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 337 - best GTI ever. - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By 3374me - April 26 - 10:00 am

  I have had my GTI 337 for over 2 months now - its everything I had hoped for. It beats my ex-323i hands down in the FUN catagory. Great Gas Mileage + Fun to drive + Style = One great VW! Get one if you can! (only 1500 made.) Cant say enough about this GTI :-)

• 

  A wolf(sburg) in sheeps clothing. - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By bj - April 26 - 10:00 am

  VW is very conservative in their HP rating on this vehicle. Take it to any diagnostic garage and let them do a dyno on it. You will surprised by the "real" HP rating. Then add on the VW dual exhaust system and give yourself another 5% HP boost just for kicks. The 17" wheel option is a must for this car. One thing though, why doesnt this car have GTI badging on the front grille? Hint, you can order it from Europe and put it on yourself. I did, and now everyone knows whats in ther rearview mirror just before I scoot around them.

• 

  Great Car - 2009 Volkswagen GTI
  By Denis - April 25 - 9:03 pm

  Have had the car for 2 mo. What a great ride! I was looking for comfortable seating and 4 dr. The seating issues ruled out the Hondas and Nissans. The doors ruled out the Mini. The car has taken a bit of getting used to the ride (a bit stiffer than my 97 Golf), but the control and response will just put a grin on your face every time. That and the fact that this ting gets up and scoots. All this and I just got 33 mpg on a recent trip up to northern CA. Averaging 26+ combined driving over 2k miles on the car. Go VW.

• 

  Great Car! - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tom - April 25 - 5:27 pm

  The Jetta S reminds me of my first car, VW Rabbit. Basic car, basic technology, but a hell of a lot of fun to drive.

• 

  treg - 2 months review - 2011 Volkswagen Touareg
  By testrada - April 25 - 5:43 am

  vehicle is good. looked at x5, x3, q7, q5, cayenne, highlander, f150, explorer, mdx.... chose these because of the mix of very good quality, features, comfort at a relatively decent value (most vehicles we looked at were $50k+ with either less features, less quality, or both. too bad not all the european options are available on the models here. perhaps vw afraid its getting too close to q7 or cayenne. power is more than adequate brakes are superb avg mpg 21 with 50/50 hwy/city (not going over 70) turn ratio is phenomenal

• 

  The car of the future - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By W. Bass - April 23 - 2:33 pm

  Peppy in town. Fast, good at highway speeds. Comfortable ride. Responsive steering and brakes. The 5sp manual is a joy--as smooth as an automatic.

• 

  Hooligan Hatch - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By .:R32John - April 23 - 10:00 am

  I have only had this car for 3 months but i must say it feel this may be my favorite car (that i have owned). I have owned an M-Roadster, TT 225 Quattro, 330ci, Porsche 944s, and a Ford Mustang GT and needless to say, this is the most fun to drive. I look at it as if an MRoadster and a TT were to have an offspring, this would be it!

• 

  The Most Fun youll ever have in a Car! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By BassMan097 - April 23 - 10:00 am

  The R32 exhibits superiority in overall build quality, interior and exterior styling, out-of- this-world handling and braking, and a stout, naturally aspirated powerplant with power on tap at any spot in the power band. The incredible support offered by the leather Konig racing seats, the feel of the thick but small steering wheel, the accessibility of the 6 speed short throw shifter, and the incredbile exhaust note lets you know the R means business. After one drive on a twisty mountain road and it will become obvious that this autobahn bred beast is pure driving excitment.

• 

  10 cars in one! - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By clarkma5 - April 23 - 10:00 am

  I had a loaded 2002 GTI 1.8T Tiptronic before that I loved, so I got another GTI 1.8T, but this time I skipped all the luxury stuff in an effort to get a better performance feel...so I have cloth, stick, no sunroof, and 17" wheels. The result is amazing. The engine feels so much stronger than before, the handling is much more neutral, with only light understeer, and the brakes feel positively fantastic now. Strip out all the luxury options and you end up with an RSX-beater for $18k, compared to $25k for the Acura. Its more comfortable, better looking, and more practical, and is also the best drag machine this side of a WRX or Mustang GT! Perfect!

• 

  A nice change from a truck. - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By pinkpilot - April 23 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had this car for a few weeks, but I love the mpg I get out of it. I have the 2.0L gas and its not the most powerful, but it gets me all around town and has good acceleration getting on the highway. Perfect for me. I looked at other cars (Toyota Matrix et al) and this Golf had all the saftey features I wanted (airbags and abs 4 wheel) for a really good price.