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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  From BMW to R32 and Back - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By crooner12 - April 29 - 12:23 am

  I purchased a 2008 R32 back in January. It was a great little car, had good performance thanks to the AWD, and sounded magnificent with the dual exhaust. Coming from an 06 Z4 3.0i, it was a totally different experience. Not as luxurious and not has sporty handling, but it felt just as fast. Ultimately, I missed the convertible and didnt think the "boy-racer" styling fit my personality, so I traded it in for a BMW 135i convertible.

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  BMW here I come - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BMW here I come!!! - April 28 - 7:26 pm

  Bought this car brand new and fell in love with it, until I realized that I was going to be at the dealer every 4 or 5 months because something failed or broke.

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  Great Car! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Nankov - April 28 - 12:56 pm

  I own a 2002 2.0L Jetta that currently has 98,000 km. on it. Ive had no major problems with it. The car is solid and it handles great. The base engine is actually pretty good, plus its good on gas! I love driving this car. It has nice looks too! You gotta love VWs.

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  WOW - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By TBW - April 28 - 2:00 am

  Test drove it and knew from the start it would be the car I would buy. I am a big fan of the WRX STI but the R32 has been a great alternative. This car does not have to try to be cool. It has everything you want in a car. Too get to the point this car does everything. It may not be the fastest or the most luxurious but it does a damn good job of coming real close. The next time you see one and wonder if it is as nice as you think.......you are right!

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  GTI R32 - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By VWR32 - April 28 - 2:00 am

  This car is incredible, you can not find a better all around package, performance, handling, features, AWD, and that awesome sound! VW has done an excellent job here. I encourage anyone interested in this car to get one while they are available. There are not many cars that will put this kind of a smile on your face every time you drive it!

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  Love The Jetta - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rayl224 - April 28 - 2:00 am

  Had one non routine problem that was covered by warranty. Some repairs are a little more costly than other cars. Burns oil. Otherwise the car is great and I love drving it.

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  Jurys Still Out - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sandown - April 28 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car, used, as a certified car from a VW dealership. It had 51k miles on it, but was very clean. The brakes were brand new (metallic pads). Now, 6,000 miles later, the rotors are starting to warp. We just got back from a trip into the mountains, and the upper rpm power is not very impressive. The 22.5 mpg average fuel consumption is a little lower than expected for an auto in mixed driving, especially with the price of premium. I live in Phoenix, and I bought the car in December. Now that it is getting warmer (low 90s), the AC pull-down time is longer than expected.

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  Happy, but some concerns - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Peter Kreinheder - April 28 - 2:00 am

  The Toureg is a great auto for VW to enter the SUV market. I cant wait to get the Phaeton!! The quality of the interior is superb. However I am having a lot of problems driving after snowfall, or driving thru deep snow. Snow gets stuck to the undercariage causing a lot of vibration and discomfort. This has happend 3 times this winter and have to go to a spray wash to melt off the snow. Furthermore, had to once take it in to the dealer to remove pact mud/sand from a rear well that caused significant imbalance. My other SUVs never have these problems. Our Tahoe has no problems with high snow, mud etc.

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  Excellent car, fun to drive - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jennifer DeSanzo - April 28 - 2:00 am

  We also had coil pack problems, on back order for 2 weeks. VW reembursed us for loss of usage for those weeks (leased car). Have not had any problems since. Absolutely love the car. A great value for the performance and options.

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  GREAT CAR - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tmeier - April 28 - 2:00 am

  I bought my TDI wagon brand new and have been driving it for about a year now and am still wild about it. This is a great car, fun to drive, looks more expensive than it is and has tons of whistles & bells. Ive not had one problem with it and get lots of comments about what a great looking car it is. It has so much power you would never imagine it was a diesel and since the price of gas just keeps going higher and highter I love the unbelievable mileage. Great ride & handling & plenty of room in the hatch to carry anything I need.