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:

• 

  An excellent, affordable, drivers car - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By johnw - June 5 - 10:00 am

  A terrific value compared to my previous Saab 9-5 and Saab 9000. Very little, if anything "lost" by "stepping down" to the Passat. The 1.8T engine and manual transmission are both terrific. Great low end torque and plenty of power. Great highway mpg - - over 30 mpg when cruising all day 75- 80mph. Excellent fit and finish throughout. Monsoon radio system is very good. Precise and predictable handling. Comfortable seats with good leg room. Drivers and passengers immediately think this car costs much more than it does. While the Camry and the Accord may be a bit more reliable in the long run, they are transportation appliances. This is a true German sedan.

• 

  good - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By joan clark - June 5 - 10:00 am

  the only thing i do not like is the noise from the sun roof

• 

  Nice, but underpowered - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Joe - June 2 - 12:46 am

  I bought this Jetta as a second vehicle, it is a 5-speed which I like, but the 2.0 engine is severly underpowered for this 3,000 lb. car. It takes a lot to get this car moving. Also, the first time it rained, I had a puddle in the back seat, apparantly they had installed the molding on the window incorectly. I would buy another Jetta, but i would have to opt for the 1.8T engine, or the VR6.

• 

  Fun to Drive, Best All Around Vehicle - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By david gorospe - May 31 - 2:20 pm

  Ive had other GTIs, a VR6 and a 1.8T. This MK5 by far is the best of them all. It has great torque, handling and comfort. The interior looks way more expensive than the competition. It is fun to drive. I added a new suspension and a chip. They make it handle and go even better. This car might cost a little bit more compared to Honda, Mini, others, but you have to pay for all the same extras that comes with the GTI. For real everyday driving this has the best overall, you will still love this car even after five or more years, think about that! My good friends that drive Fords and Acuras test drove my car and the absolutely loved it!

• 

  Great VW - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jeremy K. - May 31 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned this vehile for almost 3 years now and have felt nothing but love for it. I have to give a little extra care here and there but over all shes one awsome peice of work.

• 

  1999 Jetta - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Cheryl Thiery - May 31 - 10:00 am

  My Jetta turns heads, maybe because its red, but I have gotten many compliments. This car feels solid, drive is fun.

• 

  Great car, some sloppy workmanship - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Dr. Mac - May 31 - 10:00 am

  I love everything about this car except the driver side window controls and the plastic bits in the sunroof. Increase the quality to those items and this is a car for the ages.

• 

  Nice car to drive but... - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Integraguy1995 - May 26 - 3:06 am

  Ive always driven Hondas and Toyotas and when my wife bought her Passat used with 95k, I was expecting a decent vehicle from VW as well. Boy was I wrong. "German engineering" in this case means that everything was engineered to fail at 100,000 miles. We paid $8,500 for this car two years ago and have put $6,000 into in repairs since. The timing belt and water pump were expected but when we had to replace the power steering rack, strut mounts, all four window regulators and had to fork over absurd money for German-made synthetic oil and filters to keep the turbo from blowing out, we were not pleased to say the least. Cant wait to get rid of this thing for a Honda or Toyota.

• 

  Hate the transmission - 2011 Volkswagen CC
  By ericd12 - May 25 - 4:09 pm

  Good value but transmission is all wrong. Shift points in drive mode vs. sport mode are too extreme - drive mode shifts very low (~2200rpm) and in sport mode pretty high (~4500rpm). The transmission disengages when at a complete stop and there is a lag for it to re-engage. Also, when starting from a complete stop with the steering wheel turned it becomes very jerky - as if it is in sport mode.

• 

  Cheap Thrill - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Darshi Sen - May 25 - 2:00 am

  Although its not exactly cheap, the $19,000 + tax I payed for my brand new GTI 1.8T was definitely worth every penny. The engine, if not the smoothest in its price-range, is probably the most powerful all- around. The broad powerband (max torque at 2000-5000 RPMs) is perfect for everyday driving thrills. My buddy who has a BMW 325i thought there was something wrong with his cars engine after driving mine.