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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  What fun! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kathyj311 - August 24 - 3:03 pm

  This is my second Jetta & I doubt it will be my last! I have a 6 speed manual turbo & its a blast to drive. My avg cruising hwy speed is 80, its hard to drive the limit. Car turns heads & everyone enjoys driving it. BUT, the low nose is always a problem, be careful with curbs. My main problem right now is rusty brakes, had them turned & rust came right back. The armrest iPod connector died, cost too much too replace so now its connected through glove box. The Nav/radio needs updating but it will do for now. I had a kicker speaker put in the trunk & thats a huge improvement with the sound. Seats take some getting used to but are very comfy. Worth more than what I paid for it 6 months ago-cool

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  VW Jetta GLX - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tim53217 - August 24 - 10:00 am

  Great car. Much more fun than the 4 cylinder models.

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  Hot...But Sometimes Too Hot! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By GrayBatts - August 24 - 10:00 am

  Volkswagon has really designed a winner. I compared with the Volvo XC90, Lexus RX 330, MB ML430 and the VW knocked them out. Great on-road manners and a demon in the sand and mud. Excellent fit and finish. One major complain...the air conditioner went out twice. First time within the first 100 miles and again two weeks later, both times on road trips. VERY HOT AND VERY FRUSTRATING!

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  Wow! I didnt expect this - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By siDeswiper - August 24 - 10:00 am

  I was one of the first buyers of this Touareg and I love this car. The drive has a totally smooth feel to it. This includes smooth suspension and smooth acceleration. This car has power! (310 horse to be exact) You can take this car up an almost vertical hill with loose dirt easily and then drive on a smooth road...SMOOTHLY. probably the only car that is this all around. The inside is totally comfortable and spacious.

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  Not Worth the Premium $$$ - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By luvmytsx - August 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought the 1.8T 5M sedan after reading extensively about the quality of the vehicles build, and its performance and features. I was unilaterally dissatisfied with the quality of this vehicle and it is not worth the "premium" price compared to other compacts. The 2 front doors rattled excessively, the rear right passenger door also rattled and the rear of the car creaked around tight turns. The dealer couldnt fix the problems and referred me to the manufacturer. The manufacturer rep. was unfriendly at best and declared that the car was within specifications although he did not disclose what they were. A letter to VWs president yielded no result.

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  some pluses; some minuses - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By leonard bloom - August 24 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a VW Passat V6 sedan two weeks ago, even though my first choice was the Infiniti G35. Honda Accords were also in the original mix. So far, the Passat has performed well but there are certain caveats; e.g., no key lock for trunk; the homelink remote transmitter does not light up in the dark; small door handles; gear shifts do not light up;fairly noisy engine.

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  1.8T is the poor mans Audi A4 - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Matt Sylte - August 24 - 10:00 am

  I really enjoy my new Jetta 1.8T GL. The tiptronic makes city driving a lot more exciting; but has no real use for highway driving. The brakes are a little splashy, but maybe Ive been driving too fast and have been using them too much. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the quality and appearance of this car. It has all the looks and features of an Audi A4, without the $35k price tag. I would buy a Jetta again.

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  Has It Changed for the Better - 2007 Volkswagen Touareg
  By bob - August 24 - 5:26 am

  I only have had my Touareg for four weeks now. It has no brake noise at all. I cant feel the transmission shift at all. There is a major difference in the power of this engine vs. the the past one tested last year. It it totally stable on the turnpike at higher speeds and it puts my Acura MDX to shame in all respects, except for the rear cargo room which I didnt need it anyway. It has a real "Euro" ride. I hope it stays this way.

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  Stressless - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sherbs - August 24 - 3:56 am

  Ive had my 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg for a little over two years, and have enjoyed every minute Ive spent in this car. It gets awesome gas milage in city and highway driving, speed, preformance, its all there. My cars reliability came into question when I discovered 35% of the parts for my car were assembled in Mexico and ~25% in the U.S. But, Im happy to say that nothing other than the breaks, a burned out tape deck (lovin the Monsoon stereo too much) and the occational oil change have put me back at the dealer.

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  Looks Good, Works Badly - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CORNJOB - August 23 - 2:03 pm

  Amazing, all of the problems Ive had with this car are echoed in this list of reviews. I bought the car three months ago and its been returned for service five times already. The last time it wouldnt shift out of 3rd gear. Im trading it in for something more reliable. The oxygen sensor, tranmission problems, mass air sensor replaced twice, non-working rear window defogger, broken cupholders, broken sunroof sliding cover. Im disgusted. This thing is a money pit. Its a beautifully designed, but badly executed vehicle. When it worked, though, it was fun to drive.