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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  I Love It! - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tfs - September 11 - 6:23 pm

  This is the seventh VW I have owned in my life and it has been the best handling, and most fun to drive of the lot of them. The seat, 6 speed gear box and 18" tires make it a blast to drive in the tight twisty country roads here in Wisconsin. I did get a second set of tires for the long winter months here and it still handles the road fine.

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  Worth a look and test drive - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Vincent - September 11 - 4:38 pm

  I test drove a Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla and the Jetta. At the end, I really preferred the Jetta. The overall package of the SEL 1.8T fit what I wanted. The size was perfect, the MPG was great and the car even has some get up and go in sport mode. The Jettas over all feel of fit/finish was great. The Jetta just felt more solid and well put together. I know the Jetta is assembled in Mexico. But they do one heck of a good job at putting them together!. Driving the car, it felt more connected to the road, yet isolated. I am going to call the Jetta a poor mans Mercedes or BMW. I know reliability is in question. I just liked the car so much and felt more satisfied with the car I was willing to take a leap. Take a test drive and you will see what I mean.

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  German engineering at its best - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Paladin750 - September 9 - 2:00 am

  If you want basically and AUDI A4 with more interior room and about $6000 to $8000 less sticker price, this is your car. This is my second VW and by far the best. The Passat class is not prone to all the little bugs and recalls of the jettas and the new beetles. Its basically a mid-size german sports sedan for less than $25,000. Who could ask for more?

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  Wolf in Sheeps Clothing - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ironjasper - September 9 - 2:00 am

  With a 2 year old son, and a big dog, I needed a wagon, and Im very glad I decided on the Jetta. My car has 8000 miles on it, and NO problems what so ever (knock on wood)... Theres lots of room in the cargo area, and the cars fun to drive. Plus it gets 31 mpg on the highway. NO regrets.

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  ITS A TON OF FUN - SOLID PERFORMER - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By PALAW2004 - September 9 - 2:00 am

  BOUGHT AS CAR FOR WEEKEND FUN, IT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY GREAT. BACK SEAT IS FINE FOR KIDS. HEATED FRONT SEATS ARE EXCELLENT. 5 SPEED MANUAL TURBO PROVIDES PLENTY OF PUNCH. MONSOON SOUND IS ALSO EXCELLENT. I GET MORE SATISFACTION FROM DRIVING THIS BEETLE THAN MY OTHER GERMAN CAR (BMW). IF YOU WANT TO GET AWAY FROM DRIVNG LARGE SUV TYPE VEHICLES AND WANT TOP DOWN FUN, DONT MISS THIS TRYING THIS MODEL. YOU WONT BE SORRY.

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  Awesome SUV - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By mike - September 8 - 2:40 pm

  After owning 3 Jeep Grand Cherokees, a BMW X-5 and a Mercedes M-350 and having driven just about every other SUV on the planet, yes, including Lexus, Range Rover, Toyotas and Infinities, I can honestly say, they just dont compare to my 05 V-8 Touareg with respect to style, comfort and performance. Another nice thing is they are relatively new which means fewer on the road and still have, for the time being a disticnt uniqeness. Do yourself a favor and take one for a drive before wasting money on a more expensive less enjoyable SUV.

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  Love this car - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jcohio - September 7 - 10:13 am

  With gas close to $4 a gallon, I decided it was time to part company with my SUV, so while at a local area VW Dealer picking up my sonÂ’s Rabbit, I took a look at the Â’09 TDI sedan. Shopped around for about a month and then went back and purchased one. I have one of the original ones sent out to the dealers as a preview, white minus the green leaf decals, with their new outstanding automatic transmission. I couldnÂ’t be happier with this car, great mileage, 36 mpg city, and it handle like a true euro built driving machine. By the way, after only 2,500 miles the fuel mileage should improve once the engine is broke in.

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  Happy Driver in Florida - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Richard Huggler - September 7 - 10:00 am

  After breaking in the vehicle, the wife and I took the bug on a 6,000 mile ride to Calif and many parts West. No problems, Average 50 mpg. Great trip ! We think we will do it again.

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  Golf is a much better car than the Jetta - 2016 Volkswagen Golf
  By Sam Suen - September 6 - 7:00 pm

  The basic S model in the 4 door with cloth interior is a great value. The beige interior with brushed aluminum trim looks very upscale and the materials feel expensive. The 15 inch wheel contribute greatly to ride comfort over the broken pavement and pot holes and the car still tracked well. It feels solid and well put together. Its quiet and smooth and easy to see out of. I drove the Jetta Sport in a five speed and I was disappointed. That particular Jetta also seems to have been abused as a demo so it might not be representative. Then I drove the Golf 6 speed auto and what a difference. If VW offered a 6 speed manual in the TSI I would have no hesitation in buying one. As it were, I am very tempted with the 6 speed auto. The paddle shifter on the steering wheel gave it a sporting touch and they also worked very well. Everything about the car is spot on!

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  Get one if you can - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By mkfarms - September 6 - 12:50 pm

  We bought this car new, after the dealer went high and low trying to find one. It has 175000 miles on it and is by far the lowest-cost joy of a car we have ever owned. Going for 300,000+! Only the two-seat Honda Insight tops it for freeway-driving economy and this has no multi-thousand- dollar battery battery bank overhauls looming in the future!