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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  VW should rename the Eos to "ET 2.0" - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Oasis - November 6 - 2:23 pm

  Driving the VW Eos 2.0T DSG 6 sp is a lot of fun. The first thing I liked was the sun roof day or night I could look out at the stars or the clouds and trees. I was surprised that my Eos got 32 mpg and the passing power was so brisk I never experienced that type of passing power before. I also enjoy the fact I can listen to MP3s and the compass is a plus. Electric seats especially the height adjustment made me happy. The roof, what can I say I live in Florida and have the roof down most of the time just turn on the air conditioner for comfort. Last of all some advice. The Eos needs to have a home, a garage, be washed every other week and always use premium gas.

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  New Beetle "Flint Edition" Convertible - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By steve645 - November 6 - 8:00 am

  This car is fun to drive. Its easy on the wallet when it comes to the gas pump. It is roomy enough for two adults or two adults and two kids under 5 feet tall (rear seat). I have only had it for three weeks, but it seems like a good choice for a sub-compact. If they wouldve had the turbo diesel, we wouldve gotten it.

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  After Many Test Drives: The Winner! - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By J.S. Sumner - November 5 - 5:33 pm

  My son and I test drove eight different cars in the $20,000 to $25,000 price range and we both felt that hands down, the 4-door GTI was the winner. Many auto magazines felt the same. The quality inside and out, the safety (me), and the performance (him) won us over. I have owned German performance cars and this GTI has many of those factors. The DSG transmission is a major advancement in performance and to be in a car at this price point is hard to believe. Graduation from college has come and gone and this GTI will be with my son for many fun filled and safe years to come.

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  Glad I Listened To My Wife... - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By OregonDan - November 5 - 10:00 am

  One of few times Ill admit my wife made the right choice...the other marrying me. Weighed it against the Accord & Camry, but wife fell in love with the cars interior & exterior. I personally enjoy the option of either shifting or leaving it in automatic shifter mode (VW Triptronic thingy)... especially on Daddy & Daughter day & I have to reach back while driving. The Passat get surprisingly good mileage for how I drive, usually "above" the speed limit. No problems whatsoever with the car. Also appreciate the built-in back shading for our child and helps keep the car cooler here in Central CA. Its nice having a car you feel good about getting in to

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  A drivers car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By physics dude - November 5 - 10:00 am

  Its a great car. Much more fun to drive than the Accord or Camry (I test drove both). The engine is more powerful than the 4-cyl in either of those cars (horsepower does not tell the whole story), and the car is more solid and has better build quality as well. I have about 10K on the car and have had no reliability problems whatsoever. Its a car you can feel good about owning- more than just trasportation, more fun to own than a Japanese car.

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  Edmunds sucks, but this car doesnt - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By pwu2005 - November 5 - 10:00 am

  Why does Edmunds suck? Because they relentlessly bash American cars on such petty issues as interior materials and fail to take into account the what you save when you buy an American car (due to incentives). I love my Jetta, but Edmunds has gone overboard with their review of it. "Each Jetta is assembled with care!" "Build quality is superb!" Give me a break. They fail to take into account this cars past reliability issues, when they rehash those issues time and time again for every American car they review. Let me just say that my Jetta is a joy to drive with the powerful and fun 1.8T, but is sometimes sluggish off the bat and has a rattly dashboard.

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  The Answer to Your Car Question - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jason - November 4 - 7:00 pm

  My Jetta TDI is the alternative to my F-150 Supercrew. It is a wonderful car. I went back and forth between another 4-cyl. Accord and the Jetta TDI. My first VW is just as intuitive, but sportier and a great driving value, compared to the wonderful Accord. I have put 10,000 miles on it in three months averaging 41 mpg for city and driving. I average 43 mpg at 75-80 mph, and 37 mpg at 85-90 mph. I get 50 mpg at 60-65 mph occasionally. Middle to high 40s mpg is very realistic. Everyone asks me what I think, I tell them, "I would have bought it a long time ago, if I would have known then what I know now." After all, I bought two of them. Package 2 w/ rear airbags, diesel automatics.

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  The Jetta Wolfsburg Rocks - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kathy O - November 4 - 1:36 pm

  I looked at a lot of cars, and decided that the Jetta Wolfsburg Edition was the one for me. It has plenty of punch, a quality interior, and all the right extras. I didnt think I could get something so solid for what I was looking to spend. I love my VW.

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  Mercedes vs. Phaeton - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Marlene - November 4 - 10:03 am

  My husband and I have owned Mercedes in the past. We test drove the Phaeton a month after leasing our Toureag. We found it to be far superior to the Mercedes in handling, comfort, room, GPS system easier to use and comparable in price. We were more comfortable with the sales personel at VW and service was much more accommodating. Love it, hope to never have to go back to a Mercedes

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  A True REVIEW - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lovemyjetta4 - November 4 - 12:10 am

  I just Bought My 2001 Volkswagen Jetta VR6 GLX it has 173,000 miles, usually this many miles will scare a typical buyer away. this car has been nothing but reliable, it does have a little sputter problem but im willing to fix this car. I came from a Saturn L200 and it was way more expensive than this car to fix (MOST PARTS) When most people buy a Volkswagen or ANY import for this matter, they think they can run the crap out of it and not have to repair it. Germans are GENIUS Engineers and this is my 3rd Jetta since 18 and im sorry, but NOTHING beats a VW. they do have issues but ALL cars do, usually anyone complains when they have to spend money. for any new buyer dont be afraid of VWs