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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  Waaaay better than previous vehicle (Honda Insight) - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
  By pacific_nw - October 28 - 4:29 am

  I used to own a 2010 Jetta SE 2.5 5-cylinder & a 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid, & this car has certainly been the best of both worlds. VW has fixed the previous issues that I had with the remodelled Jetta (most importantly, the IRS) & this car gets the advertised mpg that the TDi claims (42 us hwy mpg is almost dead-on from our 2000+ mile road trip up and down the west coast.) It is such a great road trip car. It has all the power you need to go up hills that our Insight pathetically would cry about and it has great interior/trunk space. The DSG has been the best shifting transmission Ive had. A must buy if you are looking for inexpensive/fun to drive/fuel economy. Interior also easy to clean.

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  Amazing Value - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Atlanta Buyer - October 27 - 5:56 pm

  The Rabbit is by far the best inexpensive compact car available. I tried them all, and nothing compares to the solid body, secure handling, safety equipment, and controlled ride. The 4 door is very well equipped for the price with 6 airbags, heated seats, 10-speaker CD-changer audio system, 4-wheel anti-lock disk brakes, and the quality interior materials. I added ESP and the 16" alloy wheels, both of which contribute to improved handling. I have not owned the car long, but there have been no problems. My last Golf went 4 years with nothing but routine maintenance, so Im hoping for the same with this one.

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  TDI...Great Towing, Comfort & Power! - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By TJ - October 25 - 10:06 pm

  This is my second Touareg. The first was a fully loaded 2004 V8 which I really loved. It replaced my Range Rover Classic. Did everything the Rover did, for $20K less and towed better too. With 100K miles on the V8, I figured I would take advantage of the current discounts on the 06 TDI. The vehicle is identical except for DVD navigation on the new one and of course the V10 twin turbo diesel. The V8 was very fast, but this thing flies. Better yet is the fuel economy.

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  Why buy a 325 - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sajohns - October 25 - 5:43 am

  Remarkably quick acceleration and handling for a front wheel drive. 17" wheels and window tint are a necessary upgrade for the value edition. Interior has held up extremely well and I have had no problems with the car so far, but of course it is still under warranty. It does seem to get out of alignment easily, which burns up the tires.

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  It could be so much better... - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DJ - October 25 - 5:26 am

  I Bought this car Brand New. With in the first 3 Months they charged me $623 for a new passenger window and supposive a bad regulator as well. That being said I didnt take the car at all for any work to be done on it until a Airbag light came on and the passenger side airbags didnt come on with someone in my seat.. The dealership said it would cost $870 for a new module for the seat AND that there wasnt any available but luckily they fixed the problem for $106 to reprogram the computer.

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  awsome and reliable - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vwjettaisgreat - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I have to drive about 1000 miles a week for my work and have driven from pa to ca and back and pa to florida and from pa to ohio many times, me and my wife love it. The 5 speed auto. is great. very comfortable inside and excelent build quality. I have almost 60000 and i have had it for 8 months. No problems except oil changes.

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  LOVE IT! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By AnonymousMe - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE my new passat. At first I wasnt too sure when I was considering it, now Im so happy! The only thing that my passat doesnt have is power adjustable seats, otherwise everythings great!

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  All around best vehicle - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By jw - October 24 - 9:36 am

  I bought my Passat brand new 7.5 years ago (51K miles) and I have never had an issue with the car! Love the interior (except cup holder) and exterior.

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  The best car I ever drove in my life. - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By gemini2 - October 23 - 10:00 am

  Dont know what to say, really. Im speechless about the performance and the looks of this car. Im falling in love over and over every day I drive the R32. BUY ONE WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!!!!

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  Typical Jetta - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VerbalK - October 23 - 10:00 am

  I bought mine as a cert. preowned over two years ago. I just recently replaced the muffler and a wheel bearing.. my first repair since i got it (the dealer replaced a few sensors when I bought it to make it CPO). overall extremely reliable, great city car and feel solid on the highway. This is my second Jetta, and prolly wont be my last. So long as I stay in shape and dont require a typical big butt comfy interior, I should be happy with the sparse VW. Also, my first experiance with a CPO has been great. I thought it would be a rip off, but I think they really did make some key repairs AFTER I bought the car to make it more reliable. Kudos to the Cooley VW staff in East Greenbush NY