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:

• 

  The best car i have driven - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Wilbert Volson - June 29 - 2:00 am

  the best car i have driven

• 

  Fun the Second Time Around - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By steven kadsand - June 28 - 2:20 pm

  This is the second Beetle that my wife and I have owned and we enjoy the fun and preformance that it offers. The 2.5L engine has as much punch as the 1.8 turbo that we had the first time around did without the turbo lag.

• 

  First Diesel - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kbadger - June 28 - 11:23 am

  I picked up my new TDI Loyalty Edition last week after waiting about 2 months for it and have driven it about 350 miles so far and I absolutely love the handling and torque. So far I am doubtful that I will see the 45+ mpg I was hoping for, unless it improves after it is broken in. I have been avg about 35 mpg combo city/hwy. I have been driving a little aggressively, so maybe there is some upside. I do like the car and it handle very well for a sedan. Great value and economy. Heres hoping for better mileage!

• 

  Still a loyal VW owner - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By matt - June 27 - 10:23 pm

  Not as impressed with my fourth VW as with past ones. It is more generic than the quirky VWs of the past. Great gas mileage. Interior quality is poor but have not had much mechanical trouble. It has 124,000 and still running great.

• 

  W8 is Great! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By W8 Bob - June 27 - 6:33 pm

  This is a great car. It has a very solid feel. Mine is a black on black sedan w/sport package and Tiptronic. This is our 3rd Passat. The first 2 were 2000 GLX Tiptronics. It is very enjoyable to drive and has a wonderful motor. I cant believe VW has not found a home for this motor in another VW/Audi vehicle. It has great handling yet a reasonably compliant ride. The transmission is not the best in Drive as it has slow kick- down. Using manual mode solves problem and is lots of fun. It gets good gas mileage considering 8 cylinders and 4000 pounds. Better than my wifes 04 Audi A6 with the 3.0. I know because I drive both cars. It will average 26 to 27 MPG on highway if kept under 65 MPH. I cant get more than 23 to 24 with the Audi under the same conditions.

• 

  My poor Beetle - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Brian - June 27 - 11:46 am

  I bought my TDI brand new back in 1998. loved the car but boy it did not take long to start sinking shop time and money into it. from headlights to window motors, to dash lights. I have had this car to the shop so many times they told me that all these beetles were doing the same thing. I have done a mass air flow sensor, I sill have the engine light on. timing belt and by the way its like 1100.00 for that at the VW dealership. they have to change all the parts on the front of the motor so they will stand behind there work. 2 cd players 2nd one is still not working. I paid 17,500.00 for this car and prob will have 8,000.00 in repairs soon. great idea for a car but a money pit......

• 

  Second VW - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ken - June 27 - 10:16 am

  I love my Jetta. I traded in my 2003 Passat for it and cant tell the difference in ride or performance.

• 

  Best vehicle ive ever owned! Ever! - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Wesley J Leach - June 26 - 2:10 pm

  I had a VW Jetta prior to the CC and loved that car as well. This car is beautiful! It has everything I wanted and more. It is difficult to find an affordable car that has luxury and performance of this magnitude. A driver that has always owned a Lexus or a Cadillac would be pleased with the Volkswagen CC. The fuel economy on the sticker says 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway. I am averaging 31 mpg or better, round trip, everywhere I go! The Multi Function Display (MFD) on the dash tells me so. And this is the base trim model (sport).

• 

  2004 GLI VR6 - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Debbie - June 26 - 9:56 am

  The GLI VR6 is very comfortable. My car is loaded, leather and all and is so much fun to drive. The 6sp manual shift is very smooth and has great acceleration. Its a pretty peppy car for a 200 hp. Ive owned several BMWs (540, a 3 BMW 330) and I would say the fun factor is close to a Bimmer but at 1/3 the cost. Only drawback is the gas mileage is so-so for a 6sp. I was expecting to get about 28-33 mpg but I avg around 25 mpg. My 330i (6sp) avg around 28 so I was expecting the VW to be equal if not better.

• 

  Junk Mobile - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Dont buy VW - June 24 - 11:20 pm

  Ive had nothing but problems since the day I bought this car. I had to eplace the battery three times. It gets 17mpg - which makes it a gas guzzler. The fuses actually burst into flames in the engine! My car always jerks when I take my foot of the gas. Every time I need to get the car serviced, I have to take to the dealer because they have the special tool needed to fix it. Garage mechanics wont touch the Bug, its a waste of time to them, and they lose money from it. Im waiting for the day the engine falls out of the car! I will never buy another VW again.