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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  So far, so good! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vwdoc - March 9 - 10:00 am

  just got this a week ago, and absolutely loving it. previous owner of a 1992 saab. i just feel gorgeous driving it! my complaints? the cupholder is right above the radio, which freaks me out. theres not enough storage room in the front/sides...frustrating. cant see behind my right shoulder -- big blind spot, headrest for driver is awkward?, car dosnt "roll" automatically on "D" (i think this is a safety feature, but i just need to get used to it), the cloth interior looks like itll be tough to clean.

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  Great Retro Car - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By DrGarfield - March 9 - 10:00 am

  The big (+) here is the TDI Diesel. I just finished a trip through the NC mountains and this car handled almost as good as my A4 Audi Quatro. The torque is amazing, pulling four adults up 15% grades in 4th gear at 60 mph is nothing to laugh at. This car is well balanced and the rear wheels stay right behind you where they belong. The car is solid and well built. Its a VW Beetle and should last for years.

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  Wow! What a ride! - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wolfsburg - March 8 - 1:10 am

  Wow what a ride is right. I traded in my 05 f-350 because of fuel reasons loved the truck but loving the v-dub more and more each day. Needs to get a little better mileage getting 24-25, better than my truck. Great outside and inside too. Love the leather like the radio like the trunk and all the special stuff over all the car is great better than I would have thought need to put a hitch on it and roof racks would help. Still need to move dirt bikes around. Great job VW keep up the good work.

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  Great Car for under $25k - 2013 Volkswagen GTI
  By cleaver - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Had my 4-door GTI for 2 months & about 2k miles. What really puts this car over the edge are the little things that make you realize the designers put extra thought into the car: the front doors have three different stops, allowing you to open them at up to a 90 degree angle; the foot-wells are lit at night; the ambient lighting around the center console at night; there is fabric lining the cubbys in the doors and the glovebox; the red stitching throughout the cabin. In many cars, these extra touches arent there and you dont miss them. But this car was designed for driving pleasure by car people, not by the bean counters. At around $25k, this car is a bargain.

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  Over 40? The GTIs still for you. - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By flubs - March 7 - 1:40 am

  If you were old enough to own and drive an original GTI in 83 and think youre too old now and should drop more money on an Audi or the like, think again. This car is all grown up like you, but still retains its frugal blend of practicality, performance and sublimer. Sure the ad campaigns are geared for a younger demographic, but dont let that deter you from getting what you really want for such little money. After a terrible day at the office, at least you get to drive home!

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  Best In Class!! - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By robloe30 - March 6 - 11:41 am

  I normally read reviews, not write them but after noticing all the poor reviews the Tiguan has gotten lately I felt I owed the car some "REAL" opinions. We bought our Tiguan in May of 2011. I gotta admit, I thought it was just "OK" at first because after all it is my wifes car. We were replacing an 09 Honda Pilot EX-L because the Pilot was just too dang big. My wife wanted something smaller, and she seemed to always admire the VW. The Tuguan now has 6,200 miles on it and I couldnt be more impressed with the car! The engine is just absoultly amazing and a blast to drive. It seems like I found out soemthing new about the car everyday, truely amazing! just an absolute head-turner! Love it!!!!!

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  Most Amazing VW ever built - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Scottishceltic - March 6 - 10:00 am

  I have had the R32 for a month now (traded my 2003 GTI) and am loving every minute that I spend driving the car. In fact, I find excuses to leave the house so that I can sit behind the wheel of this extraordinary machine. The comfort, the body style, the sound and of course all of the staring eyes as you dart in and out of traffic make this car an absolute dream. If you have $30,000 to spend on a car, look no further - the R32 is for you. (Might need to hurry up though before the 5000 U.S. editions are snapped up) You may think it is pricey but just look at the included features and all you can say is "absolute quality".

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  Loaded V8 what a treat - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By jkellerfsu - March 6 - 10:00 am

  This is my first SUV. I traded my 2002 Passat in for the 04 Touareg. I was looking for an SUV that "felt" like a car and I found it. I didnt want to write a review though until I returned from my camping trip. Even on the ORV trails, I couldnt believe how smooth it drove. It took steep hills and streams like nothing. I am very impressed and so are my SUV die-hard friends. I love this SUV and am so glad I made the switch. It gets a lot of looks too.

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  I love this vehicle! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Koss - March 6 - 10:00 am

  I just love this thing. Shes an excellent peice of work, especially when you compare it against the others. this is my 30th vehicle, my only complaints, lots of technology to learn, and she loves her gas!! I find it too much of a pain to put the CDs in the rear, so I just use the dash.

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  My Betty... - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bearcat - March 6 - 10:00 am

  This car is unreal... for a first car out of college this thing kills... Everyone is always checking out the 18" BBS and the Z rated rubber thinking is that thing as fast as it looks... and yeah it can be... just got to keep the turbo spinning. I drove the VR6 model and wondered why anyone would buy that one... the 1.8T has better handleing and does not dive in the switchbacks or under hard braking which can get pretty hard with those HUGE front disks... By the way the 6 speed manual is flawless and most likely bulletproof like most other VW tranies.