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:

• 

  Fantastic car! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By gslippy - July 27 - 10:00 am

  This is the best all-around car Ive ever owned. VW has gotten the formula just right for this level of vehicle. I shopped for quality, but as a very tall driver (67"), I needed headroom, too. Nothing surpasses the Beetle in that area, but has plenty. I found the Jetta too small. The 30-valve V6 is fantastic. I found the 1.8T to require some retraining to deal with the power surge and slight turbo whine. The V6 gave me a much smoother car without the care and feeding required for a turbo. The Passats concern for safety is impressive, with airbags everywhere. Overall, Volkswagens attention to details in this vehicle is tremendous.

• 

  fun to drive!! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AlexR - July 27 - 10:00 am

  I have had my GLS 1.8t for r week now, I and I love it. The power from the turbo is great, and the tiptronic tranny is fun to use, and useful. Even though I am still in the break in period, I have tested the power a few times.

• 

  Should you get a Jetta or a Civic? - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By RLuvsVWbuddy - July 27 - 10:00 am

  I was beginnig to think that I had made a mistake by buying this car until I saw my neighbors Civic. She had many more problems than I did... and more serious ones. I know what youre thinking: Hes not objective because he owns a Jetta. My answer to this is: I moved to a new country and again I was faced with the decision of which car to buy. After lots of research through many sources I arrived at the same conclusion: Get the Jetta before the Civic. It may be a little more expensive but you get a whole lot for that small difference.

• 

  Great So Far! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Angela Battle - July 27 - 7:00 am

  My husband and I researched and drove every vehicle in this class. In our opinion, the Tiguan is simply the better vehicle all the way around. Build quality, styling, design, interior layout, handling, braking and acceleration (the turbo was smooth and peppy) are all excellent.

• 

  Fun, Thrifty, Reliable - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dbenhur - July 25 - 4:00 pm

  I live in the hilly contryside of the Oregon coast and my TDI Jetta is a pleasure to own and drive. It is reliable and gets 45-48 mpg on my daily 90 mile commute. It has plenty of pick up and low-end torque and handles great through hills and in wet and light snow. I have never had a problem with it in two years and 50,000 miles of ownership.

• 

  2017 VW GLI: Civility with a killer instinct - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jason S. Davis - July 23 - 9:34 pm

  This car is hungry; truly in an almost uncivilized way...to be driven. The 210 hp TSI engine growls like it just wants more road to chew. The cornering is effortless and quick and the DSG gearing leaves cars in the rear view mirror at an alarming rate. The SE package is the only trim offering this year but valued well with every 2016 SEL amenity sans some front lighting features. Nod to Fender and VW for and even more remarkable sounding stereo then my previous 2012 Fender system. Two wishes: tighter steering although there is much to be said for the nimble nature of the current set-up. Also, versus my 2012 Jetta TDI, I have lost around 29 lb-ft torque. Enter the GLI horse power, enter my grin and the clamouring for the lost torque is a long distant memory (sort of like the car that could have been behind me just a second ago). Bottom line: Pick a nice day and go for a test drive...be prepared for the "giddy up" and to enjoy yourself.

• 

  Sweeeet... - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jaw540i - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I just graduated college, so I wanted the best bang for my buck without killin myself. All my research (which is what I do for a living!) lead to the GLI. You cannot buy a quicker, meaner car with so much luxury for less that $30,000. Mine was $27,000, completely loaded (spoiler and changer too) which compares nice to $37,000 for a comparable BMW 330i. All power and performance numbers are under reported as I can get 0-60 in 6.9sec vs the reported 7.9sec!

• 

  From a Focus to a Golf....... - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Dave H - July 23 - 7:53 am

  I purchased the 2010 Golf as a replacement for a 2006 Ford Focus. Going from the little Ford to the Golf is the difference between night and day. More power, better ride, tighter feel on the road - I mean really..... its a whole different car. I wanted a three door hatchback so that meant either a Yaris, an Accent or the Golf. There is no comparison between the three cars - The Golf is the clear winner even though it costs more and gets less miles per gallon. The VW is just simply a much better value for the money.

• 

  Excellent Car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Neil - July 22 - 5:16 am

  I bought a 2010 Jetta Sportwagen Diesel with 6 speed Std. Transmission in Nov. 2009. I was looking for a vehicle that a) Good for carrying a bicycle (my hobby) b) Good fuel economy c) Fun to drive. This car is very good on all counts and no problems so far.

• 

  Just bought a 03 VW GTI VR6... - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By VWLuv - July 21 - 12:40 am

  Well I just purchased a 2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 and I must say so far this is the best car Ive ever owned. I just bought it Tuesday of this week and have only driven it for two days but before this car I was driving a 2000 VW Golf and other than the engine and the 6th gear its pretty much the same car as I had before(with a bunch more power!!!). I honestly plan on keeping this car for a very long time like my Golf (which met its untimely demise when a Harley ran a red light a totaled it). Excellent car all around.