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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  The Best Dont Settle For The Rest - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Touaregnd4spd - August 17 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased my Touareg today and I have put 120 miles on it. Cant stop driving it. The way it hold the road is like my 01 Lincoln Ls that I traded in. If you are looking for the best Suv out STOP YOU HAVE FOUND IT!!!!

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  GLX Best German Engineering value - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By whcatto - August 17 - 10:00 am

  I have had the GLX for 5 months now; it is the best car out there for the money. I look forward to getting into it each morning; the design and performance are what would be expected in a $50,000 German Sedan. All of the "extra" features that are uncovered in the first few weeks make this car truly special.

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  Love the Jetta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By meljr - August 17 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Jetta, had a 5 speed GL for 3 years, just got an automatic Wolfsburg and I am in heaven. So easy to drive, takes turns so smoothly. A lot of pick up, no turbo drag. Wont buy anything else. Love the Jetta.

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  VW Passat 1.8T Sedan - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By G-Love - August 16 - 10:50 am

  We have loved the styling of our Passat and it drives like a dream. However, we have made numerous repairs to the vehicle and it is very expensive to fix. In fact, we had serious initial problems that were covered by warranty, but VW was unable to obtain the needed parts for nearly an entire month (this was late in 2001). We had a terrible experience dealing with VW Customer Care. Not at all what we expected from a German car company. Its a beautiful car and a great ride, but Im not rich enough to own it.

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  Best Subcompact out there - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By BP - August 16 - 10:03 am

  Everything about this car is positive. The interior is great, the exterior is nice, and the engine is peppy.the interior is very good build quality, perhaps even upscale. The sunroof works great. Some say that it gets bad MPG, but in the real world, it only gets about 2-3 mpg less than those Japanese models that sacrifice everything to get 28 mpg in the city (real world, EPA for 2007 has been known to be inaccurate). Depending on the day, I get from 24-26 mpg in the city, and 27-32 mpg on the highway. I would rather drive a comfortable, safe, great handling, and good looking car than one that is small, uncomfortable, and one that has lackluster handling.

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  VW Hits a Homerun - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Jaime Mendez - August 16 - 8:53 am

  Not having owned an SUV before, I didnt know what to expect. Well, Volkswagen surpassed my expectations. This vehicle is a charmer inside and out. Everything about it feels sturdy, from the seats to the leather covered steering wheel. It has a smooth and quiet ride with very good visibility. This vehicle is a good value for your money.

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  Now I Know - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Shirley - August 16 - 4:03 am

  I bought this vehicle from a friend who leased it. Couldnt figure out why she was getting rid of a new sharp car. Now I know, it is falling apart. Brake wires underneath car are a hazard. The shocks squeak and It sounds like a transfer truck when you crank it. Grear shift stuckin park now its broke and nothing keeps it from slipping out of gear. Last but not least the air bag light keeps coming on faulty. That has been fixed twice. Not to mention two wrecks and no deployment?

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  Reliable - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By mindofclay - August 16 - 2:46 am

  I love this car. Its such a gem of a car. If you simply take care of it, change the oil (full synthetic) every 3,000 miles (it does gum up fast in this car, unfortunately. Just dont go over 3,000 without changing it), put premium gas in it, and generally just take care of it and it will last you forever. I bought mine at 171,000 miles from an owner who took great care of it and it drives like its brand new! Yes, repairing a VW is generally more expensive, but you get what you pay for and you fix it far less often. Im confident I will take this car to 250,000 miles easily. It is so reliable. I wouldnt hesitate for one second to recommend this vehicle to anyone!

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  Value for the money! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Pete - August 15 - 5:10 pm

  Recently I bought a 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T. It is a sweet ride, its got the power when you need it! The 200HP under the hood makes the whole difference on at traffic lights! On the road it runs swiftly, although you have to watch the speed because you dont feel it! The automatic transmission (Tiptronic) is a nice option, but if you want a sporty ride - go with the 6-speed manual, thats what I bought. Another good thing is the fuel consumption. After I put gas in it, the computer shows that I have 510-520 miles to empty! It takes premium, but its worth every penny! The roomy enterior seats four adults very comfortably. This car is made in Germany, and it makes a difference! If you want a good German car in mid the $20,000s, then thats the best choice.

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  2005 TDI New Beetle - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By DaveG - August 15 - 4:26 pm

  This was a must have for my wife. At first I wasnt sure if we needed this car with its reputation for questionable reliability, but after owning it now for a few months and 4,000 miles or so, I like it. Especially the 42 mpg highway 38 mpg overall. There seems to be very little middle ground with the New Bettles, if you like it enough to buy it, then you most likely love your Beetle. We asked all the Beetle owners we could find prior to purchasing ours, even those who had quite a few tedious under warranty repair issues, and they still loved their New Beetle and were looking a the newer models to replace their 4 or 5 year old Beetles. So far ours has been excellent and trouble free.