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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  Solid, Reliable Car - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By Justin - June 4 - 2:12 am

  I have now owned my Passat for nearly 5 years now. I have to say that this car has been very reliable. I have had no maintanance issues, there have been a couple recalls but for very minor things that I would have never noticed had I never received anything in the mail. I truly recommend this car for someone who wants something that is reliable, roomy, and affordable.

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  WOULD NOT WISH THIS CAR ON MY WORST ENEMY! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By theandyn - June 3 - 8:29 pm

  I bought this car 5 years ago after I graduated high school to have a more reliable car for driving back and forth to college. I have literally had this car in the shop for something new needing to be fixed every single month. I had a 96 mustang before this and it had about 50,000 more miles on it and I never ONCE had it in the shop for anything but oil changes. Not to mention, everything is TWICE as expensive to fix because its a foreign car This car has been my worst nightmare and I just got done paying on it. Now the transmission is about to go and now I am forced to buy another car instead of having the luxury of no car payment. If you want something to last, please do NOT buy this car!

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  CC lot of car for the money - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By marty - June 2 - 12:33 pm

  Great value,Fun to drive. Very comfortable, feels like a sports car Great pick up for a 4 cylinder.

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  Forget the Bimmer, Go for the Passat - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dan - June 2 - 1:46 am

  This is my 3rd Passat, and the absolute best. The quality is exceptional, the ride comfortable, and the 3.6L engine a gem. With the Luxury package #2 and wood trim interior, Ill compare this to any BMW, MB, or Infiniti! And, for many thousands less!! You gotta give the Passat a look, youll be overwhelmed with the quality. Also, I regularly get 30-31+ MPG on the road.

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  Good mileage...defective interior parts. - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Thebtls - June 1 - 10:00 am

  Interior is covered in a plastic like material that peals off. If if wasnt for the 43 MPG I would turn it loose. The mileage is the only redeaming feature. Arm Rest latch has broken 3 times, cost $58 to fix at dealer cost...so that remains unfixed. Factory car mats are garbage. Cup holders can not be used at all. If you do use the one in the console, it cracks...all four are cracked now. If you spill coke or coffee, it eats away the finish on the cups...

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  Perfect balance - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Rivers - June 1 - 10:00 am

  I tested the X-5, Cayenne V6, MDX, Honda Pilot, Lexus 330 and decided the the Touareg was the overall best V6 suv out there. The interiors are Jaguar/Bentley quality. Great attention to detail and comfort. The v- 6 has enough power for the daily routine. The color selection is better than any other suv out there. The ride and handling are superior. I considered the X5 but thought the ride was too rough and the suv too small inside. The pricing is ridiculous. The Cayenne v-6 is a joke. Go for the V8 if you have to have the Porsche logo. As for the japanese cars, I just dont like the feel and interiors.

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  dissapointed - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By maukahale - June 1 - 10:00 am

  nice from far but far from nice. im appalled at the 8.5 mpg im getting. brakes constantly wail, clunk on up shift or downshift, leather stiching pulling apart at 3,500 miles and the car has a chime or buzzer for everything, have to pull the fuses to shut it up. should have kept my audi allroad...

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  Great Car! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By af030 - June 1 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my jetta for almost two years now, and have put 27000 miles on it. I commute a great distance every day and have experienced no problems with it. The only thing I have noticed is that the back window causes a loud wind noise when it is rolled down. The CPU light came on one time, but have never seen it again.I am not understanding why anyone else could have experienced so many problems with it. It definately has the feel of a luxery vehicle.

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  Turbo Jetta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By chemtw - June 1 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for almost two years. It has been great. Its fast, passing power is there when needed. Great handling.

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  Very pleased Jetta Owner - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JVCINLV - June 1 - 5:10 am

  Well I bought this car a few months ago and so far I am very pleased with it. It is the first car I have owned in a long time that I can actually say is fun to drive.