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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  DO NOT BUY - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By ziepniew - July 28 - 2:00 am

  DO NOT BUY UNLESS YOU REALY LIKE YOUR CAR IN THE SHOP!!

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  Love that TDI !! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tonymro - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I never considered owning a VW until reading the rave reviews for the TDI engine. TDI is quiet, starts quickly even in severe cold, plenty of torque. Fabulous fuel efficiency. Chose Jetta TDI wagon over more expensive Volvo V40. Acquiring the exact car I wanted was extremely difficult given that TDIs are on limited allocation and dealerships wanted to tack on unreasonable markup.

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  Jetta 1.8T - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By S.Tanaka - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car since August 2003 and love this vehicle. I have always had a Japanese car. The Jetta Wolfsburg handles with precision and is very quick.I have the "Tiptronic" Great Car.

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  Cyber Bug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By cybergypsy - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I bought this after having two bugs a 2000 TDI and a 2002 GLX...really wanted the turbo but i took this little bug for a test drive and fell in love... it handles great :)

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  Super Turbo Fun Bug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Royce 1 - July 28 - 2:00 am

  Most fun car I have ever owned. Reliable, low cost, good economy and "QUICK"! 130MPH no problem. Great features and stable as a rock on a long trip. Even at "freeway" speeds -- HA AH! Put over 3,000 miles on it over New Years and was totally pleased. Great car. Very little fatigue and thats saying something for an old scudder - Im 64 years old...

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  Lots of Car for the Money - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By tx_reg - July 27 - 11:01 pm

  Im not gonna lie...$60,000 is not a cheap car by any means. However, when you stack it up against its competitors such as the BMW x5, Mercedes ML, Range Rover Sport, etc. it turns out that the Touareg has value on its side. Each of those can easily cost $10,000+ more that than the Touareg. I have owned several Acuras, BMWs and Lexus models over the years and this feels like a more solid car than any of them. Everyone that has ridden with me since I bought it comments on how heavy, solid and substantial that it feels. That said, it is still pretty nimble for an SUV of its size and weight. It is a little bumpy around town (but hey, its an SUV) but its like a dream on the highway.

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  Its fun to drive again - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Stefanari - July 27 - 10:00 am

  This car is beautiful. It has some get up and go. I traded in my Outback and have been so much happier. The handling is great. I highly recommend this car.

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  good car, needs more guts and 5 speed - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Spike - July 27 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car that is just a little to slow. Itd be nice to get a 5 speed w/ the 4 motion. Another 40 hp would be nice also. Dont know if Id pay $4,500 more for the W8.

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  Joe in S.A. - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Joe fernandez - July 27 - 10:00 am

  The Passat is a performance vehicle in desguise. Its styling is modern but unpretensious. Great family car for those really young at heart. Plenty of trunk space and ample driver & pasenger comfort. For those humble enough that do not want to be seen in A BMW but want to hang around the autobahn as equals.

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  Fantastic car! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By gslippy - July 27 - 10:00 am

  This is the best all-around car Ive ever owned. VW has gotten the formula just right for this level of vehicle. I shopped for quality, but as a very tall driver (67"), I needed headroom, too. Nothing surpasses the Beetle in that area, but has plenty. I found the Jetta too small. The 30-valve V6 is fantastic. I found the 1.8T to require some retraining to deal with the power surge and slight turbo whine. The V6 gave me a much smoother car without the care and feeding required for a turbo. The Passats concern for safety is impressive, with airbags everywhere. Overall, Volkswagens attention to details in this vehicle is tremendous.