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:

• 

  great car...Exactly what i wanted - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rodney Hubbard - December 4 - 10:20 pm

  i like volkswagen and currently have a Jetta (2008), its in great condition. really wanted a Passat and searched around for one. a bit more expensive than i initially thought but once i checked it out money was not an issue. great car... i recommend it!

• 

  I love this car. - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Hi - December 4 - 10:00 am

  I have driven my Jetta all over the country. I absolutley love it. It has never given me a problem, its stylish and affordable. Cant go wrong.

• 

  My First impressions - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By mikedaug - December 4 - 10:00 am

  My TDI Golf has drives very well. The Diesel motor pulls the car along quite well, and is very quiet.

• 

  bad - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By scissors - December 4 - 10:00 am

  I bought a lemon that i cant lemon law. This car has 32000 miles and has been in the shop for everything but normal wear and tear. Air bags broke twice. oxygen sensor went bad twice also air pump and fuel lines. temperture sensor went once.I could go on and on. The air bags broke twice in 3 months. Do not purchase sooooooo not worth it at all.

• 

  LOVE THIS CAR - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Benzboy429 - December 4 - 10:00 am

  What can I say I got it today, and I love it

• 

  Great Car - Poor Gas Mileage - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By hzolla - December 4 - 10:00 am

  Ive been driving my Passat for 6 months now and really enjoy it. The Passat is quiet and has adequate pick up. I have experienced no quality or mechanical problems at all. I test drove the Volvo V70 and Audi A6 & A4 wagon and it was clear to me then, as it is now, that the best value amongst these is the VW. My only complaint is below - Gas Mileage.

• 

  Satisfied - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mauricio_lorenzetti - December 4 - 10:00 am

  It is a great sport car with right size and powerful engine

• 

  Time will tell........ - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By thebondman - December 4 - 10:00 am

  Im a new owner and looking forward to leaving an update in a few months. I have the leather (very nice) package with the Monsoon Sound, ESP, etc. Excellent acceleration and the handling is crisp.

• 

  Get one if you still can! - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By ttocsffej - December 3 - 10:16 pm

  Torque is the name of the game and it gets very addictive! Our 2005 Volkswagen Passat GLS TDI is our first diesel vehicle, and certainly not the last. Weve owned three other Passats, including the 1.8T (manual and tip) and W8 versions, I can say the TDI / tiptronic combination is by far the best and happiest marriage of fuel economy and power in this vehicle. But the EPA rating of 27/38 is a little misleading. Weve never gotten less than 30 mpg average in town, however, weve yet to get more than 37 mpg in 100% highway driving. 32-34 mpg mixed is average, partly because this baby hums along so quietly at 80 mph / 2,350 rpm! 65 mph yields best mpgs. I have had zero issues / problems at 10K miles! TDI is gone after 2005; get one now if you can find it!

• 

  Great Economy Car! - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By DN - December 3 - 9:53 am

  We purchased our 01 Beetle TDI for the sole purpose of wanting a car that was great on fuel and have been relatively happy with it. Its by no means a luxury car. Its loud on the highway, but great on gas. We average mid-upper 30s in the city and upper 40s on the highway. We did manage to squeeze out 54 mpg on the way out to Nevada last summer. I would recommend this car for the econo minded person.