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:

• 

  Why doesnt everybody buy one? - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jerry Rosen - January 19 - 7:00 am

  I bought the 2004 Passat 1.8 turbo wagon with manual transmission. This is the perfect car. It has pleasing European design, as oppossed to those cookie cutter Japanese and US cars. The interior is of very high quality - on par with cars that are $10,000 more and it is very fun to drive. The low end torque, that is a trademark of VWs, makes the car exciting to drive around town and downshifting really causes the car to "blast." It holds the road superbly. I recently drove from Los Angeles to Pheonix in a blinding rain storm the entire way. Nonetheless I drove my usual speed and made the trip in 6 hours. It has a huge trunk and gets 30 mpg on the freeway. This is a great car. Buy one now.

• 

  A Solid Ride - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Icon_Daemon - January 18 - 7:00 pm

  I purchased the 2 dr Sage Green, ABS/ESP only, w/15" steel wheels: the basic model. The ride is smooth and competent in the corners at all speeds. The engine puts out a throaty growl during accel. The pickup is superb (150 hp, 170fp of tq.), and highway cruising is excellent, with plenty of power reserve for quick escapes or conversely, with surefooted 4-wheel disk brakes to slow you down on a dime. The interior is well thought out, with drivers controls well-placed. The console lighting is especially stylish at night. Seating adjustments for a variety of driver sizes is excellent, the headroom being the most obvious. Passengers do not miss out. Folding rear seats increase cargo space.

• 

  Good Car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By eric - January 17 - 10:03 pm

  The 06 Jetta TDI is a great car. It gets great gas milage and its very fun to drive. It comes with lots of options. I have been very impressed with the performance. I love the safety rating for my family.

• 

  still going strong - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Steve - January 17 - 8:40 am

  It has held up well through the years. It still looks stylish and is more attractive than the new iteration. It is heavy but very solid without rattles. The sport package with a six speed turns it into a sports sedan. No mechanical problems other than normal wear and tear. There are not many of these on the road and I suspect even fewer with a stick shift. The seats have held up well and show very little wear. The radio and cd player are still working well which is something that I couldnt say about my 91 passat. I see no reason why I cant keep this car for 10 more years since I only have 50,000 original miles on it.

• 

  Great German Sedan - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ty - January 16 - 3:20 pm

  I really like this car. I purchased this car mostly for my 70 mile commute (which climbs over 2000 feet!) It handles great on the curves, climbs the 10 mile 7% grade in 5th gear (I have the 5-spd manual), goes as fast as you want, and gets great MPG for a car this size and with this much power. In comparison to the 01 Acura TL is replaced, the Passat is not quite as plush or fast, but it was about $5K cheaper (as a CPO) than comparable TLs, and is a very suitable replacement with more personality than the TL. I am a little worried about keeping it for a long time, but Ive put 22k miles in 8 months in all conditions (summer, snow, hills, ect) without any problems. So far, so good!

• 

  Buy one - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By vw man - January 16 - 1:43 am

  This car is cool! The punch from the low-revving high torque engine is great down low, but when the turbo kicks in it has even more power. The power is great, the build quality is amazing, pictures dont do it justice. Everything is nicely made and nothing creaks or rattles, it is solid and tight to the road. It drives like a Porsche until you hit a bump at which point it turns into a Bentley and you dont feel it. This car oozes with engineering perfection. The amazing thing is on a 150 mile trip I got 43 mpg and thats not just highway. What a car - its balanced in every way. Buy this car!!

• 

  GOLF - Gorgeous-Outstanding-Lovable-Fun - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By viyes - January 14 - 2:40 pm

  My 2004.5 Golf, white-4D, 2L 17"- 235R45 Pirelli-ZR, gets 28 mpg! It is GORGEOUS! It has a class looking exterior and interior finish. It is OUTSTANDING! It has great performance rain on shine and great road handling. It is LOVABLE. It has stereo precision, adjustable front seats, and freezing A/C. It is FUN. Its a great workhorse. It is my performance commuter car!

• 

  2005 Jetta TDI - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By john rollins - January 14 - 2:33 am

  I am happy with the 42 mpg average on my 80 mile daily commute, averaging highway speeds of 65 to 79.999 mph. My car passes everything including the gas pumps. Im saving about $2,500 a year on fuel driving this car. In nine years if fuel is still $2.79 per gallon the car was free. 2005 TDI GLS, leather, 5 speed, moonroof, monsoon was less than $22,000, free after 9 years of fuel savings. Thats a discount program.

• 

  Love our Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By BGinDC - January 14 - 2:00 am

  Love the Touareg before we went to buy it. There are so many features even the salesperson didnt know them all. We have even watched the video twice and are still learning new things. Charlene at Alexandria VW is the best - go see her!

• 

  VW TOUAREG V8 - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ronan - January 14 - 2:00 am

  The Touareg is beautifully finished;moderately quick and very comfortable. Styling draws favorable comments everywhere.The V8 has plenty of power and is very quiet.Ride quality is superb. Seats are a little short on the squab.The air suspension is a must have.