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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  Best GTI Ever - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By thom - March 26 - 4:30 pm

  I think the GTI is very versatile. It is great at running around town in traffic, etc, and it fantastic fun when no one else is around and you "open" it up. It loves to go fast! The quality of the interior is awesome. It is hard to believe you can get such a great car at this price to me.

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  2004 VW Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Carrie Rios - March 26 - 10:03 am

  My car has been in the shop for 64 days now. the 2nd field engineer is being sent out to evaluate the situation. I have been told on 3 separate occasions my car is repaired and ready to pick up and when I get there is does not start. AC has been an issue since day 1. Alignment has also. I am not a happy VW Touareg owner!

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  I love my GTI - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By fussa - March 26 - 10:00 am

  This car has been everything Ive hoped it would be.

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  Great Car - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By jeepsterk6 - March 26 - 10:00 am

  Great Car! Lots of power, and the VR6 does not over-power the front wheels as the 1.8 tends to do. Reliable, have had one problem which was with the ignition coils. This was a general recall and replaced under warranty. Great car in the snow. This car is really designed for 2 people, even 3 adults have a hard time in this car. Overall an excellent choice for a quick, sporty, personal luxury vehicle.

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  Do NOT buy this car!!! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By silverbbugboi00 - March 26 - 10:00 am

  Buying this car was probably the biggest mistake Ive made. The day I drove it off the lot, nothing but problems. The check engine light was always on, the car had trouble starting EVERY morning, it ate TONS of oil, over a quart every 1,000 miles, the a\c made the entire car shake, and if you did use it, the vents would stink for several days afterward, door handles peeled, sunroof leaked, too much to list here so Ill stop here.

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  WORTH THE MONEY - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By HOPE - March 26 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS AN EXCELLENT CAR FOR BOTH DRIVING AND PASSENGER RIDING. IT IS VERY SMOOTH AND QUIET. IT HAS A GREAT AUDIO SYSTEM AND EASY TO USE AND REACH BECAUSE OF THE DIALS ALSO BEING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS SAFER TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN BECAUSE OF THE ASR THAT IS AVAILABLE. THE CARGO SPACE IN THE WAGON GIVE YOU PLENTY OF ROOM FOR TRAVEL STORAGE AND EVERYDAY USE.

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  I love this car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By amberrae - March 26 - 10:00 am

  I test drove this car and many others before finally making a decision. I loved the way it handles, all of the security and safety options. I would recommend this car to ANYONE. and I actually have a few friends who have since purchased the same car.

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  Dont buy this car - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kngofsorrow247 - March 26 - 10:00 am

  I bought my VW Jetta 2months ago. Had problems first month. Huge vibration in cabin, pedals, and steering wheeel when in gear. Transmision shifting problems. Car feeling like its gonna die any minute now. No help from Stuart Volkswagen, or Schumacher vw in Wst Palm. Was told that nothing was wrong with car. sent defect notice to manufact. rep. found problem during last fix attempt (what a surprise) after a day without a car...problem is still there. Dont buy this car if you want reliability. Dont be deceived by a great first drive. Problems come after a month! Lemon law is the only way to get answers from dealer.

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  Beetle, a Classic! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Terdan - March 26 - 10:00 am

  Great car!

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  Poor Mans Audi - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Frizz - March 25 - 10:36 pm

  Theres no better sedan for the money. I was going to buy an A6, but after checking out the Passat and the Audi side by side at an auto show, I decided to save 10k and get essentially the same car. Compare this interior with anything under $50,000- seriously. It will make you want to cry if you have to drive a Taurus or Malibu, and for the record, Im a Ford fan. The build quality is superior, and Ive had precisely zero problems in 3 years. A truly great car!