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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  Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By anthony - April 14 - 10:00 am

  This automobile feels like a $50,000 BMW without the high maintainence cost.

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  Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Anthony - April 14 - 10:00 am

  This automobile feels like a $50,000 BMW without the high maintainence cost.

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  For all the whiners out there! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Dave Smith - April 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car with the expectation I would love driving it and getting lots of attention! This car does both and I hve had it back to Youngblood VW for a couple of things and they got them fixed and I was just as anxious to get back into it like it was the first drive! I didnt complaint about the car going back in the same as I wouldnt if I had to go see my Dr. Sometimes things go wrong and they have to be excepted and move on and quit whining!.

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  Worth the extra cash - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By scotts968 - April 14 - 9:23 am

  Great car, lots of power and the all wheel drive is very tight. Much better than my Porsche. Its worth the extra cash and has a great resale value.

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  Absolute Blast - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Fr Stephen - April 14 - 12:23 am

  I bought my Jetta TDI fully loaded in every way, but with the standard manual transmission. I regularly get 37-38 MPG around town, and upwards of 53 MPG on trips. But this car is so much more than mileage records. It is quiet, smooth and comfortable. It regularly cruises in the 80-90 MPH range effortlessly, smoothly and quietly. My favourite trick is to sit the cruise on 80, and ask my passenger how he likes the diesel engine. I always get a whiplashed passenger; they simply cant believe it. From the bun warmers to the satellite radio and absolutely comfortable seats, this car is a joy to drive. Some of my parishioners couldnt believe I would drive all the way from VA to NYC; no hardship!

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  cant go wrong if u care about ur car - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By vwdrvr4life - April 13 - 6:23 am

  VWs are wonderful cars if youre the type of driver who cares about the vehicle. Theyre not "basic trasportation" cars. Find a trustworthy earnest mechanic who takes pride in his/her work and while youre doing what youre supposed to as an owner, the mechanic will hopefully help you keep your VW alive for years and years to come. I know whenever I see used cars they are always tons of cars from asia, but very few VWs are on the used car lots.

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  Major upgrade from MK5 - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By Eddie - April 11 - 4:13 pm

  Let me start by saying that I was a previous 2006 MK5 GTI owner who felt that it was time to get into a new one. My MK5 was surprisingly reliable to the 50k miles that I traded it in at. No major mechanical issues at all. So I felt confident in purchasing a 2010 MK6 GTI. This car is fantastic all around. My previous GTI was pretty basic (manual tranny, cloth interior, etc..), so this time around I opted for the awesome DSG tranny and the "autobahn package" which added heated leather seats, awesome 18" wheels, and a superb 300w dynaudio stereo system w/ iPod interface. These options jacked the price to 30k, but it is well worth it IMO. This VW is hands down a better car than the Audi A3.

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  LOVE IT! - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By davidlm3 - April 10 - 10:12 am

  Purchased the 2012 Tiguan after seeing it at the dealer. It looks great and the interior is "Audi-esque". The radio and nav system are very cool. The interior is top notch. It drives very well and is smooth over bumps and ruts. It has very good acceleration and handles like a sporty car. Averaging 27.8 mpg combined according to the Tiguans computer. Would definitely purchase another one. The only thing I would change is offering the LED/Xenon headlights on the SE model as a option.

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  Poor mans - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By JeremyD - April 10 - 10:00 am

  This car is quite the little shocker. A thirty thousand dollar hatch that justifies the price with both performance and creature comforts.

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  best car ever! !! ! ! ! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By johnny rocket jr. - April 10 - 10:00 am

  man im go estatic that we got this little german automobile its look like a pitbull