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! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By jonnybgud - March 11 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car to drive, its fun, agile, responsive and practical (holds a bunch of stuff in the back) and feels very safe. Plus the turbo 1.8 with the 5 speed accelerates briskly when needed. Its my commuting car, but my wife takes it whenever she can. Sound system is great for a stock unit. Really good gas mileage, too - we get 32 to 35 mpg on trips doing about 75 -80 MPH and pretty full of traveling stuff, too.

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  POS Car, company and experience - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dAve - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Definitely NOT the experience of owning two Hondas. Oxygen sensor problem at 40K, car burned oil for first 24K miles, still occasionally burns oil, bad suspension caused premature tire wear, very poor paint -- scratches too easily. Poorly designed front bumper, held on by plastic clips that pop off easily. Catch a high curb and it will come right off. VW of America was less than cooperative. Not recommended AT ALL. The dealerships were very good at "going to bat" for you and getting coverage.

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  Routan is fun & trouble free family van - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By stjohns - March 11 - 2:05 am

  We have enjoyed our VW Routan SEL. Quick acceleration and outstanding handling are feature we are most impressed with. The layout and functionality is family friendly. Power door & lift gate are flawless and convenient.

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  New Owner - 2011 Volkswagen Touareg
  By utahgolfer - March 10 - 10:38 am

  I only have 600 miles on the vehicle and all of it has been in town. I plan to update this as I get more miles. No opinion on mileage, road noise, ride on long trips, reliability, service, and handling in the snow, Yet. I have ordered the towing package but it hasnt come in yet. I dont use the phone bluetooth.

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  I love, love, love my CC - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By PhillyCCGirl - March 10 - 8:26 am

  This car is seriously awesome. Handsdown, the best value in the market of a sport sedan. I was looking at the following 6MT vehicles: 2010 TSX 2010 BMW3 2010 A4 2010 CC The CC had the best fit-out inside, and the styling is seriously fierce. I am a SWF age 29 and people constantly stop me to see what kind of car it is. I only owned Japanese before making the change over to German, and I am highly pleased with my decision.

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  Love my Beetle! - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Laurie - March 9 - 6:33 pm

  I went from a 2003 Grand Am GT to the new Beetle and I am extremely happy with my decision. This car is extremely fun to drive, it has quite a zip to it! It is nice and roomy inside, everyone who has taken a ride with me cant believe they are in a Beetle because of how roomy it is. I have over 200 miles on it and still have a half a tank of gas! The controls in the car are very easy to use and i love the built in MP3 jack. The cup holder location is a little awkward, but nothing that would have changed my decision about the car. If you are looking for a quick, fun to drive car, look no further!

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  Its a winner - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By bgkelly - March 9 - 5:10 am

  Our 2006 Beetle convertible has been a pleasure to own. The comfort is excellent (Im 62"), the handling is right on, the engine (2.5L 5 cyl) is very responsive and the transmission seems very smart (6 speed auto). The convertible top fits like a glove and is easy to operate. The car is a blast to drive with the top down. The subtle exterior styling changes for the 2006 are perfect and really set it apart from the older models. I wish my wife would let me drive it more.

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  Time will tell - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Derasie Lee - March 8 - 2:26 pm

  I owned a GXP with 303hp before this car. It had much more raw power, but this car can move for it size good pickup. The ride of the car feels a little more upscale, and the design of the car is what made me take a second look at VW. PS still miss the GXP however

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  Super Value, Bargain Price - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By TDIFAN - March 8 - 6:20 am

  I sold my Golf TDI and my Excursion Diesel for the 07 Wagon, super base model. I could not be happier. Great room, super comfortable (I am 67", 310#), drove to CA in one day (900 miles) 13 hrs of comfort and luxury, 30+ mpg fully loaded going an average of 68 mph over 13 hrs. Nothing sore, the kids were not once complaining. I am a realtor, drive a lot in the city traffic, gets 23 mpg. Love the car, no issues whatsoever, Autohold feature is the best in the city, cruise control preset feature is very useful, trip computer rocks, stereo is the best ever. Maintenance is cheap, $58 for first oil change at the dealer.

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  Unsatisfactory - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By D. Melton - March 7 - 10:06 pm

  I purchased a brand new German automobile with great credentials and reviews in the safety, performance and reliability categories. Ive been dissapointed from about 6 months after my purchase on. Ive had multiple problems and numerous return trips to the dealership. However, after two years they do have a fix for the trunk. They will install new hinges that actually do not require prying open and then slamming the trunk down. Go to dealership and have them order the new hinges for you.