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 a car! - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Blackmagicgti - November 26 - 10:00 am

  This car is so much fun to drive its unbelievable. If you have never had a car of this caliber (like me) then it will amaze you. It will turn and the drop of a hat and accelerate smoothly, obeying your every command. The 6 speed tranny matted to the turbo works great and keeping the speed down is nearly impossible. Not only that but for the 20th anniversary the interior has brushed aluminum accents everywhere including the gauges (which look incredible) and a limited edition plaque that displays the number of the car XXXX (out of 4000 for the US). A FANTASTIC CAR!!!

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  No problems yet - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jiminmass - November 26 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car in August 2002 and currently have 24800 miles on it. I have had no problems with the car so far.

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  Love My Passat 1.8T - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By jeremy - November 26 - 2:00 am

  I love my Passat. I bought this car new and have never had a single problem. After buying a new Malibu, then an Accord and having problems early on I have to say that Im a VW fan for life!

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  Conversation Starter - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Superdogsteve - November 25 - 2:30 pm

  This is the most fun car I have ever driven! I did not even know VW made this vehicle until a friend bought one, and after the test drive, it even convinced my wife we should get a third car for fun and gas savings. I get looks and questions all the time when I drive it, with the top up or down. I even had a guy follow me home to see what it was that I was driving (that was a little strange). All I can say is FUN. It is fast and handles well. It is well appointed and I definitely suggest getting the dynaudio stereo upgrade, it only adds to the fun! It is perfect for my wife and me, with two car seats in the back. Now my two year old always wants to ride in the "wee car"!

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  Fun! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TP - November 25 - 11:30 am

  Great car, excellent acceleration, a bit jerky with slow speed braking, but overall a great car. Fit and finish are excellent. Very comfortable.

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  U can take it to the bank! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ussoldier73 - November 25 - 6:36 am

  What a car! My girlfriends BMW and my VW are almost the same. Honestly I couldnt beleive it myself. I have to say my girlfriends car is three years older than mine. I couldnt be more happy with the Jetta. It has the power of a sports car, the handling of a luxuray car and the price speaks for itself. I read the reveiws and a couple of the neg. feedback contradict themselfves. I dont know of many cars that hold their value like the jetta. One person comiplained of repair cost mind you VW agreed to share after their warranty expired. I have not owned a better car for the price. My next car will be a new VW Jetta. I drove from NYC to Florida for 90 dollars. Five Star car no doubt. A steal!

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  Best Wagon Made! - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Patrick - November 24 - 10:00 pm

  Due to the current gasoline prices, I did not want to buy an SUV, but I needed cargo room, so a wagon seemed to be the smart choice. After extensive research, I settled on the Passat TDI. The TDI wagon is now hard to find, and I had to drive 250 miles to purchase one. This is by far the best automobile I have ever owned. The build quality, comfort, and ride are every bit as good as my in-laws BMW 525i. If you want an alternative to the gas-guzzling SUVs this is definitely a vehicle worth exploring. If you owned or knew someone who owned a VW diesel in the 1980s, you owe it to yourself to look at the new diesel technology. An absolutely fantastic vehicle!!!

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  My New 2006 Passat - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By dominik - November 24 - 9:56 pm

  Hi all, I just bought my Passat 3 weeks ago and I love it. What makes me a little bit worried is the fact that I see sometimes a review describing this car as the car with so many problems. I hope mine will not be like that. So far it has been pleasure and fun to drive. I was shopping for my new car for a long time and nothing can beat my Passat. I have the 2.0 T and I am absolutely happy. It is fast and comfy and it has all I need. I wanted something safe and it gives me the feeling of am really safe car, plus I have rear side airbags. The design is cool too, you need to look at the car and then you realize that it is beautifull and very elegant sedan. The interior is perfect too and the car fits...

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  The Best - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By James Wald - November 24 - 4:03 pm

  The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is a really fun car to drive. It gets great mileage and it doesnt look like the hideous Honda Insight or Toyota Prius. I cant describe how much I love my Jetta.

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  Best car that I have ever own - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By semper - November 24 - 8:26 am

  nice handling, more than enough power, sporty feeling, gorgeous interior design, well equipped standard options that cant be found in other cars in the same price range, nice panoramic sunroof that covers almost entire roof - I feel like I am driving a convertible car. My two year old son loves this. Aside from the things above, I was a huge fan of Japanese cars. I have owned Corolla, Accord, Camry, and Sienna so far. But, I dont know if I like Japanese cars any more. Now, I like VW Jetta 100x better than any of my previous cars.