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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  Simply the Best - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By mjw1968 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Build quality and materials are on par or better than Mercedes Benz, Rover, BMW, et al. The appointments are first rate; everything has the feel, look and action of quality. The performance on and off road surpass or equal the mighty Rover and Mercedes, with on/off road handling surpassing both. The powerful V8 engine is so smooth and quiet one must check the tachometer for engine idle.

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  My Review - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By geojoy4 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  A very comfortable drive with plenty of driving features. Navigation computers can require alot of attention to initially learn. recommend someone take at least 1 hour in there driveway and fiddle with the navigation system

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  VERY PROUD OWNER - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By JCJ42 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  MY TOUAREG IS RESPONSIVE ... HAS EASE OF HANDLING. FEELS LIKE HAVING CONTROL OF A CAR WHEN IN REALITY ITS 6000 LBS OF A WELL BUILT TRUCK. VISIBILITY IS EXCELLENT. GREAT ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND FINISH IS OBVIOUS. AESTHETICALLY PLEASING TO THE EYE. GERMAN ENGINEERING AT ITS FINEST. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE PROUD ... VERY PROUD! I AM A PROUD OWNER AND AM OFTEN REMINDED OF THAT WHEN I FIND MYSELF GIVING IMPROMPTU DEMONSTRATIONS/DISCUSSIONS TO CURIOUS STRANGERS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK VW.

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  Love My Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Camarosa - July 21 - 2:00 am

  When I purchased my Touareg I had no intention of getting a new car. I was dropping my Jetta off for a broken tail light and decided to take the Touareg for a test drive, needless to say I signed over my Jetta and drove home in a Touareg three days later! I absolutely LOVE this truck and in spite of a few minor bugs I wouldnt trade it for anything. I get so many compliments on the truck wherever I go.

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  suprised i own a touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By lisaahern - July 21 - 2:00 am

  my husband who hates to drive suvs loves this vehicle (he drives a european performance car). as for myself i was worried about the touaregs ability to handle new england winters. to my suprise this vehicle was able to get me thru back to back noreasterner snow storms with ease. my driving views are unobstructed. the weight of the vehicle in gives me a sense of safety especially in high winds (not top heavy). as a former owner of an escape and explorer i am pleasantly surprised with this vehicle (a tank in sheeps clothing). note my other choices before purchasing this vehicle were the acura mdx, volvo xc90, bmw x-5 and this was my first choice.

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  MY BABY - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By LOU CERVONE - July 21 - 2:00 am

  A GREAT SUV.FUN TO DRIVE .TROUBLE FREE ..THE BEST MY MONEY COULD BUY.EVEYBODY NEEDS ONE OF THESE

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  Zoom Zoom - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By VWNY - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Excellent, smooth and fund to Drive. Intelligent panel display. Excellent safety freatures. Lot of power for 1.8, 190hp engine.

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  Another VW Success!! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By CABiern - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I have owned many VWs and driven them all into the ground. The Passat is terrific in all areas.

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  vw jetta-better value for you money @vw - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jalo - July 21 - 2:00 am

  car is amazing...even with the 4 cylinder....i have no complaints...its my 7th VW...had the VR6 and 1.8T...how often do you have to go 0-60 in less than 7 seconds...quality is superb

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  The best of everything - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By 610" in Dallas - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I have owned virtually every American car and the better German sedans. I have never had a car "draw a crowd" of admirers like my new VW convertable. The design is perfect - the head room and leg room is more than in my SUV - not to forget that 12 or 13 gallons in it does what 30 gallons used to do.