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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  2012 VW CC Sport 6AM - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By rjohn7 - April 16 - 8:29 pm

  I bought this car 2 months ago and have just under 2000 miles on it. I was also considering the Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata. I do like not seeing many other CCs on the road as I do the Sonata. I have been very pleased with the car so far. I am 62" and have 2" of headroom with the seating position I have set. The seats are very comfortable and I think the rear seating is more than adequate, even for 6ers. Since the CC has a lower ground clearance, it is tougher getting into and out of the car. I have been getting 22.5 -23.0 MPG in suburban driving using a light foot. I am very happy with accel, handling, and braking and do not experience the long brake travel I have read about.

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  awesome but disappointmented - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By love vw - April 16 - 6:53 pm

  Awesome performance, styling, cool, fun and for the under 50 successful crowd... however, one week after her 5000 checkup, a transmission module went, she wasnt shifting... lights on everywhere. two weeks later at the dealership (did they know what they were doing..........) Returned looks- feels as good as new. Still in love with this unpretenious and elegant automobile. some marketing from corporate might help her future...if not, an orphan.............

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  Hot smells and check engine lights - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By ty - April 16 - 2:32 pm

  hot anti freeze smells that they can’t diagnose. Check engine light shows electrical problems they can’t find and fix. Spending more and more time in shop. This time 3 days and no loaner and still not fixed.

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  Awesome Car! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By ServisWorx - April 15 - 11:00 pm

  The interior styling is awesome. The red spot lights over the center console is a feature that I have not seen in any other car. The electronic parking brake is cool (sounds like a space ship landing when you activate it). The handling is not as good as the previous models. The seats dont wrap around you as well either.

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  High Maintenance - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Fuller - April 15 - 12:33 pm

  I really liked the look of the Passat. It drives well, handles good, and gets pretty good gas mileage (24 on average). The brake system is terrible. I have had to have the rotors and the brakes changed every year and most of my daily drive is highway. You have to go to the dealership for every thing (head light replacements, wiper blades, etc.). Ive had to take it to the dealer at least 5 times for recalls. The kicker is the car requires high octane gas. It wont perform well on regular gas.

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  Awesome Car for My Son - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By RVoit - April 15 - 9:36 am

  I bought this Jetta two years ago from my local dealer, as a third car for my teenage boys to drive. Its a stick, with few options, but was in good condition. Weve had virtually no problems with it and its turned out to be a tough car, too. It provides superb basic transportation. Its fun for the boys to drive, but not too flashy either. We maintain this car and plan on keeping this Jetta for a long time.

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  V6 AWD Passat - a Mini Phaeton - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By RLK - April 14 - 9:36 pm

  The V6 AWD Passat with Sport suspension is really an 8/10ths Phaeton. I have made several cross-country trips in this car and have been extremely impressed with its comfort and ability to make long driving days go by in a blur. unfortunately, my car had several minor electronic glitches, but they were all dealt with by VW. This car is still worth it. It looks and feels like a $50,000 $60,000 vehicle.

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  happy so far - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By willie3051 - April 14 - 5:22 pm

  This is my first VW and the 2012 Golf is impressive. The car is very comfortable and handles well. On its first long trip, I averaged 33 mpg of mostly highway miles.

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  First time VW owner - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By clockworkpug - April 14 - 6:06 am

  I just came from a BMW Z4M roadster and a BMW 330Ci and I am seriously impressed by this car. You will be hard pressed to find a more luxurious, smooth, and refined car for under $30,000. The car is not fast in the way that a 5-series BMW is, but it is no slouch either. The 2.0 L turbo is a gem of an engine, and the car is as smooth as butter. It does have a fair amount of body roll but then again this car is more Mercedes than it is BMW. The interior is first rate and has near Audi levels of style inside. With the 6-speed manual this car is actually quite fun to drive. There is quite a bit of understeer though, for obvious reasons. The exterior on this car is its piece de resistance!

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  What a Hunk of Junk - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Unhappy Customer - April 13 - 10:10 am

  I made the mistake of trading in my 1994 Honda Civic for a brand new Jetta, suckered by the "sign and drive" lease promotion. I assumed I was purchasing a new-- therefore safer and more reliable-- vehicle. My old Honda had hit 200k miles and never had problems, but I didnt want to risk it. My "new" Jetta has less than 2,000 miles on it, and I have already had to bring it in for service 3 times. Ill be making a 4th visit tomorrow. The "check engine light" keeps coming on! I keep getting faulty parts replaced, and yet the light continues to pop up, alerting me of new problems. You know you bought a lemon when even the service department admits that the old civics was a better automobile.