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:

• 

  I Do Have A Gripe! - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By claudestouareg - May 27 - 3:59 am

  Okay, we love this car. We researched the whole field of candidates and in the end there was no other choice to deliver this level of overall satisfaction: TDI=check, 8 speed tranny=check, full time all wheel drive=check, good value for money=check, excellent build quality=check, and so on. But as a tech geek I have an unrequited curiosity about the technical details of this car, particularly the drive train components. Such details are hard to come by from the manufacturer and that is just not right given the the level of sophistication and do-not-touch obscurity of traditionally accessible owner service points. It is disquieting to have your mechanic say "you cant change a light bulb"

• 

  Big wheels, lotsa gear and even more fun - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By CharlieB - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for a month and have over 5000 miles on it already. I traded in a 2001 Maxima SE with the 225HP V-6 and dont fell like I gave up much performance. This one is smoother, quieter and more fun then the Max was.

• 

  Great ride - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By lspeed1983 - May 24 - 10:32 pm

  I purchased this car on 01/31/2012. The car now has 5.8K on the clock, so its past its first stage break-in-period. Im now averaging 39.7K overall in mixed driving, but can easily hit 48 MPG cruizing at 72 MPH @ just under 2K RMPs. I cant believe how powerful it feels while still being so fuel efficient. The shifter feels solid and well weighted, the clutch is light without being too light, and the steering is direct / tracks well. The car as a whole is vastly superior to anyother eco compact non-lux car also evident in its simple yet top-notch interior. For pure driving excitement the GTI wins hands down, but the TDI is a nice compromise that leaves me with no regrets.

• 

  I haven Driven Almost Every Car In The World, And this is the best car for the price. - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vmn077 - May 24 - 9:43 pm

  This car is def worth every penny for the price it has. The other competitors cars in the market can not compare its quility, features and history with VW. It drives just as good as any other expensive car. I have own this car for year now and iam just impress every time, its very comfortable, a lot of space and very rised up compare to other sedans. The fuel economy is great for the power it has. I get around 25 - 29 in city and long trip i have gotten numbers above 40 mpgs (using a real data logger). The car come pack of little features must people dont even know about. The is almost matinance free, 10k mile oil change, no timming belt change ever, it uses a map system,means less sensor.

• 

  2009 Wolfsburg - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By drusin11 - May 24 - 7:53 pm

  Great design with great handling. Turbo is quick with power to spare. Car has all the great options needed and a great sounding stereo. First time foreign car owner so hoping its a good one!

• 

  Dont pass up the GTI! - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By dafish2 - May 24 - 7:03 pm

  I was a bit skeptical about purchasing a VW as I dont know many individuals that have purchased them. I see a lot of Honda and Toyotas on the road and not as many VWs. I have always been an admirer or German design and they have been known for solid engineering. Im about 6 feet and it fits my figure very well. Feature for feature you cant compare the value with other cars, as they are left in the dust! This car would sell more if the dealerships would carry more automatic versions. The mileage is much better than listed. My only dissatisfaction is the rattling noise when the engine revs past 3K RPM. Im very pleased to have purchased this car as it is an awesome car to drive!

• 

  The Best Bargain in Used Cars. Period. - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By javel001 - May 24 - 5:23 pm

  Let me state this clearly: The VW Phaeton is one of the best cars in the world. As a used car it is without peer. The very-high-quality interior is gorgeous, the attention to detail is astounding, the sound system is very impressive, comfort is second to none, and the number of micro-adjustments that can be made boggles the mind. The drivetrain reeks of German precision, and the design is thoroughly modern. My wife drives a 5-series BMW and looks every gift horse in the mouth. After riding in the Phaeton, she has been curiously silent. I think shes jealous. I have owned several luxury cars in the past (MB, BMW, Jaguar), and the Phaeton surpasses them all. Its simply a *great* car.

• 

  The T-Reg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By TheBDR - May 23 - 6:50 pm

  We love our Touareg! After 10 months of ownership it has been a pleasure. It never slips a tire in snow, (Even where we live!), carries tons of landscaping and looks like a million bucks for a night on the town!

• 

  2002 fun - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By smartin - May 23 - 10:00 am

  The 2002 VW Passat is the best stlyed and overall fun filled VW to drive. In town jaunts or out on the open highway the seating comfort ,placement of knobs , switches and gizmos are a no brainer. Creature comfort gets an A+. Handling is exceptional, has a larger car feel and is quite nimbal

• 

  so good got another - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By blackrabbit - May 23 - 10:00 am

  first car for me and is absolutely great. I was looking at getting a used Audi/BMW and couldnt be happier that I got my #2120 black 20th GTI. My father liked driving my car so much he just bought the new Jetta GLI(same package but in sedan). A blast to drive and still gets 30 mpg. I couldnt have asked for more. The car has both a classy and sprty look that none of the cars in its price range can match. Between the supportive seats and amazing responsiveness of the car leaves you feeling safe without having to be packed into 5000lbs of SUV(oh yeah, all the airbags and great brakes help too).