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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  Mk3 jetta / alot Of miles Per gallón - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By John Gianni - May 11 - 10:23 pm

  I got this Car for 800$ and put On it Around 2300$ But is a great invesment. Paint , socks,breaks, radiator,hoses ,housing hose, Water pump,timing belt,custom rims & tires michelline/ rims and tires same size like original recomend , front windshield,interior small parts , and clips, Many i got On eBay , junk yards ,México, vw parts - this Car is very economical To use San Diego To los Ángeles Around Trip 25$ On gas I fix it With my friends Looks Good - restored was The best desicion 1998 jetta manual Gl No words To describe is a old car But give me All i Need We have 5 cars and VW jetta MK3 family We love it !!

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  Where do I start ? - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rasta - May 11 - 7:43 pm

  I thought was getting a good german car.To my suprize I have been in the service department more than I have ever had with any car before. I have so much repairs done on my Passat it sits in my Garage. I you my more reliable RAV 4 to get me where I have to go. Thank you VW :( for a great buy!!!

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  Beautiful Luxury without the Luxury Price - 2016 Volkswagen Passat
  By H.Sly - May 11 - 9:26 am

  It has a much smaller trunk than I anticipated, but will do the job for daily use. The motion-sensor trunk open is a little hit or miss, but perhaps I just need to acclimate to exactly where I am to shake my foot underneath for it to open. The voice command says that my USB device (iPod) is not supported in order to find an artist/track, so that was a bummer. Everything else is so intuitive and fluid. Rear blind spot lights are an interesting feature, though I am afraid one may place too much reliance on it. The final feature that surprised me is that the backup camera does not have sensors to alert you if youre too close to an object. Otherwise, the 1.8T holds up well and I look forward to driving it up I-70 into the mountains this spring.

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  Awesome Sports Car - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By Lovin it - May 11 - 5:13 am

  This car is great, comfortable, reliable, and FAST! I have done high speeds 6th gear and still had room to go fasterand still felt absolutely solid, and responsive. You can also very frequently bypass gears. Thr leather seats are comfortable and I have not stuck to them which was one reason I was hesatent about buying leather. Overall the GTI is an awesome car, who else puts 10 airbags in there cars for front and REAR passengers? Standard? Not many! VW has thought of everything with this car. Thank you VW!

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  Still smiling...... - 2010 Volkswagen EOS
  By ryanfl - May 10 - 6:33 pm

  Wanted a convertible. Had shopped these earlier but ended up testing other soft tops. A few months passed and I was able to get an excellent year-end deal. Ive had the car 8 months and 5K miles. No issues. Blast to drive and the size is great for my needs. Still dont see that many around and I like that. I didnt know anyone that had one, so had to rely on owner input to decide to buy one. Thats what I am hoping this will do for those who are shopping. Im very happy with the car and hope to keep it for a long while. My insurance co. offers a great extended warranty so Im covered for 7 years, 100,000 miles.

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  Candid Review of My VW GTI GLS - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By Krafty - May 10 - 10:00 am

  This car is horrible. The reliabiltiy and quality is not commesurate with the selling price of this vehicle. Yes it is fun to drive and has a certain appeal to it, but it has been one expensive problem after another, with no end in sight.

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  We are leaving the fo;d - 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By dandi-andi - May 10 - 10:00 am

  This has been a nightmare. The broken air conditioner in the first month, ruined our vacation plans (we spent it in the repair shop instead) The tires wore out by 10,000. The seats are impossible to get out or back in. We think they are in securely and then 1 hour later they fall out, with a child in the seat. Cant drive with the windows open. The whole car vibrates and sounds like a helicoptor. Bad choise. Never again.

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  octoberfest leftover - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By jayjay - May 10 - 10:00 am

  In less than one year I had 3 sensors replaced (gas,exhaust sensor,Icant recallthe 3rd.)At just over one year the water pump broke a part & was replaced. Istill cant trust the gas sensor. Mirror came off cracking the windshield,It makes crinking noises everytime I go over a small speed bump (felt in gear shift(is starting to loosen up) & drivers side.Cant find out cause of this.It does start every am & is fun to drive.Lack of storage in passenger compartment.

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  Best German SUV on the market - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Jeffy - May 10 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased a Touareg and I love it. Also checked out the BMW X5, and the Mercedes M class. The Touareg was hands down my favorite. This is my 3rd VW. I also had a Jetta and a GTI.

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  LOVE THIS CAR! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By StevenC - May 10 - 10:00 am

  All I can say is that I am in love with my car, I feel like Im driving a 50,000$ car that was 24,000, this car is the MOST bang for your buck, spend 24,000 on an altima and u feel like youre driving a chinsy weak car, this car is solid, MUCH nicer materials than any other car in its class, and you feel really cool driving it.