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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  I love it - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By sabrina - January 12 - 2:00 am

  it is awesome

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  Great Car for the Money - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By NoEffort4u - January 11 - 10:36 am

  Since buying my Jetta TDI, I have had nothing but fun with it. My gas mileage has been anywhere from 42 - 48 on every single tank full. I love the sunroof and the heated seats. I was amazed at how low my insurance was also. So far, the only thing I have found that I do not care for, is the way the armrest covers up the second cup holder in the console. If you have two poeple in the front seat, it is a fight getting the second drink out from under the arm rest, unless you push it all the way back again. this car has enormous trunk space and lots of power plugs for anything you would want to plug in. Overall, the Jetta has been just super.

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  The Ultimate Road Warrior - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By michael - January 11 - 10:00 am

  The Jetta TDI is an excellent vehicle for the price. This is my second TDI and probably wont be my last. It gets 40 mpg and it isnt even broken in. I would definitely recommend it for anybody who wants a stylish, safe vehicle with outstanding fuel economy.

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  Best VW so far - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By vdub - January 10 - 4:30 am

  Have had since new, fun to drive, handles great around corners good power at high rpms and good gas mileage. Sixth VW owned this is the best car so far. The GTi has had some things break but nothing major. Will be on my third set of tires. Still has the new car appeal after 7 yrs and has an excellent resale value. Some of things that need improvement are the cup holders location and peeling from the audio unit. Seats are still firm but fading. Over all the car is great and would recommend this vehicle. Will pass this vehicle to my son and purchase a new model.

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  Who Knew - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Joe - January 9 - 7:20 pm

  I am driving my 5th VW and have owned a lot of fine cars, Jaguar, Lincoln, Mercedes just to name a few. I have been driving for 45 years and have owned more than 25 cars. I still think the VW is the finest car ever built for the price. Notice that I said for the price. You can buy more expensive cars that have everything you could ever want, but for my money I love VWs. As for the one guy who wrote there a piece of junk, maybe he truly got a lemon, thats why there are lemon laws. I have never paid for anything other than normal maintenance items for all 5 of my VWs. Forever faithful to European excellence in manufacturing.

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  What more could you ask for - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By TheTopShelf - January 9 - 6:33 pm

  Ive only had this vehicle for a week or two but I am amazed by the overall package of this vehicle. I did a lot of research and test drove a lot of vehicles in this class (Equinox, CR-V, RAV-4, Edge, CX-7) and none could compare to the Tiguan. It might be a little on the pricey side but trust me, you are getting your moneys worth.

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  Great car, but starting to fall apart... - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By hzahn - January 9 - 3:10 pm

  I bought my 07 Rabbit from the dealer and it has driven pretty well for the most part. Ive had a few problems but nothing too major that I can think of until recently. Within the past couple months Ive noticed my check engine light, tail light is out, headliner is peeling off, and the car only has 45k miles on it. It also would randomly stop running during the winter but hasnt happened in a while. I got the battery replaced and it happened once since then. I was hoping to drive this car to the end but I dont think its worth keeping now.

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  A Hoot - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Steve Myers - January 9 - 6:06 am

  SUPER car! Glad I waited 60 years to have one come along. Exceptional craftsmanship everywhere. Eye candy for onlookers. DSG tranny captured this stick shift perfectionist. It FEELS safe. Gas mileage runs from ca. 26 in town to 34.5 on the road. Snazzy and snappy. Survives car washes without a leak. Thunderstorms, too! Local cop follows me around, licking its chops. I behave. Only negative: no Autobahn nearby. Oh, for about 50 km of German road and no speed limits. (Might be worth a trip someday....)

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  At 168k, heres hoping for 200k+ miles - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ThunderBunny - January 8 - 1:26 am

  This review is for an 01 1.8T New Beetle (Auto), GLS trim with 17" rims, sports suspension, leather (heated) seating, steering wheel & shifter, and sunroof. At 50k miles, the ECU was chipped to 1 BAR. Now at 168k miles I must say my NBs been an excellent vehicle. The only items fixed under warranty were coil-packs and a MAF sensor. I replaced the Cam Chain Tensioner, 2 Oxygen/1 MAF sensors, valve cover gasket and a few hoses at 154k miles. Otherwise, everything else works! (Knock on wood!) I guess Im lucky as the NB is not rated highly for reliability. But with my other cars, I do my own maintenance/repair and follow the scheduled maintenance very closely. Hope itll go beyond 200k miles!

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  Good to be in a VW again! - 2009 Volkswagen GTI
  By GTI Owner - January 7 - 8:26 am

  The GTI is a great all-around sporty car. Good power, no turbo lag, good handling, nice interior with lots of room, good fuel economy, and it feels & drives like a more expensive vehicle. It may not have the outright power of a WRX, but the refinement and fun are a great combination for me. It handles great, is quiet going down the road, and Im getting mileage in the mid-20s around town. It inspires confidence on back roads, and never feels like you are asking it to do something it doesnt want to.