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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  Just what I needed - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Crasher - June 22 - 8:43 am

  I needed an SUV to haul dogs, get mileage, have clearance to get in my driveway and fit me (6-1, 280 lbs). Leased this on the "sign and drive" program and have no worries, low cost for the length of my lease except gas. Once you figure out how to manipulate the seats, you can pack a ton of crap in this thing. Very easy to drive, nice styling, stops on a dime and has good passing power. Only complaint is a bit too much road noise. I figured since I had the S that the loaded out models may have better sound deadening. Good little SUV.

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  Cheereos - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By RTC - June 20 - 2:13 am

  This car has a very poky 2.0T engine. It likes to sneak over the speed limit. Like on most vehicles, opt for comfort over the sport package and you get a surprisingly together ride, borderline cushy and quieter. My car is averaging 24.8 mpg - and not from cautious driving. So far I have driven it in freezing conditions and have no complaints. I feel as snug as a bug inside with the roof up. It is tight with some small cowl shake on harsh bumps, but so was my former 330Ci. This car is very practical. The Dynaudio MP3 player is amazing. It is definitely a B plus and maybe more for simple unpretentious top up and top down fun.

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  The new Jetta is AMAZING - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VW Aficionado - June 19 - 8:50 am

  Great job VW on the new 2005.5 Jetta! An amazing, bigger and better car than the last! My 5th VW and by far the best. No more premium gas for the 1.8T! Under the hood the new Jetta have the 2.5 liter inline 5 cylinder engine that takes regular gas and produces 150 hp and 170 lbs of torque is just enough for just about anyone. Any VW lover notices many new and different looks to it but its just a preview for the future of Volkswagen. Drivers Wanted!

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  Awesome Car!!! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Shaun - June 19 - 8:46 am

  Just got the rabbit yesterday, I did a lot of research into this and other models (i.e., toyota corolla, yaris, civic, mazda3) and found this to be the most impressive out of them. I have always owned japanese, mainly toyota, and when I drove this car, I was impressed with how much more solid, and responsive it felt. I didnt feel like I was driving a heap of recycled beer cans, and it has amazing get up and go due to the 170lb/ft of torque. I would recommend this car to anyone that seriously enjoys feeling safe, and enjoying a quiet ride, without wanting to spend a ton of cash. You will not be disappointed!

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  IML8 IML8 2009 - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Pat - June 18 - 10:13 pm

  I traded in a 2001 Outback and was afraid the Rabbit would feel so much smaller-- its not at all. The mpg is better than the Outback, even with 1 more cylinder. I was expecting entry level features and was surprised by the thought that was put into the design. I drive out to the mountains a lot and am pleasantly surprised at how my bunny scampers up a steep grade. I had a Rabbit diesel in the 80s and am so glad I thought to try a Rabbit again. I couldnt be more pleased.

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  If FUN to DRIVE is high on your list of priorities! - 2014 Volkswagen Golf
  By skater69 - June 18 - 4:01 pm

  My 2.5 doesnt have Bluetooth/phone capability nor a touch screen. But it has what matters most to me; a huge fun to drive personality. I put sticky 225/45/17/wheels on the car shortly after buying it. Highly recommended as it handles insane now and looks way better. The stock rubber/wheels need to go straight to Craigslist. Driven 2500 miles since new. My impressions so far: -Prefer to now drive it all the time in manual mode except on the freeway. I find manual shifting the automatic to be a lot of fun and the shifts are responsive. I also like downshifting when coming to a stop. All this with while getting to rest my left leg. -While its not blazing "fast", its far from slow eith

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  2006 MKV GTI - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By Pat G. - June 17 - 1:26 pm

  This car has an excellent, smooth automstic transmission. The shift paddles provide an instant response. My radio is very good except for the volume limiter. It has good brakes and the car is rock steady at high speeds. All of the buttons are illuminated as is the great rotary moonroof control. It is a hatchback with headroom unlike many I wont mention. There is a wide field of illumination from the headlights. It gets the looks where ever ya go. All for $23.000.

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  Perfect family wagon - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By driver in Atlanta - June 17 - 10:00 am

  We bought this car new and have loved it. The ride is very smooth and the car just feels solid - very nice on the highway. Leather seats are well worth the extra expense.

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  Still love it after 10K miles - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By On/Off Road Warrior - June 17 - 10:00 am

  I made myself wait to write a review because I wanted to make sure the initial euphoria had worn off. Its been 10,000 miles in 6 months - and Im still loving this car ! I took it off-road on several occasions in remote areas of SW Texas. I was not only on tough dirt roads - but also literally off-road. The Touaregs ground clearance and low gear gave me plenty of confidence to handle steep hills, ruds and holes - standing water and mud. I just didntdare drive it through thick brush as I am still feeling a bit protective of the nice paint job.

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  Love the 2006 Passat - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Nick - June 16 - 5:46 pm

  I just took delivery of my 06 Passat 3 days ago, the first night I sat in it for 2 hours figuring all of the options out. The upgraded Dyna Audio system with the XM radio is sweet. The leather is really nice, the sun/moon roof is very quite even wide open. The transmission is cool with the 3 different options. Regular drive, sport and tiptronic. I have not even gotten to the smooth ride and quickness. The lease special is the deal. I traded a 2000 Jetta.