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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  Fun Car to Drive and to Own - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Charlie - February 24 - 6:33 am

  My wife and I really enjoy this car. We have had basically no mechanical issues at all, just routine maintenance. It has all the power that anybody would want, take-off, routine driving and the like. We were entertaining the idea of trading or selling this car, but my wife will have no part of it. It is her car and for me to try to sell or dispose of it would be a big mistake at this time. We have no real complaints and thoroughly enjoy this car. On a trip it averages almost 23.5 MPG and in city driving averages about 21 mpg., for a W8 engine that is superb.

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  How much fun can a car be? - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By ALAN - February 23 - 9:26 am

  I wanted a 4 season car, so the hard top convertible fit the bill. Weather protection and great security. I test drove the BMW 3-series and the Volvo C70 drop tops, and for pure fun this is the car! You get an integrated sunroof plus can you beat keeping the extra $10,000 in the bank? The 2.0 L turbo is quiet and powerful, and the DSL transmission is so smooth. The flip-up windbreaker is included (not an expensive accessory) and much appreciated so you can enjoy even slightly cool days.

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  Great Car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gestenta - February 22 - 4:13 pm

  I bought my 2001 Jetta GL with 6 miles on it. It is the base model and does not have any of the power options which people consistently complain about in reviews. The car now has 230,000 miles on it and runs better than ever. I am a do it yourself type, but all in all its been a great car. Changed the oil every 5000 miles with Catrol Synthetic Blend.

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  Lotta car in a small package - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Stan - February 21 - 10:33 am

  Weve had this car for 4 years and Id love to find another just like it! My wife is a home health nurse in the hills with plenty of snow to push. She feels she can go anywhere she wants with the all wheel drive and Im not sure that she cant. When the weather is questionable, we take the Passat and leave my Sierra 4WD in the garage. Regular maintenance is all we have done with no unexpected cost.

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  Love My Jetta! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kay - February 20 - 4:30 pm

  This car replaced my 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The fuel savings alone covers half of my car payment. It has a great sound system / 6 disc CD / sirius radio, sporty suspension, is fun to drive, and it accelerates as well or better than my previous V8 Jeep. It ran slightly rough for the first 5,500 miles or so, but now it is very smooth. I have the leatherette (faux leather) seats, they look great and hold up well to my dog. The heated seats are wonderful in the cold weather. I bought an aftermarket GPS system and keep it on the dash instead of opting for the factory installed version. Its cheaper and portable if we take a different car for trips - though with the great MPGs, and the comfort on long trips, we rarely do!

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  Great Car - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By WowMpg - February 20 - 2:13 pm

  I traded in a 2007 Toyota Camry CE for a 2005 Passat TDI. I was scared at first it of being a diesel. When I first saw it (I found it on the net and gave a deposit over phone and drove to VA from NJ to get it) I liked it. The car felt safe and heavy, its safety features are good, it drives great, it handles great, and has a nice interior like heated mirrors. I feel safe when Im it. The best thing is I only used nine gallons of fuel and got 400 miles with it. My friend and I could not believe it. It gets from 44 mpg up to 50 with power and the ability to climber hills with no loss of power. I am happy that I got this car and will keep it for years to come. It can go 10,000 miles between oil changes. It is particular about the oil that it needs, but its worth it.

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  GTI owns ! - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Thomas C - February 20 - 10:00 am

  This car rocks overall! The Turbo is awesome, especially since i put a chip on it. It pulls on alot of cars. I like all the features, yes the cupholder is annoying though. My BIGGEST complaint is that the interior rattled since the first week I got the car. Theres like 5 miscellaneous squeaks/rattles. And if you put your stuff in the bins, they will rattle it. Makes no sense since they padded it. My Honda Civic didnt rattle at all even with crap in it. But the 1.8T engine rules and the features for the money rocks. Over all i like it alot! I can spank RSXs, Celicas, Integras, anything in its class.

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  The Amazing Passat - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By B SOX - February 20 - 10:00 am

  This car rides like a very determined car.

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  fast, very fast - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By emmax - February 20 - 10:00 am

  This car is best car that I have ever owned. It drives like a Mercedes and has as many features as ones that cost several thousand dollars more. Very fast and comfortable. Half the time I dont realize I am going as fast as I am. Receive many comments about the car.

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  Good Luck w/your 99 passat - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Houstonian - February 19 - 11:10 am

  Car is great for about 70000 miles and then everything goes downhill from there. (Water pump, fuel pump, secondary air pump, cigarette lighter, etc...) Get an extended warranty if you buy a 99 Passat. Repairs are not cheap on this car.