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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  Beetle Juice!! - 2018 Volkswagen Beetle
  By Mary - May 17 - 12:10 am

  My new bottle green bug is eye catching, everybody who sees it loves the colour. I am a tall woman, 511" and have lots of leg room..The technology is great, easy for me to get used to..this is my second Beetle..my last one was a 2006 and had it for ten years...even though I have a beautiful Jaguar FPace-S SUV, I just love this little car for tooting around town....

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  Wait for bugs to be worked out - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By SORBES - May 15 - 2:56 pm

  I have had the truck for 5 months now and I have put 5,300 miles on. My major complant is that the gas mileage is awful (I get 13.5 MPG on average using the AUTOMATIC setting compared to the VW listed 18MPG. If use the Autostick or Sport functions it drops my MPG to 10.5!!). I do find the ride to comfortable and the power to be ample, but I dont think that the Writers of these "Editors choice" pieces are taking into account the cost of the vechicle and the overall, longterm ownership of the vehicle. They dont account for the $105 oil changes and the cost of Premium gas that it requires.

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  Good Value and a Good Ride - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rob - May 14 - 8:58 pm

  Pros: Fun to drive (stick shift), Dependable, Paint has stayed bright, This S model (base) has many conveniences found only on more expensive cars, such as all four windows power up and down automatically, many hooks in the trunk for attaching grocery bags, etc., two power sockets, good arm rest between front seats. Cons: Relatively poor mileage for the engine size, Weak Brakes (most VWs).

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  Love my rabbit - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By DBLASVEGAS - May 13 - 2:03 pm

  The first thing you need to understand about this car is. Its not the most fuel efficient hatchback out there. However it is fun fun fun to drive. If youre like me and performance is important to you, for the price you cant beat it. Drove the Civic lx, ex and Nissan Sentra. Boring by comparison. Nice cars but no power. Suspension is a little soft for me (it rides well though) but what do you want for 16,800 dollars? I have alloy wheels and iPod adapter built in the armrest (with rear seat air vents) trip computer 10 speaker stereo. The 4 door jumps in price to around 20,000 dollars. The Honda dealership wanted around 20,000 out the door for an lx Civic coupe. Rabbit was 18.

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  What a Car! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By jpn - May 13 - 11:46 am

  I drove my Thunder Blue/Biege leather 2.0T out of showroom 12/31 and have already driven 1,000 miles. I use any excuse to drive a little more. Warm weather in NY has made it possible to drive with top down and it is awesome. With luxury package, I find more features than I had with my Audi A6. This car is beautiful, has a quality interior, and it has comfortable seats for a big guy. My teenage daughters actually think their dad is cool.

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  Great compromise Car - 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
  By htree11 - May 13 - 3:00 am

  Had this car 5 days will update later. 105 miles with approximately 5 gals used. I have been using it as a commuter car 20 miles average per day. 1/2 interstate the other Blvd/city driving. There is a driver side window issue. will not come up all the way all the time. It will work afar several attempts. Plan to take it back to the Dealer. Dealer was asked about the problem prior to purchased. However vaguely acknowledged it existed. The only problem...Yes. The 2.5L is a blast to drive good exceleration, large cabin for two, equipment works fine. I have bluetooth (easy to setup), iPod connectivity (works without instructions) and the radio sounds great (no Fender).

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  I love my Beetle - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Kristina - May 12 - 10:33 pm

  I love my car. I previously owned an Explorer, and the two are difficult to compare. The only thing I miss about my Explorer is the storage space, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much can fit in a Beetle. I dont understand why people complain about the gas mileage, I think its great but then my Explorer did have a V8 engine. Beetles are fun cars to drive, the sound system is great, and it works perfectly as a commuter car.

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  Best minivan ever! - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By luvveedub - May 12 - 10:31 am

  Yes, I know the criticism -- the Routan is a Town and Country disguised as a Volkswagen. No matter. I am a Volkswagen loyalist (this is my 3rd VW -- also have a 2008 Rabbit) and this is a GREAT minivan. Comfortable, smooth, great seats, attractive, even powerful (4.0 engine). Really, whats not to like? Sure it isnt as nimble as my old Passat or my Rabbit, but I didnt expect it to be -- I mean it is a minivan, after all. Yet, I think VWs suspension tweaks do make it superior to the Town and Country and - - dare I say -- the Odyssey and Sienna.

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  Why consider anything else? - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By audivin - May 12 - 7:06 am

  I purchased my 11 Golf 3 door Manual transmission straight out of college. Prior to making this decision, I tested many similarly priced compact cars like the Dodge Caliber, Various Hondas, and even some subarus. While I really liked the Subarus and had a hard time deciding between the two, the VW Golf was simply in another league. This is probably the best compact car on the us market for the price. The interior and exterior build quality and craftsmanship are excellent and there are no rattling noises. I have put 17,000 miles since I purchased the car in June of 2011. Thats right, 17000 already. This car handles/performs exceptionally well. At all speeds it feels secure/ planted.

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  Best car Ive ever had - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Donna Landrum - May 12 - 2:16 am

  I consider this to be the best overall car Ive ever owned. In town I am getting 42 MPG and on the highway I am coaxing 55 MPG. The performance on the road is more than adequate for my driving style. The interior suits my needs very well. For the money, this is a fabulous automobile.