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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  like the interior a lot - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By korax - November 25 - 3:40 pm

  We like many of the attributes of our VW Routon SEL. Recently however there has been trouble with the transmission. We again are very happy otherwise, and the repair is covered by the warranty. The kids love the entertainment system and the roominess is fine.

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  Honda to VW-CC and no regrets - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By jackinfl1 - November 25 - 1:55 am

  Just purchased this 2012 VW-CC Sport after trading in my Honda Accord 08. No regrets so far. I love the CC, it drives and handles so incredibly. I really liked the reliability of the Honda, but it just didnt drive like this vehicle. The VW a classy looking vehicle for the price range, but it is a blast to drive! Im about 64" and there is plenty of leg room. Interior is sleek and well designed. Was totally amazed at the power of the 4 cyl engine, the turbo makes it seem like an V6 ! Braking is smooth and even and when you drive it, it feels like a great fitting suit. I owned a Jetta in the mid - 90s and after an Altima and then a Honda, time to give VW another try. Glad I did!

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  2008 Passat Lux Wagon 133,000 miles - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By mrvinsurance - November 25 - 1:24 am

  I just bought this car, with 133,000 miles on it. This one was very clean inside and out, and all options worked on it. At 135,000 miles I changed the timing belt and changed oil with synthetic as recommended. I am exclusively using premium gas. Overall, very happy with it. Super smooth and respectably fast on highway. Very comfy & attractive interior. I am prepared to spend a little more for maintenance than my Japanese cars, but feel it is worth it as the overall build quality is much nicer. Again, bought it with high mileage, but it drives great.

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  Buy me, regardless of your age. - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By bruce - November 24 - 4:25 pm

  a great sporty little car

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  awsome car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By ryasmi - November 24 - 10:00 am

  No problems, love the car

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  For young, for old and all others - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Genesis - November 24 - 10:00 am

  Ihave had my fire red 1.8T GTI for about 4 months. I have my 17 inch rims, black interior with all possible options. Great handling, reliable and comfort. And on the top: people really tell me it looks great. For some reason this is an eye opener - I often relize people are checking my car out on the street. Ecellent value considering I paid 20,175 - the dealer shaved off for me almost 1800 - basically free sports package with 6-cd player.

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  I love my car - 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By vwdriver - November 22 - 4:33 pm

  I have had this car for 9 years and counting. Finding parking is easy due to its size and maneuverability. The only time I ever had any trouble with it was when I took it to a non-VW specialist for a simple oil change. They told me that I need to fix all sorts of things and 2 weeks later my car started leaking oil. I took it back to my VW specialist. It took him a few times to figure our what was wrong but he did not charge me additional when I had to take it back. He fixed it and I havent had any problems since. Bottom line: if you dont take it to the dealer, take it to someone that specializes in VWs. If I need to get a new car, I will get a VW just so I can keep my mechanic.

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  So Far So Good - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Jason B. - November 22 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased my Touareg V6 with Premium II, and so far I have not encountered any problems I have read here. Test drove FX35, felt a bit harsh, and my 3 year old complained during the test drive. Test drove RX330, solid Lexus quality, but there are just so dang many and boring. Ride quality felt like that of a Camry. Test drove the Volvo XC90 T6 AWD (this is the top of line twin turbo). Touareg V6 has more guts than the Volvo T6 AWD. Touareg felt the most solid out of all these cars I just mentioned. It seems like they just need to work out the little kinks.

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  Best Car I Have Ever Owned - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By diggler2 - November 22 - 5:32 am

  I bought my 2012 Golf TDI brand new and I could not be happier with the car. From its handling, to its power, to its amazing fuel efficiency it is the whole package. It truly drives like a solid European car but at half the cost. I have owned Toyotas, Hondas, Jeeps, Chevys and this VW golf is by far my happiest purchase. I bought the top of the line Tech package and it is in my opinion worth the extra cost. The tech package comes with an incredible sounding Dynadio stereo as well as navigation, LED running lights, and xenon headlights. Definitely will consider purchasing another in 15 years when this one finally wears out....

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  Very competitive, sporty sedan - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Alan - November 21 - 9:06 pm

  Powerful, fuel-efficient engine. This feels like a 6-cylinder, with no turbo lag. Excellent handling and comfortable ride, even with the sport suspension. Comfortable leather seats with good visibility. The interior is roomy with high quality materials (like a entry-level luxury car) and is thoughtfully laid out. 10,000 mile interval between scheduled oil changes (after the first two at 5,000 miles). Initial quality issues include DRLs that were not activated, and a bracket that snapped off the rear cupholder.