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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  The Hybrid Killer.... - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jhb - July 30 - 5:13 pm

  Commuting 42 miles each way to work requires a good dependable vehicle with really good fuel mileage. So my choices were a hybrid or a TDI. There is no comparison, after test driving both, the TDI is the winner hands down. It has plenty of power with the turbo and the long term reliability of diesel. Why should you have to sacrifice your driving experience to save on fuel and for the environment? With the TDI you can eat your cake and have it too! It has decent power, tons of room, is well built even for a VW, and it is fun to drive, plus it gets well over 40 mpg...mixed highway and city. Im clocking in at 48 mpg, consistently. So whether a Jetta, or Golf..the TDI is a hybrid killer.

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  Great Little Car - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Carl - July 30 - 12:06 pm

  I love my GTI 1.8T. Although, I am a little disappointed in it. I had to replace the passenger slide-arm entry actuator, replace the ignition cylinder (Froze on cold days) plus some other minor demo-induced wear. Fortunately, it was all covered under warrenty. I bought my 2004 in March of 2005 with 60 miles on it. It handles great, has fantastic excelleration and looks regal (in Reflex Silver). The dash is a pretty blue and red mix.

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  2000 Jetta TDI - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By EEROB - July 30 - 10:00 am

  No other vehicle sold in NA can beat this combination of fuel economy and performance.

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  Always fun to drive - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Terje - July 28 - 11:40 pm

  Ive owned several BMWs which all seem to fall apart @ 80K miles. My last 740I was very expensive to maintain & boring to drive. I wanted to try something more practical with better mileage. Im 41 so I thought my white GTI with 18"s was a practical, fun and young looking decision. So far I like it very much. The DSG is amazing. If you are considering the fun factor, compared to BMW, Audi & Honda, the GTI is a great choice.

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  EOS FAN - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Love my EOS - July 28 - 10:13 am

  Since the day that I test drove the car, I had to have it. It is my first Volkswagen experience and, so far, nothing but rave reviews. I love driving it and heads turn when I put the top down. It is quite comfortable, great pick-up and great build quality. I previously owned a 2004 BMW Z4 and, believe it or not, like this car much better. I looked at the Z4 again, but this car offered so much more for 12,000 less!

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  Cutest car ever!!! - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By trekster - July 27 - 2:56 pm

  I love my car! The sports seats hug you when you drive. It corners easily, and I fit into any parking space. It is so cute, people actually watch it go by, especially when I have the top down! I just love it. It also has a lot of power, so I dont have to worry about getting up and going when I need to. Best car ever!!!

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  Sporty family vehicle! - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dale123 - July 27 - 1:02 pm

  I am overall pleased with our 2012 Passat we purchased from Birmingham Luxury Motors in Hueytown, AL. The car handles great, has plenty of power and holds THREE car seats comfortably. This is the first Volkswagen Ive owned and Im very happy of my purchase. Im 6 5" and I have ample amount of room and the trunk space is a huge commodity.

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  The VW Experience Part 2 - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ADROSS - July 27 - 2:00 am

  I have always loved Volkswagen since my high school days of driving my VW beetle that was two years older than me. After graduating college and working in the real world, I finally got out of debt from my previous clunker car (of the Ford variety) and was able to save enough money to purchase my OWN NEW CAR! I knew it had to be a VW and it had to be fast for the big city of Houston (as I have to merge with freeway and highway traffic as effectively as possible). The VR6 Jetta GLX has been the answer to my driving prayers.

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  I love driving this car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By almica - July 27 - 2:00 am

  I have purchased my Passat a month ago, and I just cannot stop admiring all of its wonderful features. I got leather package, Monsoon surround sound system, EPS extras and, of course, manual transmission. The handling of the car is breath taking. I would definitely recommend this car to anyone who truly enjoys and appreciates driving a high quality vehicle.

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  A car with character - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By emseearr - July 26 - 2:46 pm

  Very briefly, Ive owned this car for two weeks and I am very happy with it so far. This is my second car, a big step up from my first, a 2003 Hyundai Elantra sedan. Overall, I feel this is a very well-designed and well-engineered car with some quirks, endearing and otherwise. I think its style, performance and overall charming character more than make up for its few, unfortunate, shortcomings.