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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  Be Careful - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Disappointed NJ - January 29 - 10:00 am

  Leased this vehicle for 36 months and had to have dealer buy it back after only 3 months.Lost alot of money on this car.Be very careful.VW Cust Service is horrible. I had an allergic reation to something in the interior of the car. Awful smell started coming from interior roof materials, especially when sun had been beating down on car. Eyelids began burning severly and eyelids turned brown.Also began to happen to my husband,when he started driving car.Velour seat materials are suspect also for allergic reation.I now have a 2003 Acura Tl and have no allergic reations whatsoever. I know this is a strange story, but very true. Just be careful.

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  Luv It - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SanFranGuy - January 29 - 10:00 am

  So far so good. I luv it. Luv the performance and gas mileage. Have had 1 problem with it and that was a humming noise from the front when you made turns. They replaced the transmission fluid with a synthetic fluid and the problem went away. There is a tech. notice on this for those of you who also have this problem. The delearship was good but their maintenence dept is the best I have ever been to. They keep you updated every 30 mins while you wait.

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  A Continuance - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By lynnurd - January 29 - 12:30 am

  Less than a year after my powertrain warranty expired, my OBD II inspection failed. Apparently my second intake air flow is screwed up (dealer said itll cost ~$500 to fix). To top it all off three days later, my blinkers went out. Its not the fuses, I can tell you that much. I am not going to get my money back on this car. Im only driving it until I can afford another car - which will be a few years. VWs stink.

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  Love It for Style and Safety - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By NLH - January 28 - 10:06 am

  While other people are choosing BMWs, my husband and I decided it was time for some fun. We are thrilled with our VW purchase. My 62" husband is plenty comfortable on short and long rides. The front seating is styled so you do not feel like you are in a compact car. When you put down the top, people cant stop smiling at you. The world is your friend. Now the key - it is much tougher than it looks. I was in an accident where the Beetle got hit from the back while at a stop, by a Bonneville traveling at 40 mph. The Bonneville was totalled. My VW and I drove away with less than $3,000 damage and no injuries. The police could not believe it. This is one sturdy car!

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  Love It! - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By NetGuy411 - January 28 - 8:00 am

  I got this car on Saturday. It is a pleasure to drive. I love having a manual transmission again. The engine is very responsive. I got 29 MPG on my first tank of gas. Why would any buy the six cylinder?

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  Excellent all around car - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Zandzaver - January 28 - 2:50 am

  Ive had the car for almost a month now and have loved every minute of it. The interior layout is simple, sophisticated, and functional. It is deceptively large on the inside, and very comfortable. The drive is much like an entry level sports car, smooth, quick, and tight. Fuel economy could stand to be a bit better, but then again, you gotta pay to play. Also, Ive experienced better than advertised gas mileage on the highway in my car.

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  An Overall Great Car - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Robert - January 27 - 8:10 pm

  VW customer service is less than stellar, however for the car itself, my 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T is a beautiful, fun to drive car. I got rid of my 2005 Mercedes C230K for more room in the back. The quality is just as good as Mercedes and for a lot less money.

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  Good Value for the Price - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Matt - January 27 - 6:50 am

  Ive owned this car for about five months and since then Ive put on 8,000 trouble-free miles. Its a solid car with enough power for daily driving and its interior build quality is far nicer than many cars in its price class. The rear hatch is somewhat smaller than my previous generation Golf, but VW made up for it by providing a roomier backseat. For the price, the standard safety features, power/heated seats, sunroof, and electronic stabilization are hard to beat.

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  Excellent Car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jerry Rosen - January 25 - 1:33 pm

  This is my favorite car in over 30 years of driving. It has all the benefits of a wagon, yet drives like a sporty sedan. It has great mid speed acceleration, downshift to 4th or 3rd, floor it and you can, pass almost anything. It looks great, very European and the interior is very high class for a car in that price range. The gas mileage is so-so in city driving, but cruising at 75mph you can go 400 miles before gasing. I have had for 42,000 miles and have only brought it in for scheduled maintenance. Its reliable, sporty, looks great and practical, what more could you want.

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  Hesitation - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lynne - January 25 - 1:06 pm

  I am experiencing the hesitation too - to the point that I have almost been hit a few times. So now I wait and not try to cut in traffic.