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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  best VW ever - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By ALeu - June 15 - 10:00 am

  fun to drive, great 6-speed, best car ever

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  Dont buy the Turbo!!! - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By juiceol - June 15 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a 2001 Jetta 1.8T for a GTI VR6 no comparison!!The torque and power of the VR6 is just incredible. The car feels much bigger than it is. The GRUNTTT from the VR6 at around 3000 rpm is wonderfull. This is my 7th VW and they just keep getting better. NEVER a lack of power like the Turbo.

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  The jury is still out - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Albert Christian - June 15 - 10:00 am

  The rear hatch does not always register closed when closed. I have not figured out the interior lights, either they stay on or there is no light at all. The floor lamps seem to be on continually. The instruction manual is hard to folowand is very long and repetative. It handles well and seems to be a very civilized SUV. All in all Im pleased. I traded in a BMW X-5 for the VW. I am holding this beast to aq high standard.

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  BlueReg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By BLUEREG - June 15 - 10:00 am

  I just recently bought my Touareg after a long process of looking and determining what my needs were...It is by the far, the most luxurious, smoothest, most enjoyable ride i have ever had.The interior is set out fantastically with all controls within easy reach. The console is bright at night.The Headlights have a self leveling feature that automatically adjusts to the bumps in the road.The drive is like butter and exceleration so smooth that you dont even realize that you are over the speed limit. As for offroad, its one of the best midsized suvs for its price. The gadgets are to numerous to name.But if this is Volkswagens norm, then im a buyer for life.

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  awsome ride - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By superman34 - June 15 - 10:00 am

  best luxury suv on the market.period

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  I still love it even I had trouble - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By alick - June 15 - 10:00 am

  I had some unhappy experience with my car, losing wheel cover twice; rear brake right cant turn off. However, I am so comfortable with the interior design, performance and the service of my dealer; over all, I believe buying passat still a good choice.

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  Beetle - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By cretal - June 15 - 10:00 am

  Weve only had this car for a month, but I loved it from the minute I got it. Its so much fun to drive especially with the top down.

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  Dream Ride - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rhonda Cooley - June 14 - 1:16 pm

  This beautiful car is so nice to drive I often have the urge to pass my house and keep driving! Truly, it handles better than any other car Ive driven, and I look forward to my next long road trip!

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  Love my Jetta - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Love my Jetta - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Purchased my Jetta used with approximately 25k miles. I currently have 81,000 miles and the car is still running strong. This car has a very solid feel to it and drives like a more expensive vehicle. I test drove other cars in this class (Civic, Corolla, etc) and the quality of those cars do not compare to that of the Jetta. I do not understand why other owners feel that the Jetta is not very reliable. With proper maintenance, my Jetta has not given me any problems. The cost of doing maintenance at the dealer is high. However, I was able to find a reliable VW/ Audi mechanic in the area who is able to do work for 1/2 the price. A lot less than it would be if I owned a Honda or a Toyota.

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  Car to buy - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JJ - June 12 - 3:06 pm

  Im glad I ended up with the VW TDI after comparing several other cars. The TDI performs better than expected. Plenty of power and handles great for a small car. MPG is great, if you compare the TDI to the Hybrids currently on the market you will buy a TDI. I believe 5- 7 years down the road the TDI will still be running strong the Hybrids will be costing you a fortune. Not to mention all the hazardous waste from the batteries used.