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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  Lots Of Fun To Drive - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By EricT - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I dont know what others are talking about! This car is great. I just bought it and really love it. It is very fast and comfy. The leather is awesome, and I really like the heated seats. Sure it is a bit pricey, but well worth it.

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  Job well done - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By jake - December 23 - 2:13 am

  Currently I am braking in the car. It only has 235 miles. The gas mileage is 22-27 city, in mixed highway and freeway driving on regular unleaded gas. My dealer told me that you do not have to use super. I think that after the car is broken in, that the gas mileage will go up. I took the car out in the rain today and it handled great it was a pleasure to drive. The electronic assisted steering and the 4Matic are just great. Thats about it for now will advise more later.

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  Loooove it! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Christine - December 22 - 8:46 pm

  I owned an Audi allroad before purchasing this Passat and aside from the curb weight difference - I didnt get the 6T engine in the Passat - Id choose the Passat over and and over again, hands down! It drives, rides, and feels better than the 2001 Audi! I looove it! It looks awesome, too!

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  Big Blue - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Big Bubba - December 22 - 5:53 pm

  We bought our Rabbit as an around town car and really like it. It was made in Germany with expensive car precision. It even has A/C and heating ducts in the console for the backseats.

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  Diesel Jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Vence6 - December 22 - 11:13 am

  My 2004 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI is a great vehicle. It is fun to drive, incredibly fuel efficiency, and oh yeah it has pick up. It also has a good sound system, rich interior and oh did I mention that it is fun to drive!

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  First Class Automobile - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ncerrone - December 22 - 10:00 am

  I owned this car for one year, and would never drive anything else. The car is built very well, and drives very well. The 1.8T engine is great. It is smooth and very quiet with little turbo lag. I get 27 mpg around town with a manual transmision. The car makes very little road noise, I have hade people fall asleep driving 90+ mph not knowing or feeling the speed whatsoever. No car on the market can compare to the Passats fit and finish and quality componets in that price range. The car also gives you more room than a 3 series BMW, C class Benz, S 40 Volvo, and Audi A4.

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  The GTI is finally back! - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By Sean Spurlock - December 22 - 3:36 am

  For any of you who have owned an older GTI like me (less an MKI or MKII), then you probably loved your car, but always felt something was missing. The MKV eliminates any hard feelings from the past! This car drives, handles, looks, and feels the part of a true sport coupe...all the while having the fit and feel of a German car. There is truly no comparison in overall cost-effective driving enjoyment to the new GTI. Japan simply cant match the driver interface and dynamics that the Germans can produce. Hurrah to VW for getting the GTI back on track...figuratively and litterally!

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  Great car for the money. - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jetta owner - December 21 - 10:03 am

  Comfortable, roomy, fast, car-net app and sat nav are great. Leather seats are better than the standard leatherette seats. If I could change anything would be to the cheap looking plastics on the dash and add auto lights/wipers and dimming rear view mirror and autonomous braking.

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  The Best Jetta Ever - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By H.Pfadt - December 20 - 9:53 pm

  This is my third Jetta in six years. Volkswagen has taken the previous model and improved it beyond my wildest expectations.The improvements in features alone are too numerous to mention.Fit and finish ranks up there with the best, any European Car maker has to offer.It is a quality Automobile.Drove my other two Jettas 140K each and passed them on in the family. They are still running great. Volkswagen , " Keep up the good work". You are gaining customers for life.

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  Fun to drive! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Paul Gagnon - December 20 - 2:00 am

  If you want the feeling of excitement when driving a car...this works for me. I look forward to driving my Passat every time I walk up and get ready to slide into the cockpit. Its the type of car that provides predictable performance and handling every single time you steer or tap the throttle. I find myself anxious to pass cars and getting onto freeways on and off ramps. The 4-Motion provides true zero steering at any speed without the challenges of typical rear drive understeer and front drive oversteer. The advertising is correct for this car....DRIVE ME!