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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  so far so good - 32k miles - original owner - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By reverseswing - July 1 - 11:07 pm

  I have had this car as a lease since 2008. I have had no issues at all, only been to the dealer every 10k miles for oil changes & scheduled service. Lease is about to end so Im trying to figure out if it makes sense to buy the car outright or possibly go for the new 2012 US made version.

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  Value for the Money - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jeremy - June 30 - 10:33 pm

  It costs more but you get more. I also considered getting an Accord and Camry but after a test drive I was convinced to go with the Jetta. Its handling is solid and predictable, especially in bad conditions. Its not a sports car and does not perform like one. Instead it does what it is expected to do really well. It is very comfortable at speed on the highway with good torque. It suits my driving style perfectly.

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  Wonderful, Dependable and Fun to Drive - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Carolyn - June 29 - 4:36 pm

  Not only is his car fun to drive and hugs the road, but is reliable, easy to check the engine, has a thorough vehicle manual and an ample trunk for a car that looks compact on the outside. I also feel my son and baby- to-be will be safe in this car. I like all the little comforts and whenever I test drive another car, I miss the German ergonomics. You cant beat German engineering for the price.

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  Great improvement over 06 sedan - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By bpitt1 - June 28 - 6:13 pm

  Traded in my 2006 2.0t sedan for 08 wagon... what a difference 2 years and a wagon has made! The ride and handling are improved, its quieter and looks much better in wagon form (also more practical). The automatic transmission shifts more smoothly too. Gets better mileage than the 06... lets hope the reliability is better as well.

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  This is an Awesome SUV! - 2007 Volkswagen Touareg
  By KeithB - June 28 - 5:56 pm

  I am very happy with my new Touareg. I waited for the 3.6L FSI engine and it does not disappoint. The fit and finish here is top notch. I have owned BMWs and Audis and I like the Audi feel of the Touareg in terms of ride quality and German feel. Nice rig!

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  Passat Family - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By David - June 27 - 11:53 pm

  My wife has a 2002 model with 140000 miles that appealed to me more than my 2001 Camry which is simply reliable transportation with nothing extra. I looked at all of the 2009 Models (Camry, Accord, TL, Altima, etc.), and I was sold. The Passat has more standard features than the loaded Altima and Camry. I have averaged over 27 mpg for the first 10k miles which were mostly highway. The gas mileage in city driving is closer to 18 because I like the turbo. This car really feels a step above its major competitors (Camry, Accord and Altima) without the extra cost of a comparably equipped model (if the competition even offers the features). VW seemed more willing to negotiate on price

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  New Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mertdawg - June 27 - 10:30 pm

  Ive had this car for about a month and I LOVE IT. Its comparable to Acuras. I cant wait to put Yokohama Tires on it and fix it up piece by piece! RECALLS are great. A new TURBO has been put in it! You can still smell it breaking in ;) The turbo reminds me of V tec in my 98 Acura 3.0 CL.

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  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By mblaesi - June 26 - 10:00 am

  My wife drove a Mecury Tracer for 12 years. One ride in the Passat and she fell in love with the car. We test drove the Accord, but the Accord could not come close to the Passats quiet ride, comfort, styling and build quality. The Passat has plenty of power and the transmission is so smooth, you cant feel it shifting. The power seat are also great. My wifes only complaint is, not enough interior cargo space.

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  Great Mileage - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By powerstroke444e - June 26 - 1:00 am

  The Volkswagen Jetta TDI is a great car. I run B10 in this one with no problems. I get 40+ mpg in town in sport mode and I never take my foot off of the pedal. I have nad no problems with this car other than it seems to like to go over 90 mph all the time ;).

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  Loving TDI - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Love my TDI!!! - June 25 - 9:36 am

  This is an update on a previous post. I have put 11,000 miles so far since March and have averaged 39 MPG overall 60/40 hwy/cty. I routinely get 45-50 MPG on my 70 mile commute. The engine with the manual trans. is fun to wind up and it is easy to merge in traffic with all the torque. Taking it in for the first maintenance was easy and painless. So far so good!!