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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  Volkswagen GTI - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By bill777 - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I have been very happy with this car. It is solid sporty and fun. I chose this car over a nsx type s and celica gts. All have similar power but only one has german build quality and its apparent as so as you drive it. I also like the 1.8t version which is faster than the VR6 according to Road & Track and other multiple sources.

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  WOW! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By M. Martz - May 22 - 2:00 am

  After 6 months in my V8 Touareg, Im happy I bought it instead of leasing it, it is AMAZING!!!! It looks and feels gret inside and out, has great performance on-road and off (unlike most SUVs in this category AND out), its has better than Mercedes comfort and performance, with Hummer-like off- road capabilities. I LOVE THIS THING!!

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  Awesome VW - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By OhioBuckeye - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely the best vehicle we test drove in our search. The build quality and fit-and-finish was stellar.

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  PERFECT AUTO - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By pbrsbnsr - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Rarely have I been compelled to express my satisification with a product, but not to recognize this vehicle as being perfect in every regard - would be a sin!

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  Just Right For Me - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By BeenEverywhere - May 21 - 6:00 pm

  I feel I have owned the car long enough to have thoroughly judged it. Mine is a fully loaded sport/luxury package minus the nav (won’t pay the price for a factory nav) I bought the car new and compared the BMW 330, Mercedes CLK, Audi and Maxima. For me the bang for the buck in the Passat was a winner. I am 6’4” and this car fit me best of all those. I regularly make 300+ miles and my back and legs do excellent! I paid less than most and more than others got a great deal for the package. A feature I refused to pay for but now can’t live out are parking sensors! There is a weird hesitation on the throttle that everyone deals with. It took me 6 months to master but now I don’t even notice.

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  Love my cabby - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By lajlmt - May 21 - 10:00 am

  It is too late to buy a new cabby, they are out of production, glad I did not wait!

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  Great Family Sedan - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By snead_c - May 21 - 10:00 am

  We have owned the GLX for 28 months (34,500 miles) and had no problems. My wife drives it and loves it.It is an excellent small sedan that is loaded with features, performs very well, and is economical.

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  Jetta GLS TDI - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By NHSid - May 21 - 10:00 am

  If you are looking for a well built, economical and safe vehicle then the Jetta GLS TDI is a solid choice. This is my first diesel car, and I love it! Forget everything bad you ever heard about diesel, and give this car a try. It starts easily in the cold of a NH winter and the fuel is sold in about 50% of the local filling stations. While there is a slight odor to the emissions, at 50 mpg I can live with it. It is a quiet and comfortable ride. The safety features give me a great sense of security should something happen while driving. While the standard price is higher, the standard features are much greater.

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  Back to Our VW - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Back to a VW again - May 20 - 1:56 pm

  We traded in our 2002 Jetta 1.8 turbo for a PT Cruiser GT. We missed the VW performanace after the deal was done. Three years later we sold the PT and purchased a GTI with DSG. We put 1100 miles on it before we took it on a trip to Calif from Wa State. The GTI was a pleasure on the whole trip. Plenty of power, cornered well and we got 29.5 MPG on our 2500 mile trip. This car was well worth the investment. I tried to buy a bra for the trip but they dont make one yet, however after returning home and scrubbing the car I was delighted that there was not one chip on the front end (nice design ). Try one and you will be sold.

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  Fun, Cheap (Relatively), and German.... - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Smyrnios - May 20 - 12:26 am

  My GTI has been with me for two years and 17K miles, and the experience has been positive. This is the original "hot hatch", the benchmark for this class. If youre looking for outright performance, go for a Mazdaspeed 3. But if youre seeking European character and sophistication, the choice is clear. The GTI goes about its business in a most German way. Feels solid as a bank vault when you get in and shut the door. On the interstate, its unflappable and deceptively fast, so invest in a good radar detector. This model has ceased production, as the sixth-generation is already out and headed to the US in the fall of 2010. There should be many pre-owned examples to choose from.