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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  Driving again! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Flo02 - November 8 - 2:00 am

  I really fell like driving again in that car.

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  Crazy VW Desirer - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Natraj - November 8 - 2:00 am

  My new Jetta is a grand car. I love it. I really enjoy the smooth ride, and it is seems exceptionally roomy for the front passengers. 1.8T engine is incredible, the build quality is great. I looked at Altima and Civic, but nothing can beet Jetta 1.8T. It gets good mileage, and its cargo area is pretty big.

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  This Wagon Should be Illegal to Drive! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By fun2drive - November 7 - 10:00 am

  5k miles and no problems. Performance is top notch, handling is great and it is too much fun to drive. Had the autolock feature disengaged by dealer but the rear door on the wagon has an annoying lock that wont stay open when all the other locks are open.

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  My GLX, 5 speed - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By George A. - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! It has everything I want in a vehicle. Excellent handling, good power, smooth ride, quiet inside, sporty feel, fine sound system, great features and an overall feeling of excellent quality. I tested the Audi A4 V6 and could not see why I should pay an additional 6K for essentially the same car. The Stohlhman dealership was perfect in the handling of the sale. This car is a steal at under 28K.

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  Wow - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By trillium - November 7 - 10:00 am

  The new VR-6 and the six speed manual is a dream combo. The Golf body makes it just dorky enough to have the cops ignore it.

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  Best GTI Yet - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By Eli - November 5 - 6:36 pm

  The new Volkswagen 2.0T GTI is the best hatchback and the best sports car in its class. The features that are standard are luxurious compared to other coupes / hatches. Its s DSG gearbox is faster than any manual transmission in the world, and the torque is amazing. The GTI is very quick and handles superbly. This car is absolutely amazing for its price.

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  Great Car, Great Fuel Economy - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sail - November 4 - 3:50 pm

  The new TDI diesel engines are extremely powerful, very reliable and quiet! This is a fantastic mid-size car that is solidly built. It handles like a sports car and has the comfort of a luxury sedan. I have no idea why anyone concerned with fuel economy would bother with hybrids (what do you do with the old batteries?). Gas cars with this kind of fuel economy are small, lightweight and underpowered. This car is solid. I feel very safe in it should I have an accident.

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  awsome - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By 54654 - November 4 - 10:00 am

  Fun tuner. Cant lose to the competetors. Major torque. land missle if you ask me

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  The best ever SUV - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By cccc - November 4 - 10:00 am

  I love my new VW, the dealer Foreste & Brown VW, Noblesville, Fishers, Anderson, Muncie, Indiana was wonderful! They even delivered my Touareg to my home, they took care of everything, all I had to do was enjoy my new SUV!!!

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  WOW! Me in an SUV... - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Peter Zimmermann - November 4 - 10:00 am

  Our V8 Touareg is amazing. As an ex SCCA road racer (National Level) I can testify that its brakes are as good as it gets. Handling is great and so is available power. We have covered 7K miles and since a "Check Engine" light issue early on the vehicles been perfect. Ive driven a second Touareg equipped with Dunlop tires (mine has Continentals) and my Touareg is far more well behaved (quieter, more comfortable, etc.)