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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  FOURTH JETTA IN THE FAMILY - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Doug JR. - October 13 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS THE FOURTH JETTA IN OUR FAMILY. I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE MORE RELIABLE THAN MY PARENTS 2000 JETTA GLS. THE ENGINE IS NOT VERY POWERFUL, BUT ONCE YOU REV IT UP, IT SPRINGS TO LIFE. ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH ME JUST SHOULDNT OWN A VW. ONCE YOU DRIVE A JETTA AND LEARN HOW TO DRIVE IT EFFECTIVELY, YOU CAN STOP HEARTS. P.S. FOR ALL OF THOSE ANTI VW PEOPLE WHO THINK I DONT KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT KEEP THIS IN MIND, I HAVE HAVE TWO PORSCHES 911 & 928, A 328I BMW, AND THIS JETTA. I CHOOSE TO DRIVE MY JETTA DAILY. AND I ALWAYS HAVE A SMILE WHEN I GET HOME!

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  VW cars- THE BEST UNDER $20000!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Flanker - October 13 - 10:00 am

  We have a 2000 Jetta and a 2001 Golf. They are great! Just great! Quality, design, convenience, features, price, gas milage... We can go on and on and on. They often ask me "is there anything you regret about these cars, there must be something" to a guy like that I say "yes I do regret that I did not buy them much sooner" PERIOD

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  I love my GLI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Masemoto - October 13 - 6:23 am

  One test drive an I was sold. This car satisfies me in every way. Its interior space and design are excellent. The car performs flawlessly. The engine roars with power. The car looks sharp. What more could you want. Fuel economy? Try 26 in the city and 31+ on the highway. The value for money is amazing for something which does everything great. I have yet to have any problems with my VDub and would highly recommend it to anyone. Take a test drive and youll see what I am talking about. A+

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  Tiguan best in its class by far. - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By exiled - October 12 - 6:50 pm

  Just got this new a week ago (I love the newly designed grill/face) I have been doing a side by side comparison with my wifes BMW X3 and so far the Tiguan is proving to be the better ride.

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  Forget the sedan, try this first - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By emajor - October 11 - 8:22 pm

  This wagon is versatile and refined. Weve carried furniture, huge Rubbermaids, not possible with a sedan. Tons of cargo room when you need it, drives just like the sedan when you dont. Handling is responsive, the steering has a nice feel and heft to it, and the ride is comfortable without being too soft or sloppy. Supportive seats, perfect driving position. Interior is way too nice for a $20K car. Strong 5 cylinder engine with lots of torque down low. Gets 29-34 mpg highway. Nice clutch and shifter. Test drove the TDI, nice engine, but didnt feel it was worth the additional $5000. 13,000 miles and no problems yet. As long as it stays reliable, I will have no regrets.

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  Great Car - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By psfriend - October 9 - 10:00 am

  This car has been the best that I have owned....very clever design features, loads of headroom (I am 64" tall) and good handling...excellent reliability. I would recommend this make/model for folks who want a fun and relatively inexpensive mode of transportation.

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  Great Compromise - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DriverTDI - October 9 - 10:00 am

  MY Jetta TDI is a great great automobile. I average 47mpg with combination driving (75 city/25 hwy), it doesnt take off like a 3.5 Altima..but then again an Altima (no matter what engine) cant get 50mpg...ever. It can, however, get out into traffic with no problems...was pleasantly surprised at its ability to go from a stop. It is loads more comfortable than the Corolla I traded in on it, which is important when travelling more than 2 hours at a time. The has great build quality, and is surprisingly quiet on the road too.

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  Much more spacious than I thought - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By LoveBeetle - October 9 - 10:00 am

  Beetle is one of kind. You do not need to mention VW Beetle. It looks so distinguish that it never losses in LA traffic. We all know that, but the most impressive thing is the interior space which is much spacious than I judged from its cute exterior. The fronts have the most head room, the back seats actually fit two teens with comfort. It is a fun car to drive, practical daily car and low cost to own too. How many car can offer all these?

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  A Car With Personality - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Pinkmartini - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I picked it over the BMW and Mercedes CLK convertible. It says, "Im fun and Im happy" whereas the other convertible say, "Im a snob." VW is one of the only convertible that doesnt strive to something its not. Its not trying to be a luxury car. This car has so much more personality. Being a former BMW driver, I surprised myself when I picked the VW (fully loaded). I live in California, so I have the top down all the time. I cant even begin to tell you the number of people that give me compliments on it...while I am driving my car. My whole family loves it and sometimes I find my car missing because someone else borrowed it.

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  Fantastic car - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By scontca - October 9 - 6:40 am

  I absolutely love my Passat. I have owned about a dozen VWs and this is by far the best yet. The car is very quick, smooth, quiet and luxurious. I have had no problems and I am sure the car will hold up well over the next few years.