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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  Excellent Car! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Joylin - February 11 - 10:43 am

  When driving the 2007 Passat, you feel like you are driving a BMW, Audi or Mercedes without a huge debt. I love the inside. this car has a lot of power for a 2 liter engine and it is very good on gas. It has a lot of details, specially inside. I have never had any problem with it at all. It is an excellent choice for a long term car.:-)

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  2006 Passat - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By terry atkins - February 9 - 6:13 am

  Iecently bought a 2006 Passat 3.6 with luxury package 1. Man will this car move. It delivers great performance and I love the handling of the car. The premium sound system is great along with the XM radio. I love the blue/red dash at night and the dual climate control. I drove a Toyota Camry, Nissan Maxima and BMW and this car had them all beat.

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  Good Car!!! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By mike - February 8 - 4:33 pm

  Very good car for the price, and the overall quality is great. I will not hesitate to purchase another one..

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  Gets 44 mpg - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By D First - February 8 - 3:10 pm

  I am very happy with this vehicle. I have a combined fuel mileage of 44 mpg. I cant wait until I go to Florida from Ohio and drive the highway. I really think it will get 50 mpg. I am a car guy and I have had many many cars. I have driven classics to a Corvette. This is a great everyday driver. I can average 550 miles per fill up.

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  I Love my TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By biohoward - February 8 - 11:20 am

  I am currently getting 54 to 58 mpg in my Jetta TDI using bio-diesel. Plus this car is fun to drive and easy to service. I love this car. I am currently looking for another TDI for my grandson.

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  Style and Dependability - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By MatthewVW - February 8 - 10:00 am

  After 4 years, my Passat still has a lot of punch and is a lot of fun to drive. Never had any significant problems. The factory stereo is good, but not awesome. The cup holders are too small. But other than that, no complaints.

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  2004 Touareg V8 Air-Susp AWD w/ Nav - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By rod81-2 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  After 6 months of research and numerous test drives, I finally decided on the VW Touareg and I have never looked back. Ive had 04 Touareg for 6 months now & have apporoximately 3500 miles on it, & I am extremely satisfied. The drive is smooth and the interior is extremely comfortable. If there was anything negative that I would say about the Volkswagen Touareg, it would be the sometimes confusing stereo/navigation system. Also, the shifting of gears when accelerating could be a bit better. The MPG on the Touareg is another pretty bad area..but what do you expect, its an SUV. Overall, this is an AWESOME car and I would recommend it to anyone!

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  1ST TIME VOLSWAGEN OWNER - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By LILWAGS - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I GOT INTO THIS CAR AFTER HAVING A SUV FOR MANY YEARS. BIG ADJUSTMENT BUT I LOVE THE NEW CAR. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CD PLAYER BUT THEY FIXED IT IMMEDIATELY. JUST A LOOSE WIRE. I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE. ITS AGREAT CAR FOR THE PRICE.

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  Great Car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By feg_82 - February 7 - 5:33 pm

  As an owner of the previous generation Jetta, I can say without a doubt this is the greatest exectution yet. I shopped the Audi A4 and BMW 325i and while no one can deny their great attributes, my Jetta GLI had something about it that I couldnt resist.

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  Great So Far! - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Cvance - February 5 - 4:16 pm

  This is my third VW, first Passat. I really enjoy this car. The parking assist is really nice. I am a lazy parker now. My dealer told me that I could use regular unleaded, and I do. No complaints about performance. Rain sensing wipers can be finicky. I really have no major complaints. I get compliments on the car and ride. I am pleased.