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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  Extra Peppy Hatch - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By _MK - March 25 - 10:00 am

  I just bought the car a weekend ago, drove it 1500 miles back to where I live, from where I bought it, and I was easily the fastest car on the highway. Easily. I kept the gear in 6th and the car just went. The ride is pretty sporty. Coming from an Acura RL to this car, I felt a significant drop in ride comfort, particularly on the highway, but I gained a world in handling. Amazingly quick car. A ton of fun! Fuel economy is not quite what I hoped for, but I do have a heavy foot.

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  Great car...but - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Clliff - March 25 - 10:00 am

  We bought our Passat new in 99. We liked the cornering,handling and feel of the car. It was fun to drive and continued to be so until we traded it several weeks ago. We were experiencing too many failures of electrical and electronic componants. It got so we wondered every time we drove the car, what would go wrong next. This seems to be a common problem with VWs and in fact all German cars at present. Take a look at the April issue of Consumers Report and you will see what I mean. Volkswagon must address reliability of their cars if they want to hold on to their American market.

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  jetta great buy - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lorraine - March 25 - 10:00 am

  owned one for four years and still love it.

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  Hot Ride - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jerryplace - March 25 - 10:00 am

  As a retired law enforcement officer, I find this the most awesome ride Ive been in. Its exilerating, solid, fast, and a drivers car. Not many cars are going to catch this one! Its lights are incredible for driving in critter country, the high desert, and so bright in fact I get flashed alot on low settings, no need for additional driving lamps. Catch me if you think you can! It,s great fun to blow by the ringy dingy young Honda, Neon crowd with their so called hot whatevers! Really looking forward to getting it on a track. If your in Oregon, go to Carrera motors in Bend, they are the best to deal with ever. See Mark Pulver.

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  Reliable & Extrodinary transportation - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rorich1 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Great overall performer. With the five speed and the turbo-diesel engine I can zip up and down the mountains of Colorado and still approach 50 MPG. Comfort, (I am 62" tall and have plenty of leg and head room), performance, handling this jetta with the GLS option has it all.

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  Im the envy of 8 year olds =) - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ranchboat - March 25 - 10:00 am

  I love, love, love this car! The kids are grown and gone and I gave the Expedition to the hubby and got a red/cream leather Turbo. I smile just looking at it. From the low price and good mileage (well, that I should get...if I didnt drive FAST everywhere..). The stereo rocks, and I love cranking the tunes, opening the sun roof and zooming along. It is solid and dependable and the 8 year olds on my street lined up for rides the day I got it. Who needs pretentious when you can have fun?

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  Love the Goddess - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By BW in Wash DC - March 25 - 7:46 am

  Bought myself a b-day gift w/a Komfort 6M. Brings a smile every time I have the top down. It is the perfect combination in size, handling, and fun. Not a speedy coupe but come on, it is a convertible, relax, ease back, and feel the sun on your back. No problem yet w/seal leak as some others reported in earlier models.

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  Actually a Really Great Car - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By JSC - March 24 - 7:33 pm

  I purchased this car in 2007 at a VW dealership that had sold and serviced the car since new. It came to me with 24k miles, and Im now unfortunately selling it (blame it on the economy) with 63k miles. I honestly have to say that Im already regretting selling it - I love this car! Its a complete sleeper - it appears as a small econo-box to unsuspecting motorists, but its really, really quick and can handle surprisingly well for a front-wheel drive car & the interior is up there with Audi/BMW/Mercedes/etc... Parts and labor charges at the dealer are up there also, it is a German car, so keep that in mind. If you cringe at $80 oil changes, do it yourself, or find a mechanic that does VWs.

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  smitten by the R32 - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By 564651 - March 24 - 2:00 am

  What an awesome car. I cannot think of one negative thing about it. My former car is a 2001 subaru RS.And comparitively speaking the ergonomics and fit and finish of the vw is vastly superior. It is an autobahn ready german rocketship.

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  2004 R32 - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Marktini - March 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my R32 for almost a month, long term reliability and ride degradation review will have to follow after 6 or 9 moths. For now I can say this is one of the most fun cars Ive ever owned to drive. Including several GTIs and an Audi S4. The car just feels right, the 4-motion works great under hard cornering and prevents the wheel spin that the GTIs front drive cannot.