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 Rabbit - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Jim - November 8 - 11:46 am

  This is the most fun Ive had driving a car in years. Nothing else I took for a test drive came close. The price of the 2 door is really hard to believe considering everything that comes standard. The only problem I have seen is access to the back seat in the 2 door, I wouldnt recommend it, if you have to get kids in and out pay the extra and get the 4 door. Try it, youll love it.

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  2008 S Model Jetta - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jetta - November 8 - 12:46 am

  This car rides quietly and has some pick-up, however, I feel it gets below average gas mileage that is one of my biggest complaints. I can go about 320 miles before I have to refill the tank. I drive a lot of highway miles and they advertise that the car gets 28 or 29 mpg highway, however, that is not the case. The air conditioning works pretty well and I like the ipod adapter in the car. I have a sunroof on my car but noticed that when its open and I drive there is a considerable amount of air noise, its kind of annoying. I love the amount of trunk space in the car - very roomy! Also it can comfortably fit 4 adults in the car. I believe there is even 3 seat belts in the back.

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  Torn to love... - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JETTA01 - November 7 - 7:36 pm

  I "WANT" to love this car. Its been tough though. I test-drive other cars and nothing is better then my Jetta. Yet, I dont trust it. I am disappointed in the electrical problems, yet love when it runs right.

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  LOVE MY EOS!! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By volkswagen07 - November 6 - 8:29 pm

  I have been readuing reviews that have concerns about the window leaking. I bought my 2007 Eos in June of 2007...trading in my 2003 Passat. First let me say, I live in the desert along the Colorado River, where in the summer it reaches 120 degrees, adn I drive my Eos with the top down for 9 months out of the year. Here is what I have found... If you look in you manual, you will see that if you go thru the automated care washes, it voids the warrenty on the top. The rubber seals on the roof will start to leak due to the high pressure sprayers in automated care washes, and also if you do not oil the rubber seals, the same thing can happen. I bought the oil from the dealership, and do it

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  Phaeton; close to perfect. - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Rob - November 6 - 5:30 pm

  The Phaeton is by far the best car I have ever owned and also the best I have driven. It handles like a car half its size and the interior room and comfort is outstanding. Dry roads, wet ones, snow... it does not matter this car handles it all. Think your front wheel drive is good enough for the north country? Try ALL WHEEL... There is just no comparison. This car takes me back to when I would experiment under the hood or with a new sound system. All those times I was trying to achieve something realy special... well, they call it a Phaeton! This one has it all superior comfort. There is no seat that conforms to your body like this one. Power, adjustable shift points, it all adds up to near perfect.

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  Great Car, I Love it. - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By ngot - November 5 - 12:13 pm

  I have owned my Passat 2.0 for 10 days and I drive about 50 miles per day. The car is wonderful, Im very happy with the purchase. I considered Honda Accord V6 EX and VW Passat 2.0 when buying, and the Passat won. I have all the options available for 2.0 including package #2, navigation, 17 in. wheels, Dynaudio system, and additional airbags. I like Passat better than my 2003 BMW 325i. The Passat doesnt have brand name like BMW, but it is fast, smooth, and has many features that my BMW doesnt have.

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  Gas Leak...Anybody - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Gina - November 4 - 11:36 pm

  I just bought the 2dr manual, sage green Rabbit. I absolutely loved it until yesterday when suddenly the car left me in the middle of an intersection and gas started leaking from underneath the passengers seat. I have 788 miles on the car. So much for German quality control? Anybody out there has experienced the same thing?

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  Love My Passat - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mark B - November 4 - 1:20 pm

  I have the 2007 Passat 2.0T with the sport suspension, sport seats and 18" wheels. I absolutely love this car. The handling and ride is superb for a car with OE sport suspension. The interior has enough room for 5 big adults and the trunk is huge. I consistently average 33 mpg on the highway and around 30 mpg in the city.

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  Fantastic Auto - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dan sr - November 4 - 10:43 am

  In May 2006 I bought a new 06 TDI Jetta with Pkg 1. We wanted Pkg 2, but it was not avaliable. We drove to Maine from Florida with just one fill up. I average 47 mpg. Our last two autos were a Cadillac DHS and a Toyota Avalon XLS. My wife and I enjoy this TDI better than the last two autos. We also own a 2002 Jetta GLS TDI. It is slightly smaller than the 2006 model. I love them both. I am looking forward to purchasing another TDI in 2007.

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  Exceeds My Expectations - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mac - November 4 - 6:56 am

  Heard about transmission and brake issues from prior Passat owners but took a chance because I liked the cars design and the way it handled. Have put 60K miles on car in 3.5 years with three minor trips to the dealer, one to replace a rear upper trunk lock mechanism, one to install a temperature sensor and front brake pads, and one to install new spark plugs at 40K due to misfires on plugs 2 and 6. Not a problem since. Replaced tires at 35K also. Didnt care for the original Continental tires. Also, dealer experience was very positive. Keep waiting for the problems to show but so far, it runs great every day 25 miles to and from work.