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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  Impressive car on multiple fronts - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By kscommuter - May 18 - 12:20 am

  Purchased this car in December of 2011 and have put 49K miles on it. It gets over 40 to 41 mpg and I typically drive 79 mph on my 180 mile daily commute (all highway miles). It will get upper 40s mpg if we lower the average speed to 65 to 70 mph. The ride and handling are very good. The car is nicely equipped for a base model, with a very solid feel and generous cabin and trunk spaces. The diesel engine is very responsive in combination with the manual transmission. The 10,000 mile service intervals for the oil change and basic service are great. I opt to use the shop my husband works at for this basic car maintenance versus paying a VW dealership the overpriced fee of $400.00+.

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  Wife had to have this DUNE - 2016 Volkswagen Beetle
  By jitney - May 17 - 12:11 pm

  In my opinion, the VW Beetle engineered should all be offered other jobs somewhere else. The car is VERY noisy and a with a very rough ride. Road noise is very loud, this cars seems to have no insulation to buffer outside sound, especially tire noise. VW chooses to not have a Garage door controller. How stupid that seems. The Vehicle does not come with license plate holders, they are dealer provided, the dealer we went through used very cheap ugly holders, and wanted to drill 1/2 holes in both bumpers to attach them. We declined, and will have to find our own solution. thanks VW. About the best thing I can say about this car is it looks nice. The interior is nice, and electronics seem to be pretty good. Backup camera, and sensors work well. Our 2006 VW Bug was a diesel, and was twice as quiet and had a garage door opener that worked great, I for one am sorry we traded up to this vehicle, I was disappointed. I think my wife is also, but wont admit it since she just had to have one.

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  radio problem - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Very Happy - May 17 - 10:00 am

  The 1.8T is by far the funnest vehicle I have ever driven. No problems to date except for the radio. I FIXED RADIO BY WIGGLING THE FUSE! What a surprise on the dash lights when first drowe at night. Did not know they were so pretty when I bought the car.

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  Outstanding - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ihristov - May 17 - 10:00 am

  Everything you can expect from a German car. A bit spartan, but everything is though-out to the minuscule detail. I love it. A fun car to drive. I would recommend it for everyone that likes to drive a little sportish. Excellent handling. In 2 years and 30,000 miles have not had any problems.

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  2004 Touareg V8 - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ikephil - May 17 - 10:00 am

  After ten days of driving, this vehicle is amazing. Combines sports car cornering and acceleration, luxury car goodies, and off-road brute force.

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  Great SUV! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Seadude - May 17 - 10:00 am

  The Touareg handles exceptionally well - feels very solid and is actually a fun SUV to drive (a close 2nd to the FX35). Although this V6 model/options priced out at $39k (a lot for a VW), the features and build quality make it seem like a bargain.

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  Highly recommended for $ - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By MWVW - May 17 - 10:00 am

  As someone who has been researching and test driving potential replacements for my 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee for years, I am very happy I found the Touareg. With air suspension, V-8, premium sound, navigation and more, this car is everything I had hoped for in an SUV. It handles very nicely on the road, is very responsive when it needs to be, very comfortable, great in corners and extremely capable off road.

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  The new hottness - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Chregan - May 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive experienced a dream in this baby. It was like the smoothest car Ive ever ridden in. Its comfort and hottness majkes it the best car ever at an affordable price.

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  Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By spsmyk - May 17 - 10:00 am

  Purchased a Toureg approximately 1 month ago and love it. No problems to date after 600 miles and continue to enjoy every minute in it. Pros: Interior Fantastic Love the exterior Perfect size Love that German Engineering - feels so solid Cons: Nav System a disappointment

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  dissappointed - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By blues - May 17 - 10:00 am

  Not yet set up to service car.Mine was delivered with faulty a/c and still not fixed for sure.Sub par in town handling.sloppy acceleration from stop or low speeds.