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 Car Ever! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Corona - January 10 - 4:40 pm

  Im 20, and I purchased this car as a present to myself before I go to college. Ive had a 2000 Ford Focus, 2002 Ford Explorer, 2002 Pontiac Sunfire, and a 2002 Ford Escape. This has to be the BEST so far. I would recommend this car to ANYONE.

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  What else could go wrong? - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By S - January 10 - 1:53 am

  I dont even know where to begin. The first year I got the car I had transmission problems. That same year my check engine light came on and I have taken it to the dealer so many times for that problem only for them to tell me one lie after another. Everytime I took it in I payed for them to fix something else. Since then my check engine light is has stayed on for most of the time and I just ignore it. My windows go up when I press down and vice versa. Most recently my car is having trouble starting. Not worth the trouble.

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  Blue R32 - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By Brera - January 10 - 12:26 am

  I was going back and forth between the R32 and 2008 STI since I wanted a performance hatchback. After much angst, I decided to get the R32 - came down to I wanted a moonroof. While the car is fun to drive, it doesnt have nearly the same zip as my 2006 WRX which I still own, and find driving it more fun. The R32 is a great car to drive if you want to have fun and dont want to deal with shifting gears in traffic. Since Im only leasing the car for 2 years, I will probably unload it and get the new STI - 305 hp!!! There is no comparison.

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  Good car, bad service. - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By Huss - January 9 - 8:33 pm

  I had niggling problems inititally which were handled extremely poorly by my local VW dealer, Neftin VW Thousand Oaks. Once fixed (eventually....) no more problems. They all happened within the first 200o miles, now I have put on another trouble-free 17000 miles.

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  VW cust service sucks - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Snia95 - January 9 - 10:00 am

  I was looking to buy a reliable used foreign car and got a great deal from a private owner. However, since I bought the car I have spent $900 so far in things that went wrong after I got a 32 point used car inspection on the car at the orginal VW dealership that sold the car. They are unfriendly and cold. I will probably sell at the end of this year b/c of VWs customer service!

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  Sluggish out of First and Second Gear - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ARP - January 9 - 10:00 am

  Looks great...I get a lot of very nice comments about the car. Well-made, great features. VERY SLUGGISH in first and second gear. Once you get into higher gears it takes off nicely. Great quality matierial...they did not go cheap on interior or exterior materials.

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  AWSOME!! Germany eng. RULES - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Caleb - January 9 - 10:00 am

  Is the best car i have ever driven , i love and i would recomeded to everyone it beats any other car in this category , sedan under 25k

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  05 VW Passat - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Drew - January 9 - 1:20 am

  I am completely satisfied with this car. We upgraded from an 03 VW Jetta so we could have more room for our growing family. It feels sturdy, drives smooth and weve had no problems arise.

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  Major Water Leak Problem - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Rob - January 7 - 5:33 am

  I cannot give this car a fully neutral review, because I have a design problem that ruins the ownership experience for me. After any significant rain fall, the doors fill up with water that does not drain out until the doors are opened. The problem is particularly bad in the rear doors. A full day after a rainfall, if you open a rear door for the first time, water will gush out on your feet. My local dealer knows of no known fix for this problem and I have read of this problem elsewhere on the net. When winter comes this water will become ice. This problem is too big to ignore or tolerate. Caution !

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  Piece of CRAP car - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By lesbeck - January 7 - 5:27 am

  I would not recommend this car to anyone who is not a millionaire with money to burn and likes to have their car in the shop at least once a month. We bought this car brand new, zero miles on it and had to bring it into the shop within the first month. It was all downhill from there. Every mechanical piece on the car was replaced under warranty (which we extended to five years immediately) except for the motor, which I am sure would run forever while all the other peices of the car fall off all over the road. Sadly, I had to buy a back-up car so I had something reliable to go to work in and had to carry a battery for the key in my purse, because you never knew when the car would not unlock.