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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  WOW - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By WOW - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Touareg for about a week; V6, Premium Pkg., and Xenon Lights, and am totaly amazed. I had a deposit on an Infinity FX35, and pulled it after driving the Touareg. The inerior is extermely high quality and comfortable. The detail that VW put in this monster is to be commended. After you get past the $38,000. for a WV, and decide to take one for a test ride, you will love it. Despite some other comments that I have read, as long as reliability does not become an issue (I cant rate reliability yet, since Ive only had it a week), VW will definitly be a contender with this one.

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  What a great little car - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Ms. Shawn - June 3 - 4:36 am

  This car is fun to drive, gets great gas mileage, and is easy to park. People should take a closer look at this little shuttle, they would fall in love with them also.

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  Our Best Choice! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Ken - June 2 - 5:06 am

  We test drove all the small SUVs out there and when we drove the Tiguan there was no comparison. First off I noticed the power was better than even the competitions V-6 models. The fit and finish is exceptional...I love German engineering! The handling is great, the cabin is very quiet, the sunroof is nothing short of spectacular. We bought this vehicle for my wife and I usually drive a BMW but love any opportunity to drive the Tiguan. I dont have to use the manual shift feature as this transmission shifts beautifully in the automatic shift mode. Had this vehicle 3 months now and am looking forward to driving it this winter. Just plain love the fun drive!

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  Excellent - 2007 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ehd - June 2 - 1:10 am

  The Touareg has excellent build-quality, power, handling, comfort; and it is fun to drive on and off-road. Despite some of the complaints, the FSI V8s fuel economy is on par with any comparable performance AWD vehicle with 350 hp.

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  Very pleased - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Larry Reemtsen - June 1 - 6:10 am

  It far exceeded my expectations and I used to manage a BMW center. You know your in a German car. I drive L.A. traffic to do what I do and the freeways are a great test and will reveal a cars weaknesses and attributes. I drove the civic first and found it too under powered at 140 HP. The Jetta with 170 gets you there quick and can handle the Harbor Freeway well. Great gas mileage as well. My delivery at Pasadena VW was perfect.

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  Best bang 4 the buck - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Joel - May 31 - 8:23 pm

  This car drives and performs great, the fuel economy is excellent. I previously owned a MK4 GTi and it was a great car but this one is far better, good job VW.

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  Love it - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Feng - May 31 - 12:53 am

  make a test driving and bought it in 20 min. I like the total new style. This car feels like luxury car. The price package was very attractive ($37140), which was below invoice price.

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  I love this car - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By VaSean - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Im surprised to read about the problems others are having, since Ive had absolutely no problems with mine. Engine, clutch, computer, electrical window problems? Never. This is one...great...car.

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  My VW Rocks! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By v-dubber - May 27 - 8:40 am

  This is a great solid car. You get the convenience of a sedan but with more personality and fun. Its roomier than previous models. Trunk space is great, and grocery hooks are handy. The tire pressure monitor is a plus. The low profile tires are a little sticky, so rides on the highway can be bumpy and uncomfortable for some. The premium fuel recommendation could be pricey even with the good gas mileage. Im a little concerned with VWs past reliability history, but so far Ive been pleased. I chose this over the Acura TSX because I like the sportier feel and its features for price. I actually dont mind the drive to work!

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  Youll Have to Pry My Hands Off of It - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lynn - May 26 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car "slightly used" with about 7K miles on it. I absolutely love it. I regularly get over 40 mpg and have gotten a few tanks over 50! One was 55 mpg! Its fun to drive, quick enough and looks good. My wife would have liked a little more interior room and an automatic but I plan to keep driving it a lot longer. Only significant repair has been the timing belt at 100K, as recommended. Fun to cruise along knowing Im getting 40-50 mpg passing jacked up 4WDs getting single digits!