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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  what next? - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By danuta - February 7 - 10:00 am

  allready broken and towed on carrier truck ,got stuck on "park" position.Hope yours is stiil drivinng well.

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  Well built car that is fun to drive also - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jet25s - February 6 - 5:23 am

  I have had the car for three months and it has been good to me as a daily commuter car. The engine pulls hard from the low rpm range and the manual transmission shifts very smoothly but with assurance. The suspension is dialed between comfort and handling so it is not very cushy but it has more body roll than I would like. It feels as quick as my 2500lb Miata in the straight line acceleration. I have autocrossed the Jetta and it pleasantly surprised me in its stock form with the all season tires. The rear view mirror developed a crack this morning when the heat came on when it was frozen. I am hoping it will be covered under warranty...

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  I love this car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Don - February 3 - 10:36 am

  This is my wifes car. We test drove the SE, TDI and Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg won hands down. This car handles very nicely with the sport suspension. Its a tad rougher ride than the rest of the pack, but the performance is much better. The seats are very comfortable, the sound system is excellent. The DSG transmission shifts gears much faster than you could with a manual. 2000 miles so far. To me this car is like buying a BMW for half price. Its that good.

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  VW Jetta 2.0T If you looking - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Berney2000 - February 2 - 4:03 pm

  Ive had this car going on 10 months. I will say VW has done well with redesigning the Jetta, my previous car being one. I like the compact and but economical spaced aspects of the Jetta. For a compact sedan its overall amazing to drive and has neat features. The gas claims 30, Ive only seemed to get about 26. Interior is fun and somewhat comfortable. With todays gas about $2.71 per gallon its cost me only $30.00 which I do enjoy.

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  Great, But Not Perfect - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Lenny - February 2 - 4:13 am

  Love this car. Sporty, but versatile; I can just throw my mountain bike inside. I have the 24V version with 200 HP and its SWEET! Very torquey yet smooth; feels like a much bigger motor. ESP is great and has saved me many times as has the ABS. Stock suspension was way too mushy for me so I lowered the car with Eibach springs, and Koni Sport shocks. Now, handling is a match for the motor at the expense of ride comfort. Only complaints I have are interior squeaks and rattles, and the soft wheels. Already had to replace 2 because of potholes. My Monsoon has been great, but could use better bass.

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  TDI a pleasure - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By markneumann - February 1 - 9:19 am

  I bought the car 5 weeks ago and just took it on a 3,000 km trip to the Sierra Nevada mountains and Lake Tahoe. Amazing - this engine and tranny pulls exceedingly well. It climbed up steep grades at 50 km/h in 4th and 5th gears w/a full load. My only complaint was that fuel consumption was much worse than expected. Granted, I had a full car, but I expected - at the least - 35-37 mpg. I was disappointed as I barely managed 32-34 mpg. Not all of the trip was going up the mountains. I went down the same mountains and expected more. So far, the daily commute has been a joy, as the car itself is a total blast to drive (no, I havent been flooring it just so I could move quickly). So far, so good.

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  RECALL - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By williamtwo - February 1 - 2:00 am

  I love this car until it starting sputtering and would not start after warmed up. VW flew tech in from Auburn Hills, and could not figure out how to fix it. They said it was computer "mapping" problem. Engine would stall and sputter, then die. FInally, VW repurchased the car from me with 5500 miles on it after 4 months of headache.

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  euro van - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By jm nelms - February 1 - 2:00 am

  this is my second mv.Own the first one 10 years. the new motor is much better and the exterior is good looking.

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  Nothing but problems.... - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Fletcher - January 29 - 2:00 am

  For every dollar saved in mileage, you will spend two on maintenance. The following has been repaired so far: turbo, dash display control chip, stereo, interior lights, and drivers electric seat controls. The outside mirror defogger works intermittently and the ceiling skirt is falling down and in some places, hanging. Dealer maintenance is expensive as are the parts. In hindsite, a quality Japanese car with weaker gas mileage would have been a better choice. Never again.

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  Poor Interior Design - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mbonder - January 26 - 4:43 pm

  Overall, excellent car. However, there is a tight fit for the drivers hand around the ignition and little space between the gear shifter and console. Interior design could be better, its a little disappointing from a VW.