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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  Love the car!! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By geovanni11 - September 18 - 5:40 am

  This car is amazing..from low fuel consumption to great exterior design..i love everything about it..even when the check engine light turned on and i didnt have the money to fix it, it kept going strong and never let me down. Great car!!

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  Fun Car to Drive - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Linda - September 17 - 1:40 pm

  I purchased this car on a whim and never regretted it! It is a fun car to drive and people are always coming up to me in parking lots and asking me how I like my convertible." I dont like it", I say, "I love it!" Every time another New Beetle convertible passes me the driver will wave and I will wave back. On the more practical side, the car gets about 26 mpg around town, and around 30 on the highway. I have been able to fit an entire JV football team defensive line in the car, and during lacrosse season the pass- through to the trunk allows for long stick defensive players equipment. The New Beetle handles very well in snow and ice, a must for New Hampshire drivers!

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  FUN CAR WITH WORST ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By saturn101 - September 16 - 10:53 pm

  first owner, do service every 5K in dealer or respected shop... 30100miles, (right after service)fuel pressure sensor died on the road 200 miles away from home on a holiday.... 42000miles, power steering wheel and traction control lights on for 80% of driving time, 4 times to the dealer, 2 for diagnostics 2 for fixing, got fixed, first time for 15 mins before lights came on again, second time, better, 3 days... 50100miles, with those problems persisted, new problems came out, when those lights on, the power steering wheel would lose electricity for all buttons and pedals include signal lights, wipers... in the dealer for 8 business days and counting... bad luck, maybe, but lesson learned

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  Nice Van - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By Eric Finn - September 16 - 9:43 pm

  Any one who is in the market for a Minivan should consider the Routan. We traded in a 2006 Kia Sedona for our Routan and the Routan is a far superior vehicle. The Kia creaked, rattled and squeaked over every bump, but the Routan is rock solid and quiet. The seats are very comfortable and the highway fuel economy at 25mpg is very good for a van (Kias best was 22). Our kids love the dual dvd player. VW did a nice job of improving upon the Chrysler van. Interior materials, ride and handling are better. I would recommend spending the extra money and getting the SEL pkg. The 4.0 engine is very strong and the 6 spd auto is buttery smooth.

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  Awesome car! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rustyboy155 - September 15 - 2:00 am

  I love this car!!! I have not had any mechanical problems whatsoever

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  the best - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By JAY - September 15 - 2:00 am

  THE BEST CAR OUT THERE IN THE MARKET TODAY BEST LOOKING TOO ! NO ONE CAN BEAT THAT

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  EVUpdate - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By WiscVWnut - September 15 - 2:00 am

  A Very high quality vehicle that is actually fun to drive for a van. Solid feel on the road makes this an excellent long distance cruiser.

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  I love it! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By FoxRacing51984 - September 15 - 2:00 am

  Ive always wanted a Jetta. Its comfortable, great on gas, and very cute! Im very please with my car.

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  Affordable German Luxury & Quality - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By vwguy53 - September 15 - 2:00 am

  I am amazed how much car VW offers for the money! The fit/finish and driving experience are worthy of a car twice as expensive and reliability has been first-rate. On top of that I get excellent mileage (32mpg in mixed driving) and comfort. I previously owned an A4 1.8TQ, but definitely feel the Passat is the better deal.

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  VDub scores a "9" - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By jwellsnapa - September 15 - 2:00 am

  I really enjoy driving this car, however, it takes some time for the engine to react... it is not as "peppy" as some of the other models. Also, it feels like the car is a little "lopsided" when making sharp turns. However, I would rate this car a 9, and I would definitely test drive this car when looking for a new sedan.