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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  The Great 8 - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By great 8 - January 26 - 10:43 am

  My 2004 Volkswagen Passat W8 4Motion AWD has a sports sedan feel with the sport package option. It has been reliable with good manners. It takes time to understand and appreciate this car. The engine is a unique configuration of two V4 motors sitting almost on top of each forming a W hence the name. The 4Motion keeps the 270 horses stabilized and glued to the road. Otherwise, a front drive 8-cylinder car might be gyrating out of contol. The manual 6-speed transmission is very pleasant to use. This car is understated and classy. The high density lights are a bonus driving at night in deer country.

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  Greatest Car Ever - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Eos Guy - Illinois - January 25 - 4:00 pm

  My first VW and convertible. Both have been a great experience. Fun with the top up or down. Wish it had all wheel drive (sometimes)

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  Very balanced car - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By burbach - January 23 - 11:56 am

  Very balanced, with excellent mileage for a larger gas powered car. (I confess to being hooked on the computers fuel consumption feature, short of being a hyper miler. Best on my 30+ mile commute on country roads has been 34.7 mpg.) The 5 speed is well matched - the engine turns at 2000 rpm at 60 mph. Very quiet at 80 mph, with 30+ mpg even at that speed. Nice radio, simple to use.

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  Better than I Expected - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jasavage - January 23 - 10:16 am

  The new 07 Passat is much better than I expected. It has a nice interior, excellent handling, some of the new features (push button start), and it is very roomy. VW has done a great job with this car. I owned 98 and 04 Passats and this one blows them away. I highly recommend it.

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  Good Choice - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dcrew12 - January 23 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my VW Jetta 1.8T for 2 months. Since I bought it late in the season (June 2004) it had been sitting on the lot for a while. Drivers side door needed to be realigned, shake/shimmey needed to be fixed (said it was the roters - got rusty due to sitting in the lot all year??). Otherwise, I love its exterior look (navy blue, sleek) and the grey interior. Great acceleration especially on high-way passing. Brakes need to be depressed far but very responsive. Monsoon sound system is great. Sunroof is AWESOME. Im happy with the purchase....so far!!

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  Best VW Ive Owned! - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By TDIMichMan - January 23 - 6:20 am

  Ive had my 05 Passat TDI for about four months now, and I love it. I was a bit concerned that it wouldnt be as peppy as my 03 Jetta Turbo, but it has quite a bit of zip. Its passing power could be a little better though. You just have to plan ahead a little more for passing maneuvers. The back seat is huge for a car this size. The gas mileage is awesome, although it will drop in the cold weather. Also, its a dog on cold mornings, until it gets warmed up. Overall, I cant complain. For the money, its a very nice ride. Now I just need to get used to the funny looks I get from the truckers at the diesel pumps, and the station attendants asking me, "Um, you know that pump is diesel?"

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  Love the handling of this SUV - fun to drive - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By hhs2000 - January 19 - 2:55 pm

  This is my first diesel car. Boy, I love the torque. Didnt realize the modern diesel engine is so clean and quiet until I drove one. Fell in love with the diesel car. Had 1100 miles on it. With 70/30 hwy/local driving. I got avg 28 mgp. I test drove Audi Q5, MB ML350, GLK and VW Touareg. love the Q5 and Touareg. Sold on Touareg on room and power train and big fuel tank. I dont have to visit gas station as often. A full tank give me 700+ mile. I had to fill my Honda Pilot every 350 miles. I still own a 2007 Honda Pilot. Great reliable SUV. But in terms of driving experience. Honda cant compare with VW Touareg. Touareg is a Luxury SUV under a none-luxury badge. I like it.

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  WHOOOOOSHHHHH - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Raman Gain - January 19 - 2:00 am

  The original Hot Hatchback and still the best. I drove a SVT Focus for a full day, then a single test drive of the GTI 1.8T was the answer. By far the most mature in this scrappy class - am I getting too old? Is enjoying full torque at 2k RPM too mature for this class? You cant beat the 4 year warranty or fuel mileage if you drive it maturely. Performance is very good, some say best in class. Turbo boost comes on strongly at 2k RPM and is smooth until PAST redline. Brakes are initially very grabby but responsive. Gearbox hates being rushed. RECOMMENDED upgrade is new diverter valve (~$140) to reduce boost-lag during shifts.

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  Love It ! Coooool Car - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By New Beetle Lover - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Love the car, its cute as can be! After 4 years Im still getting compliments on the look. Have had no negative problems. Some parts can be expensive, but that true on any foreign car.

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  Best Highway Driving Car Ever - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By stljk - January 18 - 3:26 pm

  This is my first VW and at the end of 4 years still love the vehicle. Its the most comfortable and fun car I have ever had for highway driving. Seats are very comfortable! Long trips are a breeze. Negatives are the parking sensors in cold or wet weather give you false beeps frequently. Navigation is terrible if you want to find something on a common street like Elm or Main. System lists every Elm St. in all cities within a state and you end up guessing which of the multiple Elms listed is the right one. No way to enter city name to narrow the list. Just hope for a unique street name.