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, but it has some flaws.... - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By WolfsburgGuy - August 5 - 2:53 pm

  After three years with my 2000 1.8T Jetta, I eagerly climbed into my 2003 Reflex Silver Wolfsburg Edition Jetta with 16" BBS wheels. The car is TIGHT, instantly responsive and predictable, therefore safe in the way it handles. ESP has gotten me out of many tough situations on wet Florida roads. The ABS brakes work perfectly, maintaining driver control of the car. This edition of Jetta seems to have more turbo lag than my 2000. Still it is very quick off the line, gobbling premium fuel, and glides down the highway like its on rails at expressway speeds! It has a very precise road feel and is fun to drive!

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  Great Car - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tengage - August 4 - 10:00 am

  I have had two Jettas, a 97 and this 99. These cars are built for drivers. I have had no major problems with my 99. I had one window fall off the track, a mass air flow sensor (replaced via recall), and had to have the coolant tank resovoir replaced. All were covered under my extended warrenty. In total, Ive spent about $180 on repairs in the 5 years Ive owned it. It burns more oil than other cars Ive owned, about a half a quart every 3000 miles, but I drive hard and my old Jetta was the same. One complaint is that the front bumper is shaped like a hook and will latch on to a curb and not let go.

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  1 year, 30,000 miles later - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By wall street - August 4 - 10:00 am

  This SUV is still great. It handles curves like a sports car, its as quiet and smooth as a Lincoln Town Car (which I used to drive), and has plenty of room in the front (I am 65"). I knew the V6 would lack power going in, and while it is sluggish from a dead stop, this vehicle effortlessly does 100 mph. I routinely drive it at 90 for a 50 mile freeeway stretch and the engine is just purring at 3000 to 3200 rpm. Even at these speeds, I have been getting anywhere from 16.7 to 17.2 mpg between re-fuels. Only maintenance required has been routine oil changes/tire rotations.

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  WHEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Txst - August 2 - 1:33 pm

  I just got my Jetta TDI today and I must say that it is by far the best car I have ever owned. There are so many features to be enjoyed in this car and although I payed just below sticker price I really feel I got a very good deal. I have noticed that other places are jacking up these vehicles by thousands of dollars because they know there are only a few left and people will pay well above sticker for them. So far the whole experience has been great. Get one while you still can...there arent too many left. I was not considering getting the manual tranny but one test drive sold me.

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  Wow - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By kevin - August 1 - 12:16 pm

  I looked at many cars like the BMW 525i, Saab 9-5, and Lincoln MKZ. The last car I had was an Audi S4 and we all know that was a hot car. I took out the VW for a test with the dealer sitting next to me so I didnt really give it a test. The dealer gave me a fair price and I took the car home. That when I realized that this was not just a family car. This car was more fun then the S4 because when your driving an S4 around town you can get yourself in trouble quickly so you tend to drive more reserved. The VW 2.0T is just a hot fun car.

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  Loving it! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Hopping happy! - August 1 - 4:46 am

  I absolutely love this car. The handling is great. The head room is spectacular, and I am 6 2. The amenities are unbeatable for the $15,000 price tag. Its highway gas mileage of 30 mpg is acceptable for a car that has this much pep. The 5-speed shifts smoothly. The car is a blast to drive, and corners superbly.

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  Im in Heaven - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By FightingEngineer - August 1 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. Its stylish inside and out. Its very polished from an engineering stand point. Even the smallest details were considered. Like the dampers in the roof mounted hand rests that allow them to close slowly instead of slamming. And also the climate control vents, close off completely and look excellent when they are closed. I spend most of my time in the car so the interior is one of the most important parts. The instrumention is gorgeous at night. The steering and suspension offer a nice balance between responsiveness and comfort.

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  Best Buy!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By AO Schwarz - August 1 - 2:00 am

  Its only been a couple of weeks since I passed over the new 2003 Accord in favor of a 2003 1.8T Passat. So far, I have absolutely no regrets. Inital quality and performance are outstanding and its a joy to look at inside and out. The German look and "feel" are evident throughout this vehicle. The manufacturer recommends premium gas, which does seem to be necessary. Two tank fulls of mid-grade have provided a measureable difference in performance. Oh, well...its worth the extra few bucks in gas! FYI - My car is Fresco Green, which looks hideous on the VW website, but stellar in person.

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  Couldnt be better - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By toconnell - August 1 - 2:00 am

  Okay, so I bought a "new" Beetle in 2001. I have enjoyed every mile I have driven, from commuting in the city to long trips. It holds an amazing amount of equipment with the back seat folded down, and gets super mileage. Even loaded with my best friend, her dog, my dog, and gear for a weekend camping, the car can pass anything going uphill. A marvelous machine!

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  Great Car - Fun to drive! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Beau - July 31 - 9:13 am

  The Passat 2.0T is a fantastic, fun car! VW has come up with a winner this time. It has plenty of interior space and lots of trunk room. The Passat 2.0T has power to spare and does not diappoint during freeway driving. Its stylish exterior completes the package.