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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  I like this car - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By mronyx1 - September 3 - 1:58 pm

  Having been a person who has never cared about such things as cars. point A to Point B dry, Im good. This car is a treat I did buy a 2012 with 8000 miles on it but have no break in worries and it sure is easy to drive. There is a little warming up to the gas peddle, over all this is a smart vehicle and for the price get a few options, youll be glad you did. Very pleased with the gas mileage.

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  Great Car, Great Value, More room than monster SUVs - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By ray4now - September 2 - 4:26 am

  Ive owned mine since June /09. I was skeptical at first - somewhat odd looks, VW reputation for marginal reliability, not all the luxury I really wanted. However on test drive changed that. The 2.0L turbo engine is fantastic - quick, responsive, pulls very hard when you mash the throttle. The 6 speed transmission is mated perfectly to it and is smooth and accurate in shifts. So far, so good. Ive got 36K+ miles of mostly highway driving and no breakdowns/strands/failed starts. No maintenance costs either with first 2 years covered. Some trim pieces have broken due to little kiddie fingers. I would highly recommend this car for anyone looking for an alternative to ridiculously oversized SUV

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  This is a truck? This is a TRUCK! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ColoradoRed - September 2 - 2:00 am

  I cant wait to break in the engine and get down to buisness. Fuel economy is a drag, but hey... this thing can weigh around 3.5 tons... not much can do that efficiently! Its a blast to drive, and even more fun to discover all the little eggs, so to speak, about the car. I love it!

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  Loved it at first, not so sure now. - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kmck - September 1 - 4:45 pm

  I posted a review previously (titled EXCELLENT car but not with a few caveats) and Ive had a few issues in the year and a half since Ive bought it. First, door seals were terrible and made squeaky noises and took 3 visits to fix. Alignment went awry and now my whole car vibrates and makes a loud noise when braking -- and Im not even remotely a heavy-footed driver/braker. One of my window switches is loose, and the driver seat makes a clicking noise when going over bumps. I bought a new car so I could stay out of the service area for a while, what the heck VW?

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  So Far So Good - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Illinois owner - September 1 - 7:30 am

  Significantly depreciated value / price of this 04 car made it a great value. Solid feel with incredible performance in a "better than limo" luxury experience. So many bells and whistles that it takes days to train self on all functions. Three complaints: navigation system is antiquated, complex and only provides minimal information and tire pressure sensors are very sensitive and wont read correctly in very cold conditions and finally, cannot turn off seat-belt tone which is bothersome if you just want to sit and wait for someone without being buckled up.

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  Passat has been a disappointment - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mac - September 1 - 5:36 am

  The Passat is an okay car, but it is overpriced for what you get. The engine is by far the strength of this car. It effortlessly moves on the highway and its stability at high speed can lull the driver into quickly exceeding the posted speed limits. The transmission is poor. During the three years I have owned the car, I have had many instances in city traffic where the transmission will slip as I am slowing and then need to accelerate, causing the car to lurch. The leather interior is also poor. It is not terribly soft and wears more like vinyl than leather. The rapid depreciation of this car versus others in the so called class is also a big minus.

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  Bens Review - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By BenBen - August 31 - 10:00 am

  This car is a sensible family car that gets good gas mileage and is also fun to drive. Except for the turbo lag which can be annoying, pick-up is good and handling is excellent.

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  1st 1,000 miles and still loving it - 2016 Volkswagen Golf
  By Frank Bones - August 28 - 6:06 pm

  Very happy with my Golf. It wasnt my top choice but with mfg rebates the price was to good to pass up. Car handling is great and I appreciate the interior and how quiet the car is. Only regret so far is I didnt get sunroof. As I live in the northeast Im curios to see how it handles in the snow.

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  The Little Car That Could - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SabsNJ - August 28 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd Jetta. Ever since my 1st Jetta was totaled when an idiot ran a stop sign (Yet not a scratch on me!!), I couldnt wait until I could afford a brand new Jetta. The 1.8 Turbo is the perfect size for this car. The pickup is great, the brakes and steering are nice and tight. The shifting is smooth. Spacious trunk. The sport seats give you a nice snug fit. Great for long distance rides. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

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  Fun car for the money, but you get what you pay for - 2015 Volkswagen Golf
  By mheisey - August 27 - 9:24 am

  I bought this car brand new in October 2014. A few positives are that it is surprisingly quick considering it is the base model. It handles fairly well and the touch screen interface is the best I have ever used. I love the exterior design of this car and the subtle interior styling is very nice as well. I have gotten better than rated mileage. up to 41hwy. Now, the not so great things I have noticed. Right away I realized the engine mounts are crap. They are too soft to handle firm shifts. At 2,000 miles it developed a hefty crunch when put in reverse. The throttle is very sensitive and takes getting used to. Right now at 11,000 miles I am ready to trade it in.