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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  Affordable Fun - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By Louie1 - May 29 - 10:00 am

  Great little car - sharp looking red with a black top and black leather interior (very hot in the summer). The extra paid for the GLX is worth it! I purchased the vehicle while living in the mountains - perfect handling on those curvy mountain roads. However, now Im back in the big city and feel intimidated in my small five-speed. Back to an SUV for me!

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  German Engineering? Yea right!!!! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By goingback2 - May 29 - 10:00 am

  I dont even know where to begin...At 10000 miles a brake light switch went out not covered under warranty! Then at 25000 battery went dead and thanks to VW for the special size, that was a nice $200 bill(again not under warranty). I have battled with the power window switches that are tempermental, the auto door lock at 7mph that works half the time, the drivers side window that doesnt want to go up, the gas door that wont latch and have I mentioned the horrible rattling and vibration at any speed over 25mph? The interior pieces are notorious for falling off. This car turned to junk after 6 months of ownership.

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  Nice Test Drive - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By First_Time_VW - May 29 - 10:00 am

  I just took a test drive in a new Jetta tonight. I was impressed with how many features come standard; it took while for the saleperson to show me all the controls and how to use them. The one I drove had leather, sunroof, and the Monsoon system, as well as the Cold Weather Package. The ride was much better than I expected. The 6-speed manual was very smooth to shift, and the engine had decent power. Overall, it was a much better ride than my current vehicle (an old Pontiac Grand Prix). Although Im primarily interested in the GTI VR6, Id seriously consider a Jetta now.

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  Though not perfect.... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By New York - May 29 - 10:00 am

  I got mine 2003 model a week ago. I was very satisfied until I heard a buzzing sound around 2500RPM coming from the engine bay. The sound was so loud that I had to shift before I reach 25000 mark. So I took to the dealer, they started looking for the sound source for couple of minites and found that the oil pan was loose. After a simple tight, the sound was gone....

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  Looking Good in My Lady Bug! - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ladybug - May 29 - 12:40 am

  I love my chick car. I look good in it. Taking the top down is awesome in the warm weather, and it drives well in the winter too. It has impressive head-room and I can almost stand up on the floor of the backseat. The trunk is tiny, but who cares? Put your groceries on the passenger seat. Ive had it for about a year now and have had no mechanical issues at all, gas efficiency is pretty average, and its overall pretty low maintenance.

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  Certified Preowned. - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Chris DeLUCA - May 28 - 11:43 pm

  Very happy with car. Only had it for a week. But we bought it as a certified preowned vehichle with only 32k miles. Car runs great and is a lot of fun to drive. We also recieved the manufactorers warranty, and an addition CPO warranty up to 74,000 miles. Great deal, along with 2.9% financing through VW credit.

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  4Speed, I dont think so! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By marisa - May 28 - 5:00 pm

  Have had the car for 8mo. Has gone through the winter, handles very well. A solid heavy car. I feel very safe. Radio area is confusing, everything is right there. Screen is HUGE sound is great. The front seats are height adjustable, great for tall or short people. Seats easy to clean as they are leather very important with kids. There is a britex wizard car seat in the middle and my husband who is 511 has plenty of room to adjust his seat back. Gas tank great. From Groton CT to Windham ME takes half a tank 250mi. Trunk is huge. Fits a play pen and full size stroller and items on either side of the stroller. Fits a set of suit cases in trunk. I have no problem buying another one if this one is crashed.

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  GTI in the true poket rocket - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By Serge - May 27 - 9:53 pm

  The car is very fun to drive one the autocross track as well as on the street. It has plenty of torque for the car this size, it is easy to modify, and it looks like a true sport compact.

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  Wish I Hadnt - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By GirlyGirl - May 26 - 5:56 pm

  Bought an SEL with Rear Entertainment to haul family of 6 around. Found it more comfortable than the Odyssey and was swayed by the power rear windows and dual TVs - 2 things Honda doesnt offer. 3rd row is horribly uncomfortable, cheap interior, and RES system is a nightmare to operate. The radio was replaced within 8 months of owning it and it rattles constantly. The gas mileage is awful for a mini- van. Ive tried to get rid of it 2x but with the finance specials VW keeps running, Im stuck.

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  ear to ear - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By orb526 - May 26 - 10:00 am

  What can I say? I look forward to every minute behind the wheel. It is the best driving experience for 30k. Oh and did I metion the sound? Who needs a stereo?