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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  First impressions - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bodyshopboy - April 1 - 6:13 pm

  Traded in my 04 Acura TL in search of better gas mileage. Mission accomplished - the Jetta gets 34 mpg on my commute that yielded 19-20 mpg in the TL. The Jetta TDI is fun to drive, I feel even more confident through the twisities than in the TL. There are many thoughtful details like ample storage in the door and glove box as well under the floor of the rear cargo area. The Ipod connector is delightful as well allowing full menus. Touch screen audio is well done. Surprised that I liked the 16" wheels over the 17s Bluetooth connection is "answer only" no voice command or interface for dialing. Found a work-around using the cell phone voice command (sad that a $50 cell trumps a $30K car).

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  Pleasently Surprised with the Rabbit - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By dieter bausch - April 1 - 1:06 pm

  This car is roomy, has comfortable seats and is a pleasure to drive. The workmanship in the interior is excellent and the ski bag and hatchback are features, I dont want to miss.

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  A Wolf in a Runt Sheeps Clothing - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Martin - April 1 - 6:56 am

  I was in the market for a Honda Accord or Nissan Altima, a $199/Month Lease...same as most people that are as frugal as me. So I go test drive a VW. Holy Moly! This is a Value Edition? What does the regular one do? The 6 Speed Triptonic automatic transmission is very responsive. I know cars and VW is way ahead of its time offering a package like this as standard. The car is still a deal well into the $20,000 range. I got mine at a huge discount because I liked the Beige. The 6th gear lets you go 50 - 60 mpg at under 2,000 RPM which translates to huge gas efficiency. The service that backs this car is up to par with a BMW or Mercedes complete with loaner car. Save money and enjoy driving again. This car has it all.

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  Best Car - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Priscilla Schaffer - March 31 - 12:53 pm

  Best Car invented

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  Best Car for the Money - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JH - March 31 - 10:06 am

  Ive never thought of a car more than a vehicle to get from point A to B, until now. Its been over a year and everyday I got in this car and loved it. Its a thrill to have all of features this car does for the money I spent. My Dad has a Benz and we have practically all the same features. We joke that its a cheaper version of the Mercedes.

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  gti vr6 - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By gti - March 31 - 9:16 am

  fast,comfortable,very smooth ride

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  Eos User - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By larsd619 - March 31 - 8:06 am

  I purchased my Eos about two months ago. I love it. The hard top is great. It actually gets better gas mileage than posted on the sticker. The transmission is smooth as well as quick. The sport transmission makes a noticeable difference. This is the best hard top on the market for the price.

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  Great Wagon - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Albert W. - March 30 - 5:53 pm

  We bought this car new in 2004. It has served our needs very well. We have taken it on many long trips comfortably where we were able to get over 30 mpg on the highway traveling between 70 and 80 mph. The interior is very well appointed and durable. The heated seats are great. There have been no major mechanical issues, now at 55,000 miles, the car looks and rides like new. Handling is far superior to Toyota. It is very similar in ride to my BMW. Highly recommend.

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  What a fun car - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Michael E. - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this car a couple days ago but here are my initial impressions. This car is a blast to drive. I got the 17" wheels that hug the earth tightly and turbo zooms away over 3000 RPM. At RPMs lower then 3000, youll being waiting a second for that zoom feeling to kick in. I was originally going to get the RSX type S without even test-driving this sporty hatch. In comparison, the VW feels much a more richly refined and an elegant machine. Be careful reading the reviews since the new more powerful turbo engine just came out with the 2003 model year.

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  Best SUV EVER?!? - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By drivevdubs - March 29 - 10:00 am

  The Volkswagen Touareg has now set a standard for everyone else. This SUV is the best car purchase I have ever made. I am an avid hunter and I have taken this car through the toughest terrain, already!, and there is nothing that car stop this!