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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  Great car, with a few "buts" - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By johnnyboy - April 19 - 10:00 am

  We chose this car over competitors like the Maxima, Camry, and Chrysler 300M. But in terms of interior features, it is basically an Audi A6 that costs way way less. Overall, we love the car. It is fun to drive, and you really feel in control (maybe too much in control). It also looks beautiful... theres nothing cheap about its build quality/materials. The only major downside, to our huge disappointment, is its high fuel comsumption (lets just say that the government ratings lied). VW really could do a lot better in this department in this day and age. Still, the car is awesome and definitely worth its money.

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  Outstanding car - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By crazknuck - April 19 - 10:00 am

  This car is outstanding, I have been a VW owner since 1996 owning a 1990 GTI 16V, 1999 GTI VR6 and now my R32! After reading about the car I thought it was too good to be true, after buying it I was really impressed. It is quick, nimble, extremely fun to drive, very comfortable even though they are racing seats, extremely well built. Nothing seems out of place. Wheels and tire combo are perfect they hug the road very well.

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  Exceptional - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Canuck55 - April 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive had MBs, BMWs, Lexus and Jags. This is the best by far.

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  everything breaks or gets stolen - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By antennastealee - April 19 - 10:00 am

  Everything inside breaks...glove compartment, rear ash tray, cupholder, and the design of the mirror knob is poor. If there are multiple drivers who are different hights and have to change the mirror, too much handling will break it.

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  Bad News! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By onebadc4 - April 19 - 10:00 am

  Spent over 20 days in the shop first 2 mos. DONT BUY THIS SUV. Heres a list: Broken A.C.;broken stereo; door handles stick open;inside cargo hatch handle broke apart;clock above windshield malfunction;cruise control suddenly shuts off when towing; remote keychain adjusted 3times; loud noise coming from AC vent; MOST OF ALL the V8 has an "inherent" shaking problem they cant fix. You actually shake when sitting in the thing parked with the engine running. Absolutely unacceptable $46,000. VW already paid one of my car payments for the inconvenience. Its going back in the shop again for a squeaky steering wheel. Can you say class action lawsuit?

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  VW PASSAT 04-SSSWEET - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By EHONDO3 - April 19 - 10:00 am

  CAR IS VERY FUN TO DRIVE,WILL JUST GET UP AND GO, RUNS GREAT FOR A 4 CYL. AUTO. HAD MY SHARE OF SHIFTING GEARS. IF YOU FEEL LIKE SHIFTING YOU CAN WITH THE TIP-TRONIC TRANS. I GOT THE BLUE/SILVER PAINT-BEAUTIFUL, A REAL HEAD TURNER. 1ST GERMAN CAR, BIG DIFFERANCE BETWEEN HONDAS,TOYOTAS. WELL MADE CAR, HAD IT 3-MONTHS LOVE-IT. SO FAR SO GOOD.DRIVE ONE BEFORE YOU BUY.

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  Nice but lots of trips to the Dealer - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By jpbdds - April 19 - 10:00 am

  Nice car to drive. However, has been to the VW dealer four times in the two months I have owned it. MIL for gas cap. Replace knock sensor. Change rear interior panel to eliminate rattle/squeak. Door lock/interior light problem that is hard to track down - may require several trips to find the problem. Dealer is responsive but it is a hassle to keep going back so often.

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  What a car! - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By Terence Underwood - April 19 - 12:59 am

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  Practical sport - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By fh - April 18 - 11:10 am

  Ive had this car for one year. Fun car to drive, and its utility has been important to me. The gas mileage is reasonable for the engine performance as well. Excellent fit and finish, and only one questionable item in terms of any defect, which has not been a problem. I wanted a car with a sunroof, still having reasonable headroom. That put the Hondas (Civic and Accord coupes) out of contention, by comparison.

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  German sports sedan at a very good price - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JohnnyV1 - April 17 - 11:26 pm

  I was in the market for a used Audi/BMW but I decided to buy a new Wolfsburg Jetta instead. I have to say that I am not disappointed in the decision because the car is very fun to drive. The shifting action with the manual is very clean and precise. The engine makes a lot of power when you stomp on the gas or you can make it conserve fuel if you baby the accelerator and keep a conservative shift pattern. Coming from an economy car, this Jetta feels very tight when going around corners or merging into traffic. I do have a few gripes. The sunroof even when closed is very noisy at highway speeds. There also does not seem to be a lot of storage space.