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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  Great Car - Questionable Quality - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By WolfsburgBuyer - May 15 - 11:50 pm

  This car drives great, interior design is outstanding. Loved it until I discovered that the A/C was draining into the cabin floor. 3rd trip to the dealer might get it fixed. Had a couple of other fit/finish issues with the build quality.

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  Savin Money - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By duckster1 - May 15 - 10:00 am

  The car has beena unique experience, I laugh every time I fill it up thinking it gets about the same mileage as a motorcycle without getting wet or cold. Folks ask me all the time about how I like it and so far its VWs best kept secret. The noise while idling is different as is the powerband but both get accustomed to very quickly. I would recommend this car before any Hybrid as the safety and simplicity are second to none.

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  Savin Money - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Savin Money - May 15 - 10:00 am

  The car has beena unique experience, I laugh every time I fill it up thinking it gets about the same mileage as a motorcycle without getting wet or cold. Folks ask me all the time about how I like it and so far its VWs best kept secret. The noise while idling is different as is the powerband but both get accustomed to very quickly. I would recommend this car before any Hybrid as the safety and simplicity are second to none.

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  Great Design - Poor Engine - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Mariops - May 12 - 6:03 pm

  Ive owned this car for about a month. Got it because of the design, nothing looks this good and exclusive for $30k (even compared to luxury brands). Interior looks good but having owned 3 Audis, the VW interior is not in the same league (and intentionally so). My biggest complaint is the engine (2.0T with Auto; I wanted an auto for commuting, my 2nd car is a manual). From a stop, the engine sputters and is seriously underpowered but when the turbo kicks in it takes off. Dont get me wrong, I love turbos like the next enthusiasts, but doesnt feel right in a car like this. Im sure the auto trans doesnt help. Despite engine performance/FWD handling, the design makes up for its shortcomings.

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  Beauty is Skin Deep - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By George Martschenko - May 12 - 2:00 am

  This is a love/hate review. I love the looks, the 17" wheels, the ride and performance. I dont like the lack of seat space when you fold down the back seat and use the car as a wagon. I am 57" and had to move my seat forward to make room for the folded back seat. If you need a wagon as a wagon, I would suggest you try something else. Another issue showed up immediately. The driver seat keeps heating when you think its turned off. I turned on the front seat to heat myself up after buying the car. Once I was warm, I couldnt get the seat to turn off. So much for one day with the car.

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  A great ride! - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By John Heffernan - May 11 - 6:21 am

  Dont expect a lot of pick up but beyond that, an amazing car!

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  First VW - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By First VW - May 7 - 10:16 pm

  Love It! Bought it for my wife, but havent stopped driving it at every opportunity. Fun to drive, fast, comfortable. Only problem is the DSG transmission. Wish I bought the manual. The DSG shifts smoothly but is awkward at a start, and is difficult to start on a hill. Its kind of like driving a manual shift without the benefit of controlling it with a clutch. The dealership says its received many complaints but "thats the way its supposed to work". BUT they extended the DSG warranty ;) Bottom line is that theres a problem, they dont know how to fix it, so they extend the warranty to calm the masses. Poor solution. BUT Would definitely buy it again. Most fun car to drive ever!

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  Great Car - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jattaman - May 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought my new style Jetta in June of 2002. With only 27000 miles on it at the time, I got a great deal. I have had few problems since buyibg it. The plastic clips holding the window broke causeing the passanger side window to be stuck down for a couple of days, but I cant complain bc the dealership fixed it w/o any charge to me. I had to replace a vacume line after the engine light came on, which was a little expensive if it werent for the extended waranty. The cup holders could use some improvement, but other than these few "problems", this car has been great.

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  New Owner - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By 2muchpwr - May 6 - 6:10 pm

  Just took delivery two days ago, and I LOVE this car! Ive never seen so many people staring, and I know it isnt me theyre looking at. This car just feels good.

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  Great SUV desperately needs air suspension - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By clarkg - May 6 - 5:51 am

  This is my 3rd T-reg and will be my last - I previously had the Lux version but decided to move up to the Executive - this changed the rim size to 20" from the Luxs 19" - just this 1" taller rim harshened the ride considerably to a point that passengers in the back seat went airborne over any large bump - I had test driven a Cayenne diesel with air suspension before purchasing the Executive - it had a pleasing controlled ride on rough streets - a similarly equipped Cayenne diesel bites 6 figures fully loaded so the Executive is a relative bargain - I hope that VW will once again offer air suspension as an option on the T-reg since the large majority are street driven