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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  Nice Boring SUV - 2007 Volkswagen Touareg
  By OCNJ19 - May 6 - 5:46 pm

  I liked this car a lot. The ride was great, very comfortable and a ton of features. My first choice at the time was the x5 but it just came out and it was extremely expensive. I got it all decked out fully loaded nav, rear view camera, better leather, folding mirrors, power steering wheel. I really liked the information display in between the tachometer and speedometer. it gave me a ton of info about my vehicle. Although i liked the car i felt the steering was too loose meaning i had to turn hard to turn especially at low speeds. I also though the design was boring even the rims were boring. I didnt have any technical issues with the vehicle. I just purchased a x5 and its even better

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  KICK A... VW,VW TUNERS DREAM - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By VW MAN - May 6 - 10:00 am

  MY 11 TH VW.THEY SHOULD GIVE ME THIS ONE FOR FREE!!!GREW UP IN GERMANY. ANYWAY.THE BEST,THE MOST FUN TO DRIVE VW EVER MADE.HANDLING IS A DREAM,STICKS LIKE A GLUE.4 MOTION WORKS GREAT.DID SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO 120 MPH ON PUBLIC ROAD AND JUST WISH THERE WAS AN AUTOBAHN SOMEWHERE NEAR BY. QUALITY SUPERB.WAY TO GO VW!!! DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A COUPE WITH SOME ...s,JAPANESE HAVE TO LEARN A LOT FROM GERMANS.DRIVE THIS ONE AND YOU WILL BE HOOKED LIKE ME. REFLEX SILVER SITTING IN MY GARAGE. SITTING AND LOOKING PREETY!

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  fun sporty car - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By pdl - May 6 - 10:00 am

  my lease is almost up and I am definitely going to buy it out. I havent had any problems with it yet, for it is still driving like it did when I bought it back in 2000.

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  2nd one - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By agamitza - May 6 - 10:00 am

  very good car. interior design still very stylish almost 6 yrs after model launched. everything that touches your hand is very good quality. can get good mileage by upshifting below 3000 rpms. just bought a second one for my wife after 5 very good yrs w/ the first one. only problem requiring repeated service was adventitious noise related to air flow valve, changed 3 times in 2 years, but then vw had a recall, and i got all my money back (didnt have the receipts anymore, dealership gave me copies).

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  Passat GLX 2000 - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By aprender2002 - May 6 - 10:00 am

  The Passat GLX is an excellent automobile and mine has given me great service. It is a pleasure to drive under all circumstances. Where I live, the roads are not the greatest, with cobblestone streets in my town. This has resulted in some wrattles in the car which I probably would not have otherwise. Economy is good enough, considering the engine and how I drive. Tiptronic is a great transmission system.

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  Disappointing - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By whiskey - May 6 - 10:00 am

  9,000 mi. car has been in shop more than 14 times. CD, NAV, constant problem with warning lights, rear lift keeps opening for no reason. Most dangerous is when driving from 1 thru 2nd car goes to neutral so you are turning into intersection and car does nothing. How many visits. VOA sent me to "Best" dlr. in area - clueless. Buy 2 cars year, never complained about the usual. This truck just has so many and nobody seems to care.

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  Fun Car to Drive Outdated Styling - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Gapper - May 6 - 10:00 am

  Love the car the 180 hp engine is a great motor, fun to drive, nice interior, somtimes wonder what is different than the A4 seems the same to me

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  My Baby Girl - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ben Cooper - May 6 - 8:20 am

  Since my husband has purchased my 2007 Jetta, it has been the best experience I have had. This care is the compact and fast. The take off is awesome.I drive to and from work which is about 13 miles. Its the smoothest ride for such a small car. After having it for two years I will trade it in for another VW Passat.

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  super car - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By marcko24 - May 6 - 1:19 am

  i think it should cost more than actually cost, very fast car, nice outside looking, all the luxury you can ask for, more than most of beemers, but............too much time in workshop,

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  Reliable, strong, economical - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tdi10 - May 6 - 12:01 am

  No problems in 36k+ miles. Drives like glued to a road. Great city acceleration or when lights turn green, and pretty good on interstates when downshifted. Mileage depends on the number and frequency of stops: 32-40 in town, 45-52 on secondary roads and close to 50 on interstates. All with dynamic driving. Excellent radio and cell bluetooth integration. Large cargo volume with non-crushing hinges. Quiet engine except for occasional louder turbocharger heard on quiet surfaces.