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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  The best wagon around :) - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By 71sbeetle - January 14 - 2:00 am

  We waited a long time before we could afford a new car, but we aways wanted the exact same car : A VW Jetta Wagon ! VW finally sorted out all their problems, and our 2003 is ... PERFECT !!! Lots of miles on it already, and not once in the dealership (except for scheduled maintenance ie oil changes) If you want quality, buy the Jetta WAGON (Made in Germany, sedan is made in Mexico where the quality of the materials is not as good)

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  Love this car - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By kristin - January 14 - 12:43 am

  I absolutely love this car!! It is so fun to drive and I get tons of compliments on it. I love the way people get so excited when they see it go from hard top to convertible. Everyone starts to hum the Transformers tune!

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  Jetta #6 - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steve - January 13 - 5:53 pm

  Just traded in my 02 Jetta for an 04 leftover...first with 1.8T 5-speed. What a difference in performance! Having seen the new design that came out last week, I decided that I wanted another of the current design, which is far superior in looks. While Jettas have had some reliability issues, there is no car on the market that offers so much for so little and is so fun to drive. If you are in the market for a car and can find an 04 leftover turbo, grab it...it was the last year for this engine.

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  Best bang for your buck! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By noodles - January 13 - 8:06 am

  I love this car! After searching and driving everything convertible priced at $35k and below, this is by far the best. A Mustang GT cant touch the handling and gas mileage, its overall shorter than a Chrysler Sebring but somehow roomier in the back. Better craftsman ship than ANY American made car in this price range and holds its resale! I got the auto/manual transmission with manual controls on the steering wheel. I feel like Im flying a plane! Do your homework and test drive everything else before driving an Eos, because once you test drive you to will be hooked on the Eos!

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  So Far So Good - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By crawling - January 13 - 6:23 am

  I owned an Audi TT before the Jetta. I loved my TT but realized that maybe I couldnt afford it after the warranty runs out. The Jetta is more comfortable than the TT. It rides more smoothly. It just doesnt snap your head back when you put it in third and give it some gas. But still, if I close my eyes when I walk to the car and then get in the Jetta, I am in a luxury Audi TT. It has a nice sound system, sunroof, heated seats, and sweet leather. Enjoy life! I really like this Jetta!

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  Very nice car for the class - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By andy - January 12 - 11:43 pm

  The 2006 VW GTI is very fast and a nice overall vehicle.

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  2011 Jetta TDI 6 spd MT - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mike18040 - January 12 - 6:04 pm

  I have owned my Jetta for 2 weeks and absolutely love it. I read the Edmunds review prior to purchasing and I dont agree that VW has made a cheaper car. I owned a 2006 TDI and also loved that car, but I believe the 2011 is even better. The interior is wonderfully designed and high quality compared to many other cars. The 6 spd manual is silky smooth and fun to drive. It handles like its on rails. The fuel mileage is unbelievable for the power that you get too! The leatherette seats are of very high quality and look great. Overall, this car is worth every penny and is not cheaply built in any way. It seems like it should cost a lot more.

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  Bus - 2000 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By jlhcgh - January 12 - 10:00 am

  The "bus" has been an excellent, reliable car for almost two years. It has better visibility than SUVs, is fast and most importantly, has a huge interior. It is a perfect vacation road car for a family of five. We have had only two problems, a leaking oil cooler and water pump, both repaired under warrantee in less than a day, each. The bus is unique, not many on the road, and drives very well.

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  awsome - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By tbird - January 12 - 10:00 am

  fast, fun to drive reliable i love it

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  an awesome car to drive - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By plikiti - January 12 - 2:00 am

  I will not trade my GTI for any car in this world..(actually yes im trading it for another GTI, the new GTI 337 25th year Special Edition.) It drives beautiful and, for beeing an sport car, the ride is awesome.