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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  what a good "egg" - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By meshell - February 22 - 10:00 am

  got my treg in march and just bumped over 3,000 miles. i love driving this rig. i am not in need of tons of power, but i have to say even the v6 exceeds my expectations. i love the luxurious feel of being in my treg and love the looks and compliments i get.

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  Worst Decesion Ever - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By uncc49er - February 22 - 10:00 am

  This car has turned out to be no more than a large green lemon. There is always a problem with the car. Stay away from this car. If you are thinking about buying this car, do so at your own risk... and buy the extended warranty because you WILL need it, I promise.

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  Great Car for the Price - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jeff M. - February 22 - 10:00 am

  After seeing a promotional add offering rebates, I checked out the Passat, and Im glad I did. Having had the car for only several weeks, I cannot comment on the long-term reliability, but my initial impressions are very positive. The car handles extremely well, and the interior noise level is quite low in both city and highway driving. The styling is a bit bland, but the build quality appears to be very good. Im 6 and had no problem in finding a comfortable seating position with excellent headroom. Controls are clearly marked, well-lit at night, sturdy and very intuitive.

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  Nice Start, No Finish - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By JohnSmith - February 22 - 10:00 am

  WARNING!!! VW does not like to honor its powertrain warning and will do whatever it can to get out of it. My car has less than 75k (regular servicing), and the oil pump has failed, and the camshaft just went. Each time VW has given me hassle after hassle - not to mention the sheer fact that the engine has failed twice!

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  Trade your sedan for this wagon! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Gabby - February 22 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd Passat Wagon and I would buy a 3rd; my 1st one still felt like a new car at 3 years and 80,000 miles. Great fit and finish, very good utility without sacrificing comfort, handling or styling.

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  great value - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By DennisJ - February 22 - 10:00 am

  This wagon is fun to drive, looks great is well designed and built. No problems except for an a/c vent that makes a thump sound when it opens. This is to be fixed. This VW is very similar to the Audi A6 and is priced much less. For sure, this is a car that must be evaluated before you buy another if you are in the market for a wagon.

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  Performance baby - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By get faster - February 22 - 10:00 am

  I got my passat and fell in love. Its the 1.8t and it is nice. I was very happy with the performance of it but... it needed to be faster. So I took it to a specailest and had it worked on. 1,500 doller later my car is a beast. with air induction kit,diverter valve, front mont intercooler, chip, and exahust. My passat is fast enuff to easily keep up if not beat a V8, like the BMW 745i. This car is great if you modify it.

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  Just Lovin My Bug! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Bug Lover - February 22 - 10:00 am

  FUN! FUN! FUN! The best car Ive ever owned for the "FUN" factor. Not only is it cute, it drives like a dream. Is very smooth. The 2 complaints I have, are that the steering wheel and column does not have enough range and positions. And, the seat belts are awkward to grab ahold of. Other than that I love my BUG!

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  VW Jetta Wolfsberg - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By azaero - February 22 - 5:50 am

  One of the least reliable cars I have ever owned. The interior is cheap plastic that constantly breaks and the dealerships will not replace it. The glove compartment latch has broken 3 times in 60,000 miles and the center arm rest is broken from normal wear. The engine reliability is very poor. The struts have failed twice, the oil leaks constantly, the brake lines leak, the computer constantly says to"check engine," it requires at least 91 octane or it gums-up, the vacuum hose plastic parts fail and leak. Ive put thousands into this car. Never again will I own a VW.

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  Great Value - Fun to Drive - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By Jay - February 22 - 2:33 am

  Traded in my 2004 Saab Aero convertible on the EOS. This car has the best turbocharger I have ever experienced. I always have proper power and torque. In fact if you stomp the accelerator from a standstill, the car will hop as a result of excess torque. With Nav, I paid $33K for this car - thousands less than any other quality convertible and I am averaging 29 mpg in the first 2,000 miles of mixed driving. The seat are exceptionally good (I have a very bad back and can tell!). The only criticism I have is that a power passenger seat is not standard although it is not that big a deal. VW has the best priced lineup of any car manufacturer.