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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  Zippy and efficient - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By asimovian - December 10 - 10:00 am

  I dont think I understood how much fun torque could be to play with until I bought this zippy little diesel. Blowing past folks on steeps hills without having to downshift is more entertaining than I would have expected. The features that come with the car are great, the interior is well designed, and its suprisingly roomy for our big and tall friends. On the one year anniversary of our purchase, Id have to say were very pleased.

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  I love my egg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Jmdpjd - December 10 - 10:00 am

  I have the V8 Egg and it has been a wonderful vehicle. I have had two minor issues thus far. A plug was missed during assembly causing water to enter the cargo area. Fixed promptly by the dealership. I also have a problem with wind noise with the sunroof open. dealer installed a deflector to correct problem.

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  Loads of fun - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Merrily - December 10 - 10:00 am

  Takes ten years off your age. You feel life again...Happy 50th birthday to me!

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  Pretty Good - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Marc - December 10 - 9:46 am

  Ive enjoyed driving the car but not quite as much as the 2004 Passat 6-cyl. The two things that really need change on my new Passat are the console cup holders (they are useless) and the key should have a ring so when you valet the car and you take the valet key there is something they can hang the key on. I had a valet misplace the key but it was found.

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  My Dads Volkswagen - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By 2gtiguy - December 8 - 9:10 pm

  Like the title says, this really is my dads Volkswagen. I traded in my 12 GolfR for this after my dads glowing review of his 13 TDI SE. This is my 4th VW, and Im as happy as ever. Build quality is top notch, with a lux leather/suede combo for the seats, and upgraded faux woodgrain for the 14 model. Gas mileage (why we buy these) is better than advertised. On 85 miles of mixed driving yesterday, I averaged 43+mpg when I parked at my door. The Fender sound system is great, and Bluetooth seems more clear than in my GolfR. The leg room in the back is incredible, and theres quite a bit of trunk space (though not as much vertical space as you might hope). Overall, Im thanking my dad.

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  So Far So good - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By VWDriver - December 8 - 8:03 pm

  My Routan now has 9,500 miles, but so far so good. I recently traveled 156 miles (according to MapQuest) with a full tank. During our travel I stopped at a gas station at the destination and filled up the tank again out of curiosity--exactly 3 gallons was consumed for the 78-mile (one-way) trip. My Routan has averaged 26 MPG on HWY. Im not sure whether it improved because of my mild driving habit or the expensive gas from Chevron. Still, it is awesome to know it has better MPG than Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey, even w/ its VCM Feature. This van has also been very comfortable--a typical asset of VWs.

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  06 TDI manual with pkg 2 - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ernie - December 8 - 6:53 pm

  I have 40000 miles on my 06 TDI now and have been averaging 42 miles per gallon. Thus far the vehicle has not had any major breakdowns as did my 04 TDI. The 06 is a major improvement over the 04 in many ways, reliability thus far, and namely the interior room was a vast improvement over the 04. The car is comfortable to drive on trips considering it is a smaller vehicle. It has a solid feel on the road and is quiet considering it is a diesel. I am reluctant about the reliability, due to my experience with the 04 TDI but so far this 06 has stayed out of the shop except for routine maintenance. The 06 is peppy but does not have the snap that the 04 did. Good car.

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  An Excellent Wagon - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Gavin 01 - December 8 - 1:36 pm

  I was surprised by how good the DSG transmission is! I normally prefer a manual gearbox on small cars - but the DSG is superb. The interior is very clean and well designed, I like the access panel in the rear seat for carrying long objects. The extra torque from the diesel is also a lot of fun. Im trying to see just how economical I can be on my commute (80% freeway) my best so far is 42 mpg.

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  2006 VW Passat 2.0T - CPL - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By CARLVR - December 8 - 6:13 am

  So far, Ive run into a few issues...some cosmetic, some mechanical. Some of the pwr lock/window buttons were blistering, and the leather on a rear door panel began bubbling. All was covered under manufacturer warranty. The dealership that the vehicle was purchased through misinformed me of the expiration date of the manufacturer warranty and this was during some expensive repairs. If you own a 2006+ Passat, check your spare tire compartment! I found 6 inches of standing water in the compartment! Supposedly this is fairly common. Although the dealer would never admit it. WHEN the cars runs, its great! Now, I will only buy a new VW for the warranty and service maintenance. NO MORE CPL HASSLE

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  Just got my Passat TDI SE - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By cracovia - December 8 - 5:29 am

  Two days ago I picked my 2012 Passat TDI SE. Did not fancy more options than those that came with the standard options package. Did not care much for a motorized glass sunroof that one has to take if one wants a 6 speed GSD transmission, but accepted it after trying how it works on a demo car. The car is phenomenal. On the way to work (20 miles one way) twice in the row I got an average of 45 mpg. hitting in some places 50.8 (what the gage said anyway). The inetrior is as roomy as my old 2003 Infiniti I35 that I was parting with. Got as many or more features. Quiet, soft but sensible ride, good road adhesion and styling. If f you have to chose between this car and Camry or Accord buy TDI.