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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  My Betty... - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bearcat - March 6 - 10:00 am

  This car is unreal... for a first car out of college this thing kills... Everyone is always checking out the 18" BBS and the Z rated rubber thinking is that thing as fast as it looks... and yeah it can be... just got to keep the turbo spinning. I drove the VR6 model and wondered why anyone would buy that one... the 1.8T has better handleing and does not dive in the switchbacks or under hard braking which can get pretty hard with those HUGE front disks... By the way the 6 speed manual is flawless and most likely bulletproof like most other VW tranies.

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  Luv My Bunny - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Lori - March 6 - 5:10 am

  Ive always driven old Volvos, but last year after spending a month in Munich I became a fan of German engineering. I have not been disappointed in my new Rabbit. I am in LOVE. It hugs the road and scoots around like a high performance sports car! Everyone that drives it adores it. It fits like a glove when driving. Its a real drivers car. It great in the snowy Vermont winters (get Nokian tires).

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  Gotta Love It!!!! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CorradoG60 - March 5 - 11:50 pm

  I have had my Wolfs since Aug. 01 and I love every second behind the wheel. This is my third VW (90 Corrado G60, 95 Jetta), gotta love that German Engineering (No one does it better). The handling is excellent and the seats hug you in the turns. There are not enough good things that can be said about the 1.8T other than, "I wish it came in a 6cyl. Turbo."

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  What a bargain - 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By george bentham - March 5 - 3:36 pm

  The Volkswagen Phaeton W12 is the best kept secret in luxury automobiles. it has features galore, impressive performance, and terrific handling. Some critics have said the steering is too soft. Having owned at least one of each German made car, I can say the handling can only be criticized by a professional driver or nitpicking journalist. It corners beautifully and the all wheel drive is a bonus. I can only be critical of the navigation system, it doesnt have any street names. Otherwise, the car surrounds you with luxury and performance. With factory rebates to dealers, the price is astounding for a car of this level. I shopped the Audi A8L, BMW 745, and Mercedes S500. This car is a notch above them for about the same price.

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  Passat 2.0 Value Edition Wagon - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By NY Passat - March 5 - 2:20 pm

  This vehicle has superb acceleration for a 4-cylinder. The engine feels much more powerful than the rated 200hp. The electric motor driven power steering allows for one finger steering at parking speeds and German style road feel at high speeds. Compared to a Volvo V70 2.5T you get most of the features, similar size, better performance and a $10,000 lower price.

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  Excited - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By Tommy - March 5 - 10:36 am

  We just picked up our Routan and we couldnt be happier! There is NO CHOICE in my opinion when shopping for a minivan in this market. The alternatives are aged, bland and BORING. If you want exclusivity - get a Routan. Its gorgeous, handles superbly for a minivan, loaded with what you need, oozes techno gadgetry, reasonable price and 0% financing. For us it was an easy choice. The tough part was choosing a color.

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  Great for everyday use! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DANIEL - March 5 - 10:20 am

  I picked this car up for cheap, reason why its a 2.0 and not the infamous 1.8t or vr6. Stock the engine is just enough for A to B driving. Great for a working car or long trips thanks to its decent milage per gallon. If you looking for performance you should look at the 2.0 unless your into engine tuning and are willing to spend another 2,500 to supercharge or turbo the engine.

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  Great vehicle-lousy on gas - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Cheryl Kahner - March 4 - 6:26 pm

  Maybe due to weight (5700 lbs.) and AWD, the gas mileage is closer to 10 city/15 highway. Smooth ride with comfortable seats. Fair amount of cargo space. Rolling control on steering wheel for information display can be confusing to use.

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  2005 Volkswagen Touareg V6 AWD - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By thesabels - March 4 - 2:10 pm

  My 2005 Volkswagen Touareg V6 AWD is fun to drive and has excellent handling. It is beautifully engineered. The rain-sensing wipers are a very poor idea though. The computerized comfort options are good, but the computer often resets itself with its own ideas. The only reason I would not buy another one is the high cost of routine VW dealer maintenance.

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  Burning oil - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By brandon - March 4 - 12:00 am

  Beautiful car. I like almost everything about it. The HUGE exception to this is the fact that it is a new car with 28k miles and it burns crazy amounts of oil!! VW is not inclined to do anything about it. This is a common problem. VW claims it is normal for this car to burn almost 1 qt of oil per 1,000 miles.