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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  Fun and Practical - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By ECONROY - February 12 - 9:50 pm

  You dont see a bunch of these on the road, probably because the price is above others in this class. But for those who enjoy driving and want the utility of a hatchback and a small car that zips in and out of tight spaces, this car fills the bill and then some. My wife says it has "scootability". Ignore stats on power and weight. This 200 HP turbo MOVES this car and you feel it. We got package #2 with leather in tornado red. Yesterday we got a Pioneer AVIC- Z2 with nav and music hard drive installed and component speakers. For under $30,000 weve put together a car my wife and I hate to get out of.

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  Surprised By A Beetle - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Extremely Satisfied - February 12 - 11:33 am

  I did a ton of research before settling on this car. I am not disappointed. As soon as it was in my hands, my wife and I took a 1,000 mile trip. We left for a week and brought our two bags, overnight bag, my laptop w/ case, and Christmas presents AND our bedding for a cabin stay over New Years. It swallowed all of this plus more from my wifes parents. All the while, it got 33mpg hwy. Thats 478 miles of range on regular 87 octane. If you can find a TDI, get it. But this is and should be the #2 choice. The 2.0 liter motor is a revver. I never once thought it needed more power. With its full load, it pulled the Grapevine at 72mph easily. It is roomy and comfortable too.

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  The Wolfsberg Edition Sedan - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By CBraish - February 12 - 11:03 am

  Ive driven Mercedes, BMW, Dodge, Chevrolet, and even a Nissan but this car is the best EVER. It handles like Mercedes, is faster than a BMW, and costs as much as a VW. It is so quiet and comfortable, and it is huge. Im 61" and I can sit in the back seat comfortably. You could by an Audi A4 (Which I consider the only real competitor) but for 2/3 the price, Ill take the Passat. I did buy this new and I have 17,000 Miles now.

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  2.0T & DSG - best combination! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Pogi - February 11 - 6:30 am

  We absolutely love this car! This is my wife’s car but I try to make excuses everyday just to drive it. The 2.0T engine is fabulous! No turbo lag and handling is great. DSG is amazing! I am not sure why high end cars don’t have DSG. This will be the benchmark for sequential gear boxes and the future of changing gears. The finish is fantastic. VW has put the fun back in the Jetta. Reliability is still a question mark. Hopefully VW fixed this issue. Overall, this car is a sensation! Should you get one? You bet you should.

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  2002 GLI VR6 - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jkv - February 10 - 6:06 am

  Bought this car practically new from a private party. It had only 28300 miles on it and was in excellent condition. The car was loaded having 17" rims with Michelin high performance tires along with sunroof, premium sound, smoked tail lights, etc. the car is amazing to drive with the sports suspension. Has excellent handling and good performance from the 200hp v6 engine. Im a very happy man.

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  The best Volkswagon - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Swenson - February 9 - 8:50 pm

  The 2006 Volkswagen Passat is very nice. I am very impressed with the new design of the Passat. I havent seen any on the road yet, but I am sure that within six months people will come around to find that this car is a great bang for the buck. I put some 18 chrome wheels on it, nice Michelin tires, and it looks like a beamer! This car is going to be easy to sell down the road. I paid MSRP, but it is ok, I purchased before it was released.

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  Golf - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By dk1706 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I only had the car for a few days and I love the way it handles.

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  Jettas are Fun - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By oldtribefan - February 8 - 10:00 am

  34000 trouble-free miles. Great mileage, fun to drive. Shifter is a bit notchy. A very good car.

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  lucky man... - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lucky_in_SD - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I had this car for only 3 months when I was struck from behind at 55 mph while sitting at a stoplight. If Id been in my previous Honda.. I wouldnt be here to write this. The Jetta held up like a rock. It was over $8,000.00 in repairs and I watched over everything like a hawk. Needless to say those countless hours of nitpicking the dealer have paid off... My car is as tight and clean as the day it was new. The car has been pretty much flawless, knock on the beautiful wood trim. Ive got 44,000 miles the only noise I hear is from my Pirellis that are in need of replacement.

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  POS Car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rob a - February 8 - 10:00 am

  500 miles clutch master replaced, 5,000 miles water pump replaced, 10,000 miles power windows replaced, 12,000 miles climate control repaired, 20,000 interior plastic trim falling off, 25,000 new rear brakes and rotors, 32,000 engine coil being replaced. Everytime I need a repair I have to call 5 or 6 vws so that I dont have to wait over a week for an appointment. This car absolutely sucks and I will be getting rid of it asap. DO NOT BUY THIS POS. You have been warned.