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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  True GTI - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By farhven - November 4 - 1:26 pm

  This is the GTI Ive been waiting for. Its design stays true to what this car was suposed to be: fast, fun and funky looking. Ive been into GTIs ever since they came out with their 1991 16V which kicked butt. I love the look of mine with the plaid inserts. The tranny is smooth and the throws are short. Love my metallic gray GTI!

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  Practical Performance Family Car - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By tk - November 3 - 9:20 pm

  This is a well designed car with balance between safety, roominess, performance, practicality and gas mileage. It has good acceleration except there is a lag at <5 mph. It also has loads of storage. Its much better than driving a minivan.

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  How sweet it is - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By David - November 1 - 9:03 pm

  I purchased my Passat for fuel economy and comfort of ride. Im not disappointed thus far. My drive one way to work is eighty miles, seventy miles of which is open road. The last ten is in Washington, DC traffic. I have logged 1400 miles on my Passat the past week which includ a trip to VA Beach this past weekend. I average 42.9 MPG. The car is very comfortable on the open road and feel very solid. Im very impressed by the power of this 4 cyl which is very quiet at 65 miles per hour. I must tell you that I did have one situation with the car and that is the Electronic Module Display which displays fuel usage, and outside temp went out the day I took delivery of my passat 18 APR 05.

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  One Happy Beetle Owner - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By petra - November 1 - 4:56 pm

  Ive had her for 9 years now. Try to take good care of her. Change my oil every 3000 mi. Do all the other stuff too. Bottom line, for what I need in a car, this one is perfect and I shall drive her for another 10 years at least.

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  Great Car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By geojadams - November 1 - 4:50 pm

  Dont listen to the editors ratings, whoever they are. I have owned Jaguars, Mercedes, and a Dodge Ram P/U and this is the coolest car that I have owned.

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  Great Ride - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By snowdance - November 1 - 3:40 pm

  This is a nice ride. Its quite inside and has a nice shifting transmission. It handles well at speeds and through mountain corners. It delivers great power at all RPM. It is far nicer than my 95 Mercedes 300CE. VW has come a long way.

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  Passat Wagon - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By TOMD - November 1 - 11:56 am

  I feel that dollar fo dollar and pound for pound, it is the best value in its class. The standard features far surpass the competition. It has a full sized spare, a rarity these days. The warranty is hard to beat also with free roadside assistance.

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  My GTI Review - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By Rccar 111 - November 1 - 10:00 am

  My GTI has been a blast to drive everyday for almost 2 years now. The 1.8t engine is the same one youll find on the Audi TT, A4, and A3. I dont think most people realize that. It has a lot of low end torque and high end hp. With an aftermarket chipping program, you will have a 210hp 240tq mini monster. The handling isnt too bad, but with a aftermarket suspension, the handling performance is greatly improved.

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  Better than a Hybrid by far - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AJ - October 31 - 4:43 pm

  I bought the TDI model in May 2010. Mileage is fantastic, at least 42 MPG depending on type of driving. The car is quiet, responsive, and quick "out of the gate." I believe diesel cars are the unsung heroes of the road.

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  Best car ever oh my god! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By James - October 31 - 2:43 am

  Absolutely stunning car. Huge mileage and still runs like a dream, shes my beauty, I would never ever sell this car and I would encourage everyone to look into buying it for their kid, its a really good car. Shaun