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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  Jetta has been good to me - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kkempskie - December 29 - 9:53 pm

  My 2nd Jetta and 4th VW. Love the tight feel and handling of this Jetta more than my past 98 Cabrio, 00 Jetta and 85 GTI. Drives awesome and even good in snow. Wish mileage was a little better, but its not bad. The std options w/ my model are sweet (pwr snrf, AC, leather, pwr evythg). Always felt the build & finish were fine; knobs are sturdy, glove box doesnt break in winter (like my 00 did) and window clips are sturdy. $80 oil changes at dlr are a drag, yes, but skip those when u can at Jiffylube! All in all a great car w/ good looks, features. will cost a bit more at tune-up times ($700+ at 40K) but well worth the fun of driving this daily.

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  This SUV Rocks - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Paul Davis - December 29 - 6:26 pm

  The Volkswagen Touareg is better than the SUVs being sold by other luxury automakers, including Infiniti, Lexus, etc.

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  Loving it - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Jedimed - December 28 - 10:26 pm

  I had to trade in my Audi A4 for something a bit more family-friendly, but that wasnt a boat. The Tiguan fit the bill nicely, with just enough room to get the kids in without adding too much mass. The handling and acceleration are better than most of its class, certainly much better than the CR-V. The Audi Q5 definitely outpaces the Tiguan, but it comes with a much higher price. If youre looking for a sporty SUV ride that gives you a bit more room and ground clearance, this is a good choice. If you want something to haul a lot of cargo, though, you may be disappointed.

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  A Sports Car that Gets 40 MPG - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By E collins - December 27 - 6:26 am

  I have put 3,000 miles on this car so far. It handles like the MGB that I had in college but it gets outstanding fuel mileage. It is comfortable and fun to drive. I have already taken two long trips and it is more comfortable than my Olds 88. The trunk is huge. It has a "real" spare tire! Things to watch include the speedometer is not correct (a European thing) and there are side blind spots. Other than that, it is perfect.

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  Excellent Wagon for Anyone - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dragondad - December 27 - 1:33 am

  Have owned several VWs. Upgraded from a 2003 Golf GL to the Jetta GLS 2.0 4A Wagon. First impressions are great. Tight German factory-built auto with much tighter feel than the Brazillian-built Golf. It is quieter and more comfortable (some due to the GLS vs. GL interior) than a Golf. Road manners are great and the gas mileage is very good for a 4cyl. automatic. Recommend this to anyone as a totally practical automobile. The features and quality justify the price, which can be negotiated to very acceptable levels. The GLS TDI Tiptronic version would be the ultimate in a small wagon.

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  The W12 blows away the competition.. - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Jack - December 26 - 1:53 pm

  It seems all the automotive editors are most concerned about whether or not VW should have built this car and whether or not people will pay this much money for a VW badged car. The editors instead should concentrate on what a magnificent car this is and the fact that it is practically hand built in a marvelous new glass factory in Dresden. It is rumored that the Bentley Continental (with which the VW shares many parts) will soon be built alongside the Phaeton. There are approximately 300 W12s out there in the USA. It has been a tremendous buy at the 04 closeout prices, and well could become a classic.

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  Love the car!!/ Leary of the reliability - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By delia21 - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I love everything about my 2001.5 V6, manual! Its looks, the solid feel, the blue lights, even the rear lights. One of my daytime running lights has burned out after 10 months. Seems waaay too early for that. One concern is that the pillar gets in the way when Im try to see, change lanes on the front, right side. Drove a Celica for 13 years. I just hope I can come close to this on my Paasat.

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  Best car under $30,000 - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By C-Dev - December 26 - 10:00 am

  Blows away the competition in overall performance, value, and fit/ finish. You may pay a bit less for a Toyota or Honda, but theyre so boring...they dont have that solid, fun, German feel. It may not be a high-performance sport sedan like a BMW, but youre not gonna find a Bimmer this size for this price.

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  Terrific Car! Have no fear. - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Greg Lindner - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I was looking for a commuter car since I travel nearly 90 miles a day. I wanted something safe, had lots of comfort features & fun to drive. The GTI has all of this and more. It has wonderful saftey features (6 airbags), can come with leather, sunroof, telescopic steering wheel, and is very fast. I have all the options you can get on mine & I cant be happier. I definetly recommend the 17" rims. It really enhances the handeling. Also, Im 64" & the telescopic steering wheel helps a lot. I have plenty of room. Finally, the inside is so well built. 1st rate quality everywhere you look. Go test drive one!

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  My Silver Beetle - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Janice H - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I love my Beetle and so do my grandkids!!