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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  Finally, my 2nd good car-another VW - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By junquemail - August 19 - 10:00 am

  1) One serious defect on purchse, broken gear shift. 2) not one problem since. 3) Im reading about poor gas mileage. Hello???? I get 30-32 on the highway, best Ive ever had. 4) Wish it would last forever.

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  My firs lease - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Debby - August 19 - 4:03 am

  Have had the vehicle for one week. Rides smooth. Handles well in heavy rain. This a first time leasing, I feel comfortable with it.

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  Love it, but ... - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By bix - August 18 - 9:56 am

  I love driving this car, steering is very easy, automatic transmission comfy and economic, yet with nice acceleration. Baggage space is not so big, but in the interior, there is plenty of space for passengers, compared to vehicle size. What is bothering me is that not only human, but also martens enjoy this car as there is a plenty of space between the engine and car hood and martens keep biting pressure tubes from turbo. Yesterday I found that when accelerating slightly, a deep sound, like a short deep silent bang comes from under the engine.

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  Solid performing SUV - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By GC - August 18 - 1:20 am

  This has been a great SUV. I read a lot of disgruntled reviews which you would expect to see on this site, but my experience has been satisfying with this truck after driving it for four years. I use it to tow a race car each month and it has great towing power. I havent had any of the electrical or tire issues like others - I regularly rotate and align the vehicle which has definitely helped. Put new tires on at 25K miles. This SUV also performs extremely well in the snow or winter driving conditions with its AWD system. If considering the V6 vs. the V8, stop considering and immediately get the V8. This SUV is way too heavy for the V6 and MPG difference is nominal.

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  Should have done this years ago - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tebbe - August 16 - 10:16 am

  I bought this used with 42K on it and have driven in 2500 in one month. It is my "working mans BMW". I love this car. It is a TANK. Sturdy, quick and comfortable. After 2 weeks I rear ended my wife in our drive way (steep and curvy) she was backing down in a Mazda 626, I was driving up. Her car was destroyed and subsequently totaled, The Jetta -- just a few scratches. So we took the insurance money and went out and bought another Jetta for her.

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  Pili, Fun in the Sun - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Esther P Dumenigo - August 16 - 4:50 am

  I purchased my convertible a year ago and so far has been great, a pleasure to drive all year around. I was a little concerned about all the negatives reviews from other owners, but my experience with VW have been positive. The car feels very solid and offers a very quiet ride. The Beetle comes standard w/lots of standard safety features that other convertibles dont even offered. If you are looking for a solid, safe and fun to drive convertible, the Beetle is the one. It has the feel of a luxury car w/o the high sticker price.

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  bobs phaeton - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By bob in nc - August 16 - 3:30 am

  Great driving and riding car. The nav system needs improvement. Interior room and comfort, especially the back seat, are second to none. No detail has been left out. Well worth the money!

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  TDI - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By JoanieChachie - August 15 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for almost five months now, and have had no problems. The car gets about 48 mpg and is a lot of fun to drive. While it seems that getting a reliable VW is a crapshoot these days, I dont regret this purchase at all.

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  All Around Epic - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Dubsanator - August 14 - 12:10 pm

  I purchased the vehicle at a great price because it had a lot of miles on it, I have been driving it ever since i bought it and wouldnt trade it for the world. I work at a dealership and Ive driven my share of cars, this one takes the cake as the most fun car I have ever driven. Period. Everything about it screams amazing, the look, the styling, the epic exhaust sound, the amazing handling, the peppy speed, the smooth six speed gearbox, and last but surely not the end or least, the epic brakes. All around this car is a great buy, coming with numerous interior features that barely come standard on your common exensive BMW. Like I said, wouldnt trade it for anything.

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  Best overall in its class - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rock - August 14 - 12:00 pm

  Looking for SUV/AWD wagon? The 4motion came out on top for value in my book. SUVs are unsafe and too expensive on gas. Plus they cost more than the VW when loaded. The VW handled way better than the Outback VDC, although the Subey had a little more power. But for the same price, go for the better styling, more fun to drive, better resale of the VW. I did.