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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  Still in Love - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By hedgehog - July 15 - 2:13 pm

  Odometer just passed 2000 with over 300 of that put on in the past 3 days. I still love it! Just wondering why I dont see more of them on the road. Hard to believe I drove that far and didnt see another Eos anywhere. By the way, I got 32.1 mpg for those 300+ highway miles. Dealer did not service (lubricate) roof seals as part of prep. We will be asking them to do that when it goes in for first service.

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  Built for Drivers - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rubens - July 15 - 1:30 pm

  This is the first VW I have owned and I absolutely love it. It is a lot of fun to drive, has a great interior design (especially the leather finish - stitching comparable to a Mercedes), and has great fuel economy. Its standard features, such as leather seats and heated side mirrors, are a real bonus. It has huge trunk space, I had over $650 worth of groceries in there no problem (hey, we were getting ready for Christmas!). The rear passengers love the heat vent that they can control as well as the pull down arm rest that can store magazines or make use of the pop out cup holders. This car is spacious and solid to drive.

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  Wolfsburg in Sheeps Clothing - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Crazy 4 VW - July 15 - 7:56 am

  The cleverly disguised Jetta is packing the coveted 2.0T engine & DSG tranny from the VW stable. This is probably the cheapest car from VW/Audi with this fun-to-drive engine and transmission combo. For a few hundred more than a SE, this is a no-brainer choice. The 200 hp is available around 1800 rpm, so you truly get use of the power without having to floor it. I have about 1500 miles to date and have my fingers crossed that there will be no issues down the road. But, the fit and finish of this car are remarkable. The panels are solid without that Japanese tin can sound or feel. The Jetta WE is definitely a viable contender in its class.

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  very good car - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mjginc - July 15 - 2:00 am

  single person, did not want to pay $10,000 for a 3 series BMW with the larger six. enjoyed the roll on power, especially in 3rd (pulls hard from 15mph to 100mph) vs. always having to keep the RPMs up in some Japanese models. drove several times NY to FL and loved the interior design, monsoon stereo and the brakes. zero mechanical problems. only complaints are that the traction control combined with front wheel drive take the fun out of spontaneous burn outs.

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  I want to drive this car every where!!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By ctay122 - July 13 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had this car 3 weeks, and I am enjoying the heck out of it! I wanted Ink Blue, which the dealer told me was being discontinued, and as a result was a little difficult to find, but the dealer located one for me in NC (I live near DC). I wanted the grey interior with the luxury package and monsoon stereo, which I got. I also ended up with homelink (guess Ill get a garage door opener now). The car rides great and handles well. I have received alot of compliments on the look of the car. It has chrome trim, and with the bright blue, it looks sweet! My only complaint is Im short, and have to have the seat up all the way, so the arm rest is useless.

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  gti? - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Arthur Melkonian - July 13 - 10:00 am

  even if it is the cheapest bavarian car out there, it still does it for me!

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  ROCKET SPORT SEDAN - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JASON - July 13 - 10:00 am

  IF YOU ARE LOKING FOR A FAST,SPORTS SEDAN YOU SHOULD LOOK HERE.FEATURES TO RIVAL MORE EXPENSIVE VEHICLES.COMPARABLE TO A BMW 3 SERIS,AND LEXUS IS300 AT $10,000.00 LESS.LEATHER INTERIOR,200 HP,6 SPD TRANS,SUNROOF & TRACTION CONTROL OR ABOUT $25,000.BEST QUALITY IN ITS CLASS.

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  Amazed at Jetta TDI power & speed - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By plaaaaane - July 13 - 10:00 am

  Had it for a week now. Was worried about the speed/power thing for a small engine. (I had a 4 cyl Ranger that couldnt keep up speed at top of Sunshine Skyway bridge). This TDI accelerates in 5th gear from 80 mph nearing the top of the bridge with no sign of slowing down! The dealer had Hondas so I checked them out- the 51 mpg one. I thought the plastic felt as cheap as my Subaru 76 DL which I loved at the time. The Honda sure wasnt worth a "MARKET ADJUSTMENT" the dealer put on all the Hondas. (What kind of nut would pay a market adjustment?) Anyhow, the Jetta TDI is built solid, runs like a roadster and is comfortable. I love it. Dave

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  Get the 2008 - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Get the 2008 - July 12 - 9:10 pm

  This is an awesome car! Test drove many many cars before ending up with a Jetta. The 170hp is awesome for this class of car. I enjoy all the standard safety and upscale options at such a low starting price.

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  A lot of car for the money - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By aikiman - July 12 - 8:07 pm

  This car is one of the best cars in its class, in my opinion. Ive owned it for several weeks now and I have nothing but positive things to say about the design, engineering, and sophisticated feel of the car. I am coming from a Volvo S60 so I have something good to compare it with. While the Passat does not have the same power and feel as the Volvo, it can give it a run for its money for less. A lot of thought went into this car in terms of its engineering and driver experience, and it shows. This car was engineered with the driver in mind. If a Camry is your idea of the perfect car, then dont bother with the Passat because it is truly a drivers car. Ive read the few negative reviews here and all I can say is that I really dont know what they are talking about. (One of the most negative reviews posted on this site so far has been posted in its identical form on at least one other car review website.) Power is adequate and, in my opinion, peppy. It has more than enough power to merge on a busy highway and I feel like I am driving a car that is much more expensive. While there is some drop off in power coming from a 5 cyl turbo S60, it really is not all that noticeable of a change to. I also believe that the ergonomics are just fine. I am 58" and had no problem finding a comfortable seat position. The seat comfort is good enough (nothing compares to a Volvo, though) and the cabin is spacious. This is a lot of car for the money. The workers in Chattanooga who make this car should feel proud that they are making such a thoughtful product for US consumers. I am proud to own this car and love every minute of my daily commute.