickly, youre going to surprise some people who thought they were going to outrun somebodys station car. And while Im on the topic of acceleration, keep your ears open because the engine note is quite pleasant when its hard at work. It also has plenty of room for the driver and passengers. The back seat is unbelievably roomy and the trunk is cavernous. Yet the car is easy, no, fun to drive. The paddle shifters werent something I thought Id use and, for the most part, I dont. But when the spirit moves you, flip that shifter right and row your own: its a gas. Note: the DSG seems to shift faster at higher revs. Some have said the changes are sluggish but Ive noticed that its a much quicker shift at 4000 rpms than at 2000. The sound system is better than most, although I dont get the whole "Fender" thing. If it were Bang and Olufsen, or even Bose, it would say something about how far up the scale you were...maybe its about volume, which this one definitely can handle. Heres the thing, though. Its coming time to think about my next car and Im seriously considering buying this one. The residual is just over 18 grand and Edmunds says the car is worth almost 22. Its rock solid and I still like that way it looks in Reflex Silver and SEL trim. Maybe Ill go new, although now the Passat is at the top of my list. I think Id have separation anxiety about leaving this one on the dealers lot, though.

• 

  2006 Passat - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By George D. - October 14 - 8:33 pm

  This vehicle is awesome. Having 3 performance choices with the tiptronic 6 speed transmission, has made the driving experience an excellent one. Just love that refined German engineering. It feels and drives like a Benz. It has a good ride and its very roomy inside. It definetely wont disappoint you!

• 

  Soooo Fun. - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Best Car Ever - October 14 - 3:43 pm

  The 2004 Volkswagen R32 is the most exciting car I have ever driven. My dad has a BMW 540i, and I have driven the current BMW M3 and I can still say I like my car better. It corners better, it feels so much more nimble overall. The M3 felt stiff.. even if it can rocket you to 60 in a time that scares the heck out of me. The R32 is a little weak at high speeds, but it is very good around town. The tires are phenominal. The suspension is great. Ive noticed a bit of understeer though. This is a car you can fall in love with.

• 

  First Impression: 1500 miles............. - 2013 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By ezshift5 - October 14 - 11:55 am

  2013 VW JSW TDI 6M - - - - White with Cornsilk interior. Lots of room. Sturdy VTEX (thats VW for leatherette) interior. Has a clutch, six speed manual shift transmission and the top three gears are overdrives................. Which permits some really impressive fuel numbers. (but the reader already knows this). Driving the car is easy from steering, braking and acceleration (236 lb/feet of torque 1750 - 2200 RPM) standpoints. Fold down the rear seats and there is the same cargo capacity as my 1982 VW diesel pickup!! Altho the electronic compass was delivered with a compass that read S when heading N, the very capable dealership in Californias capital provided a quick fix.