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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  the best - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By JAY - September 15 - 2:00 am

  THE BEST CAR OUT THERE IN THE MARKET TODAY BEST LOOKING TOO ! NO ONE CAN BEAT THAT

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  EVUpdate - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By WiscVWnut - September 15 - 2:00 am

  A Very high quality vehicle that is actually fun to drive for a van. Solid feel on the road makes this an excellent long distance cruiser.

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  Affordable German Luxury & Quality - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By vwguy53 - September 15 - 2:00 am

  I am amazed how much car VW offers for the money! The fit/finish and driving experience are worthy of a car twice as expensive and reliability has been first-rate. On top of that I get excellent mileage (32mpg in mixed driving) and comfort. I previously owned an A4 1.8TQ, but definitely feel the Passat is the better deal.

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  VDub scores a "9" - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By jwellsnapa - September 15 - 2:00 am

  I really enjoy driving this car, however, it takes some time for the engine to react... it is not as "peppy" as some of the other models. Also, it feels like the car is a little "lopsided" when making sharp turns. However, I would rate this car a 9, and I would definitely test drive this car when looking for a new sedan.

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  Just a test drive - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bryan1280 - September 15 - 12:03 am

  First I should say that I only test drove the car. I found the seats to be very comfortable. I love that they lay almost flat (I like to nap during lunch). Heated seats were nice. I found 6th gear to be too weak and was downshifting to go uphill on the Highway. With the turbo the car feels faster than it is, but with the torque and MPG, this is the perfect cross country car. I just think that 6th gear is only good for flat driving.

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  Amazing Car! - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By gilicata12 - September 14 - 11:03 pm

  I got my 2013 Passat TDI last week. I traded in a 2010 Mercedes E550 for it. I love my Passat more than the Benz. The ride is outstanding, some people complain of noise but I think it is more quiet than an E-class. I do a lot of suburban driving so I am kicking EPA fuel estimates out the window. I get about 40mpg city and about 48mpg highway. This car also handles better than any other car I test drove. This car beats the competition. I feel extremely safe in this car. The doors are heavy and the feel of being safe is extremely important to me. The interior design of the car just makes sense. There is a place for everything and everything is in its place. This is the best car VW has made.

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  2003 Wagon great car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By BillfromNY - September 13 - 7:06 pm

  2003 Passat GL Wagon, 5 sp MT. Heated seats and monsoon audio. Great car. My wife drove for 5 years 98,000 miles and we bought her a new 08 Passat sedan (arrest me red) with a 6 sp MT. This car is new to me since I only drove it a handful of times since 2003. Ride: Great Performance: Great Comfort: Great Safety: You feel very secure in a VW Reliability: Fine, we have a very good dealer near by that is a pleasure to deal with.

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  15,000 mi Review - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By goldshw - September 13 - 8:53 am

  I was a little reluctant to purchase a German car due to previous reports. I can truly say that my TDI is one of the best cars I have ever owned. Getting 47 mpg highway/36 mpg city. Great ride, great interior features & comfort. I love the TORQUE & six speed DSG. I highly recommend this car to anyone. I liked my Jetta TDI so much, I am buying a Golf TDI for my wife. Now with my Duramax, Jetta TDI & new Golf TDI, I am a all Diesel.

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  I love my new VW! - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Sarah - September 12 - 2:00 am

  My dads first car was a 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI that he still drives and it still runs great, so I knew exactly what I wanted when I was looking for my first car (GTI was my first choice, but a little pricey :/). First time manual driver, but the car is so forgiving and so fun once I figured it out. I test drove the Fit, Fiesta, Sonata, Focus, Nissan Versa, and Fusion. No other car in this price range even came close. You just cant beat the styling and drive of a German car. Has tons of room for the rear seats, drives solidly and quietly at 80+ on the highway, and also is really maneuverable in city traffic. Im getting about 33 mpg driving on highways about 70% of the time.

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  Best bang for the buck sporty sedan! - 2011 Volkswagen CC
  By TampaCC - September 12 - 2:00 am

  The lease ran up on my 2007 Jetta and my dealership was able to get me into a 2011 VW CC Sport for only $10 more a month so I jumped on the deal. Ive always liked the looks of the CC. It looks a lot like a Mercedes but without the Mercedes price tag. Ive only had the car about two weeks but I am loving it so far! Besides being great looking inside and out, the car is a lot of fun to drive with the 200hp turbo engine and all the amenities inside. I test drove the Acura TSX before leasing the CC, and while the Acura was very nice it just wasnt as much fun to drive. I am very happy with my decision to lease a 2011 CC. It is a very nice upgrade over my 2007 Jetta.