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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  Volkswagen Touareg - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By roshie - October 4 - 5:03 pm

  My Volkswagen Touareg is fun to drive. It has a great turn radius and power when you want it. It has a luxurious interior with nice fit and finish and good size. My truck has needed no service other than oil changes. Everything worked great right out of the showroom. I would purchase one again!

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  nice car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wisco06vw - October 4 - 10:46 am

  Great car so far. Extremely fun to drive and my friends love it. Only problem I had was the power went out in my drivers door and had to replace the harness, but the warranty covered it.

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  Great car for a great price! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kahlua - October 4 - 10:20 am

  We purchaed a Jetta Wagon GLS 1.8T 5-speed. The steering is excellent, with some body roll evident, as we didnt get the Sport Suspension, but its still manageable. The shifting is precise, and the car is QUICK, and stable at high speeds. We got every option you could get on the GLS except for the sport Suspension package, and still came in at $21.5k even. For a car with this many options, thats a GREAT price! This car needs nothing else to be a great and fun car for a small family.

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  I love my VW Passat! - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sienna47 - October 4 - 1:03 am

  This was my first VW and will likely not be my last. Since buying my car new in 2000 and putting just about 135,000 miles on it, I have had no major issues with it at all. Yes, repairs are a bit costly, but with regular maintenance, my car has been pretty much problem-free. I intend to hold onto this car for a while simply because its such a solid, well-built car.

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  2004 VW Jetta TDI - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By John Ades - October 3 - 5:23 pm

  A fun car to drive.It has lots of acceleration for normal highway driving.The fuel economy is wonderful at todays prices.I have gotten as high as 49 mpg on a trip,and always get at least in the low 40s.Slightly pricey,but nothing except hybreds come close to the fuel economy.

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  Great Car - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Dagar882002 - October 2 - 2:00 am

  I think that this car is great because of its power and any SUV except for the Porche SUV doesnt compete with it.

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  After 15, Best vehicle owned! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By toyphd - October 2 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I each buy or lease a new vehicle every three years and after driving; BMW,SAAB,NISSAN,LEXUS,DODGE, FORD,ISUZU and HONDA, this is the best thing we have ever driven. The Design, build, fit, finish and reliability is among the best of any brand weve owned. Rock solid, a pleasure to drive and yes, we also get more comments, questions and compliments on the Touareg than on anything else we have owned because VW Managed to build something special in a world of boxes and "Me too" SUVs.

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  consistency - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By stefi - October 2 - 2:00 am

  First fell in love with Passat overseas. This is my first brand new Passat, but even two different used Passats were so well built and reliable, I had to have a new one. I never worry about this car leaving me stranded with mechanical problems. Besides routine maintenance, I have not seen a mechanic in years! Buying a Volkswagen is a perfect way to enjoy smart,solid German engineering without the prices of Mercedes and BMW!

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  VWPassat GLX Sedan - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By J.Haidar - October 2 - 2:00 am

  If you have not bought one, please do and you better go for the best,GLX.

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  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CGK - October 2 - 2:00 am

  Wonderful Car. If you love fuel mileage you will love this car. I got 54 MPG on a 750 mile trip.