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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  Great car, but... (read this b4 you buy) - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Alison - September 22 - 3:20 am

  I love my Passat except for one thing... days of missed work. Yes, thats right. I have missed about six days of work in the passed three years because of the engine coil problem. Although it is something that is covered by VW, it keeps happening... the engine coils blow out and I cant drive. I need to get towed and waited a day for VW to replace them. There is never a cost to me, except I cant get to work. It makes me sooooooo angry off that my car is so unreliable. This is something that should have only happened once, but six times! Whats wrong? They say that the coils were defective, but why does it keep happening? I hope it doesnt happen to you.

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  I Love Beetles - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Nancy - September 19 - 7:53 pm

  I really enjoy this car. I was hesitant at first to get one, but now am so glad I did! It is great on gas, fun to drive, and very comfortable. There is much more room inside than one would expect in a small car. I have the 1.8 turbo. It is a great performer and so fun to drive. It handles really well. I would highly recommend this car to anyone looking for better gas mileage without sacrificing fun and performance.

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  A car for all seasons - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By bigspence - September 19 - 2:26 am

  This is the most pleasant and versatile car I have ever owned. It rides like a limo on the road and takes to the field like a John Deere tractor. The V6 has enough power to get there and pass when needed but if you want a hot rod get the V8.

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  Reliable and fun to drive - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Scooter - September 18 - 4:30 pm

  I bought my 2003 VW GTI on New Years Eve of 2003 and have no regrets about my decision. The car is solid inside and out. It gets great gas mileage. Tons of standard features that just arent found in other vehicles. And it is a pleasure to drive every time. Even the dealerships have great customer skills and are eager to help. I am just about to break 20,000 miles and have had just one problem. The check engine light came on. Because temperatures went below 20 degrees, my purge valve was stuck. It was replaced and I have not had a problem since.

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  TDI - Yeah Baby - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Danny - September 18 - 3:13 am

  Dude - What an awesome car. I used to drive a 95 Jeep Cherokee. Quite a step up. 43 miles to the gallon! Smooth and quiet ride. This our first VW but we cant wait until we get our next one. You sit in the drivers seat and you think, "Man, Im drving a pretty posh car!"

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  love my golf - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Haley - September 17 - 3:43 am

  This was my first brand new car and I could not be happier. Its extremely fun to drive, gives a very solid ride, and has a million little things about it that I just love, like the entertainment from watching people try to open the hatch. Plus, the back seats are very spacious and easy to get into, even though it is a 2-door. And I love getting 30 mpg on average.

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  A Wagon Even a Teenager Likes - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By dlayne - September 16 - 7:06 am

  Our son out-grew our A4 Avant and we needed a larger non-SUV replacement. We looked at the A6 Avant, BMW 535 and Volvo wagons. Since we had to have an all-wheel drive and wanted a wagon, it left only a few choices. While not as posh as the Audi or BMW the VW is a steal based on price and standard equipment on the VR6 4-Motion model. If a badge for the neighbors to see isnt a priority this is the best valued german wagon out there and it is a blast to drive compared to its Japanese counter parts. The back seat leg room is great - even comfortable for adults. Cargo space is cavernous. This car handles incrdibly well in the snow and ice even with the stock 18" all season tires.

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  I LOVED this car, just too small... - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Nicolle - September 16 - 5:06 am

  I absolutely adored this car. She was gun-metal grey and I named her Judy, after Judy Jettson. Also lovingly called her the bubble-mobile because EVERYTHING inside is round or rounded. Super fun to drive, very reliable, very comfortable. But it did some weird stuff, as do all my vehicles. The overheat light kept coming on, even when Id first start it up. Then it would go off. Then come back on. Eventually I was driving on the highway and it severely overheated, melted the head gasket and there was anti-freeze in the oil. Ridiculous. I had thought the light was malfunctioning, not the cooling system. Only complaint about it is that any time something went wrong, it was EXPENSIVE to fix!

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  MY New 08 Jetta - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Carolinep - September 16 - 4:03 am

  This is my second Jetta and I absolutely LOVE it. I originally had an 04 Jetta and the improvements since then are amazing. What a stylish car it has turned into! I love driving it and its got a lot more oomph since with the 2.5 upgrade. definitely a great car worth looking into.

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  W12 Phaeton - VWs Masterpiece - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Michael Moore - September 15 - 6:06 pm

  My 2004 Phaeton W12 is my 8th Volkswagen. I am very happy with this car, it is quiet, powerful and very well designed. Elegant, but understated - stealth wealth.