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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  I chose a 2010 CC over a 2009 Lexus IS250! - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By mizzmolly - October 23 - 7:23 am

  I bought a 2010 CC sport turbo last week with 17,939 miles and I absolutely LOVE it! I keep coming up with reasons to leave the house just to drive it. I compared it to a 2009 Lexus IS250 that I test-drove and the CC hands down won. Great price for a slightly larger sedan with luxurious qualities and better gas mileage than the Lexus! I test drove the CC for an entire day and honestly lost count how many heads it turned!!

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  2005 Passat TDI Wagon - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By James Witt - October 21 - 8:30 pm

  2005 Passat TDI Wagon special order exact color, trim, leather, OnStar sets this wagon ahead from everybody. Tiptronic one finger up / down shift, corners flat, smooth ride 29 mpg city.

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  Vault solid and great value. - 2016 Volkswagen Golf
  By Drive Fan - October 20 - 8:28 pm

  This car drives sublimely. Quiet, stable and agreeably fun. Excellent highway MPG (40) OK city (25). Manual takes a little getting used to after precise 6 speed manual 14 Mazda6. Fit and finish are great. Wish the aluminum wheels were a little less boring on the S, but the suspension is way more refined than anything close price-wise. Inside, its all logical and nothing feels base. I got this with a huge discount off MSRP and in many ways it is like a 2005 Acura TSX I owned for 5 years. I hope that the reliability is good and that VW gets on track following the scandal. This is an icon of simple design refinement. Now at almost 12,000 miles, I continue to love the Golf. Masterful in city traffic and mileage has improved, great suspension and no problems. What a deal!

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  Best vehicle weve ever owned, way better then the new model PERIOD! if you want a real truck and not a car. - 2010 Volkswagen Touareg
  By utadvrider - October 20 - 11:18 am

  Best vehicle weve ever owned, we are a large family and got rid of our 2007 LTZ LOADED Suburban. Gas milage savings alone has paid for the car payment, we save about $4-500 per month with the driving my wife does. Not to mention that the VW tows more then the Suburban, the Chevy only towed 7K and the smaller VW tows 8k! Besides the towing, it drives great, same as the Porsche for the most part, really the only differences are: Diesel, interior and wheel options, which the interior of the VW is way nicer then the Porsche. It fast (torque) and handles great, on & off road! Its a Real Truck, not a car thats lifted like most SUVs, body on frame like a PU, Land Cruiser of Land Rover.

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  Major Ride - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By 2006VR6 - October 19 - 9:16 pm

  Normally get rid of a car that Ive purchased after 2 years. This one is a keeper. Fun factor over rides the fixes it has needed that were covered under warranty. Headlamps that bend were replaced, & auto 6 speed was flashed. Well optioned sedan that is almost the size of an A6. Only thing missing is cabin adjustable suspension. Kudos to VW. Rides super and will put a smile on my face when I ask her to respond. Picking up second Passat in two days - an 08 Lux Wagon 2.0T (chain driven) that is also optioned very nicely. Replacing our 03 Allroad. Really - No baloney/just lean venison and buffalo :-)

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  Jetta TDI - What a car - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tdibeliver - October 19 - 6:00 pm

  After waiting for 4 months I got my TDI in early December. We have about 6500 miles on it now and have had no problems whatsoever. We usually drive around town averaging 36 to 38 MPG. I drove on a highway trip of about 200 miles and got 49.6 MPG keeping the speed to no more than 65. We really enjoy driving the car. It handles well and is very comfortable. The 6 months of free satalite radio was a plus I didnt expect. The height adjustable seats are great. Im a little taller than the wife and with both of us driving the car it makes it easier to get a comfortable driving position. We really enjoy the car. If your thinking about buying one check it out!

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  Fuel Friendly - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By K2az - October 19 - 3:13 pm

  I bought this car for the fuel mileage. When I compared it to other fuel savvy cars this by far looked and handled the best. It might not win any races off the line, but in an endurance race it would blow them away. Its very fun to drive and it looks sophisticated, unlike other gas mileage vehicles. My only complaint is they couldve used better materials on the interior, and bigger cup holders. I dont know what kind of drinks europeans use but most american cups are bigger than a soda can.

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  VW Jetta TDI Auto - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By deblynn49 - October 19 - 4:13 am

  Our vehicle has less than 5,000 miles on it and has gotten 43.8 mpg for which we are very pleased. We enjoy driving it, the turbo diesel engine has an excellent response time, it really moves! I highly recommend it for value, fuel economy and just for fun.

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  Love my Jetta - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Moke - October 16 - 3:40 pm

  Ive owned this car for two years now and I love it. I havent had any problems with it at all. I take it to the dealership for the normal service intervals and things are going well. I love all the features, the heated seats, sunroof, and overall feel of the interior.

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  I Love this car - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Bull1212 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  There is nothing i dont like about this car. With the exception of poor stock suspension, the 1.8 is the best car i have ever owned. the engine has so much pep and with a few bolt ons, can become a really high powered tuner car.