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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  Great MPG and Fun to Drive! - 2009 Volkswagen GTI
  By Campbell - August 8 - 7:30 am

  We needed to upsize from my 2 seater to something our growing family. The VW can hold 5 for lunch or 2 adults and 2 kids comfortably. My commute is 35 miles each way, this thing is great for moving through traffic on the freeway. It has a quiet interior and solid feel. The ride is superb. While some of the competition is stiffer and rolls less, that is a very low percentage of the real world driving needs. It is fun to drive in a nicely composed package.

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  Great fun - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Dan W - August 8 - 12:03 am

  Ive put almost 2000 m. on my GTI. The more I drive it, the more I like it. Its great fun. VW should be applauded for building a terrific car for reasonable $. There is really no competition for the GTI, except for its cousin, the Audi A3. The GTI is quick and handles great; it even sounds wonderful - similar to a Honda VTEC at high rpm and it has a low growl when you give it some gas at low rpm. The rest of the time, its quiet, as it should be. The build quality is excellent, too. The Civic Si, is no match for the VW in every day driving. The VW has much more low/mid range torque. Its a joy to drive and the Civic would be a chore. And, the GTIs hatchback design is much more practical.

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  TDI Power - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TDI13 - August 7 - 6:16 pm

  I purchased this car last year from the orginal owner with just over 100,000 miles on it. I have put 35,000 trouble free miles on it in the past year and I love it... Great power, reliability and cant forget fuel economy. At an aveage of 50 mpg it pays for itself. I have had no problems to speak of, and have only needed regular maintenance and had to replace the brake light switch, (common problem), and was a cheap fix.

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  R32 - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By demast - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I waited almost two years for this car to be brought to the states and it has not disappointed! This car makes you want to make up excuses to drive! The smile has not left my face since purchasing 2/04!

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  Just ordered my Phoeton - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By David Duty - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I just ordered one about 6 weeks ago and it should be here in Florida in another 6 weeks. I did have one for a full day to drive and it was WONDERFUL. Ive owned most of the other German, English, and Japanese luxury cars and I can tell you that for the money, NONE of them can touch this car. The hardest part is getting past the VW logo. Once thats done (after driving the car for about 10 minutes) then the decision is an easy one. I cant wait to get mine, David Duty Gulf Breeze, FL USA

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  Pay me now or pay me later - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By OmahaBob - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Styling and ride are fine. I cant believe the things that went wrong that I have never experienced in a car in my life. Windows(2) dropping down into the door for no reason. Both cupholders that wont work. Whats that about. Trunk release went inop for no reason. AM radio side has a range of about 2.4 miles. Mass air system not being covered by drive train warranty - but on a regular gas engine it was a recall repair. My power went down 50% because of this. $500 to repair. Stupid,stupid, stupid. Makes customer loyalty hard to consider. Other than this, I love the car. Dumb stuff hurts an otherwise nice car.

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  VW Golf TDI - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By NNGG - August 7 - 10:00 am

  This car came with all the options except leather. On a drive from Florida to Maine, it got 50 miles to the gallon. I can fit a racing bike in the back without putting the seats down. Tons of cargo room. Best value for the $.

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  Volkswagen Golf GL - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By Chris Flores - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Excellent car. Well thought out design, and ergonomics. Very good balance with engine size and size of the car. Excellent accelerating power. Compared to a Honda Civic, it handles much better on the road.

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  My Unreliable Jetta - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JDF - August 7 - 10:00 am

  My Jetta was extremely unreliable. I serviced it according to the manual but still had my fuel tank replaced at 0 miles before I could even pick it up. My engine was rebuilt at 60,000 miles. My power windows fell down into the door and a piece that holds the window up was replaced. Two plastic pieces kept falling out of my sunroof. The check engine light was always on and numerous O2 sensors were replaced. The final straw was when my transmission went out at 107,000 miles and the cost to replace it was $3200. I traded it in for a Mazda.

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  Touareg LEMON - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By pe02 - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a V6 Touareg last October and have had MULTIPLE problems with it. The keyless entry system does not always work. The homelink has been replaced, the computer board for the convenience menu failed. The brakes sound like an 18 wheeler. I had $400. mudflaps put on that are now stained from the bolts that hold them on that have rusted. The radio has a software problem that I am told that VW has no answers for and the CD player freezes at various tomes and you cannot get the cd out. I have contacted VW many times with no response. DO NOT BUY A VW, THEY DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR LEMONS