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:

• 

  Just love my Jetta! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By beejay - September 6 - 9:53 pm

  I usually just drive to work and back in traffic, and I get excellent mileage. My only complaint is that I cant buy diesel at Costco. I took my first long trip and it really handled those windy, curvy roads securely. My previous car, a Honda Accord, cant compare to this little car. It is so much fun to drive! The only thing I find fault with is the placement of the seatbelt. Im only 53", and it rides above my shoulder, and it almost cuts into my neck.

• 

  best sedan for the money - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Irfan - September 6 - 7:46 pm

  Wifes car. Drives beautifully, specially on curves. accelerates like a beast. better than most V6s. braking system is excellent. rear AC vents a plus. adequate leg room in the back, as we have a car seat with a 21 month old. Excellent cruise control. Trip computer is very cool and intuitive. In door umbrella holes are nice. Triptronic feature is very cool but auto is easier. Sound system not the best but we got the cheap base system. metal reinforced back seat. Cannot get a "semi-luxury" german engineered sedan for a better price.

• 

  Great Car - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By jnwfla - September 4 - 11:40 pm

  My wife bought this car to replace a 2003 Buick Rendezvous. She is thriled. She gets the space she needed and the zip she did not have. And, the car looks great. She loves all the features, but the XM radio is on the top of her list (go figure). Now she can listen to even more sports talk radio....what a girl (and, her in it, makes the car look even sexier than it already is). Anyone looking at SUVs should consider this car.

• 

  Nice deal - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By matt1234 - September 4 - 10:00 am

  fun fun fun, and nice

• 

  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Velvet - September 4 - 10:00 am

  Excellent mileage and easy to manuever in and out of small places. Good stability - Appears heavier than it actually is so it holds the road well. Comfortable to drive with 3 seat controls. Fanatastic Monsoon audio sound. Cold weather package includes heated washer tips and rear view mirror defrosters

• 

  i love this car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Derek Peters - September 4 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for almost a year and i love it. Its a great fun car and i would buy another one in a heart beat......If anyone is looking to buy one get it. I was worried about performance out of a 2.0 but it has great torque I love it!!!!!!

• 

  Best car for your money!! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By jolenecb - September 2 - 11:59 am

  I love my 04 VW Passat! It is by far the best purchase I have ever made (great price for an AWESOME car). Bought it at 58,000 miles and it is flawless. The turbo is wonderful; and even though I have a basic model it has great features like the bump shifter, seat warmers, cruise control, great sounding stereo, high quality interior and more! Its German engineering at its finest! You can feel the quality everytime you drive it. It is NOT a cheaply made Honda or Toyota. I recommend a Passat!

• 

  Best Bargain In The SUV Market ! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Frank Mott - September 2 - 9:30 am

  This is the most amazing value in the small SUV marketplace. The car is almost as fun to drive as our Mini ! The car sounds sporty, and looks like it racing along even parked at the curb. Drives like sporty car not an SUV. Gas mileage around town is 26 mpg and with gas price sky high we are very happy ! The quality and engineering are excellent as is to be expected from V.W. Lots of thoughtful features. But, driving is whats it all about, and the Tiguan is sure to put a smile on your face !

• 

  My VW - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By daniel - September 1 - 4:06 pm

  My Touareg is two years old now and it still looks brand new. It has a very nice ride. I love the heated seats in the winter.

• 

  Wolfs (berg) in Lambs Clothing - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By A. Graham - September 1 - 3:20 am

  With 50+ years of snow country driving, mostly in FWD Saabs, I find the combination of traction and stability control amazing. Ill take it over any SUV - usually out run em anyway, especially when the road gets twisty. It can carry an impressive load and get 30 mpg on cruise at 74.5 mph (by GPS) on mid-grade fuel. Clearly, this is car built for the autobahn as well as the Alps. This is my 4th since 97 and nothing has broken yet - equals great value for the money.