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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  Bought it for Milage - Wow with extras - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DFH - April 9 - 3:10 am

  I researched my purchase for a long time. I wanted something that would not hold me hostage on gas price changes every other day. The TDI has been the answer. Its mileage has always been over 43 mpg (mostly city) and I can easily get over 600 miles on tank refills. The suprises for me were the comfort level (package 2), quiet ride, and fit quality ended up being much better than I expected. Throw in a quality dealer and this is one of the best vehicles in my 40 plus years of ownership.

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  Great Ride - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Kamehamehagirl - April 8 - 5:33 am

  I just recently bought this and traded my 1990 Firebird because of the gas prices. I have to say I am impressed with the get up and go it has, and smooth handling. The only complaint I can think of is the gas mileage is not as great as I thought it would be, and there is quite a bit of road noise. Overall nice ride and at a great price to.

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  Great Car!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tstaggs - April 7 - 2:00 am

  I have had the car for 3 days now and have loved every minute of it. I have always had a sports car but decided that with expanding a family I needed a sedan. This car has the power and drivability of a sports car with a luxury ride. It is a car that exceeds my expectations.

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  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By koepkeca - April 7 - 2:00 am

  Excellent Vehicle. Car drives like a dream. The 1.8 Turbo engine sold itself. I had test drove one with the 2.0L 4-cyl and it was alright but the turbo makes it feel like a sports car! Also test drove BMW 325i and this car is far better.

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  1 CUTE UTE!!! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Poojo - April 6 - 4:20 am

  This is my first VW! So far it has been a pleasure to own and drive..I usually trade at least once a year...I think Ive owned just about every brand out there..had the Honda CRV & the Toy RAV-4..(BIG YAWN), thought I would try the TIGUAN. Exciting! This is a keeper..So far, I dont have any reason to trade it off! Husband loves the Turbo 2.0. and the 2wd does good in snow. Getting 24 Mpg mixed driving.

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  Wonderful car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Reilly - April 6 - 3:56 am

  This car is incredibly fun to drive. It handles well and accelerates strongly. The DSG transmission is the cars best feature -- it shifts instantly, and allows you great control over shifting, or automatic if you prefer. If you live in a cold weather climate, be aware that the car comes in either all weather tires or summer tires. The interior is beautiful, particularly the "anthracite leather," which is a dark gray that looks great. If youre thinking of the GLI vs. a 2.0T, go with the GLI -- the steering wheel and interior effects are better, as is the handling, with no sacrifice in ride comfort,

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  A bug in the Bug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Beetle fanatic - April 5 - 5:36 pm

  We bought our beetle looking for a fun car that we can take the top down. Ive had the sports cars, the expensive convertibles, and even a 74 beetle. If you want a car with the hot factor, get a beetle. If you like to turn heads, this is your car. We have the mellow yellow. The bad part Id within 48 hrs, we have already made a list of things to ask our VW dealership about. (rear Windows, weather stripping, a couple extremely small rust spots) but I havent lost hope in the car considering it is my dream ride,

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  The Way to Go TDI - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Doug - April 5 - 1:53 pm

  I bought the diesel because of the cost of gas and 45 mpg sounded good. I test-drove both the stick and the auto and to my surprise (lifetime stick driver) I liked the auto better. The auto clearly had better gearing and performed better. So far I am getting 40 mpg city and 50 highway and I think that is fantastic for an automatic. The trans has a sports mode that is very nice for an adrenalin rush. Don’t worry that the engine only has 100hp this car is just as quick as the gas version and does not get bogged down by weight like a gas car. Also diesel is sold in more places then you think. Plus when you are getting over 600 miles on a tank you can pass by many stations anyway.

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  Sporty, fun to drive, Euro-stylin - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By bman33 - April 3 - 10:33 am

  Traded in an 06 Tribeca. Much better performance, fuel economy, luxurious interior, convenience features, stereo, and seats. It has been a great experience so far! Dont buy an SUV before test driving this car.

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  2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Haklitch - April 3 - 4:03 am

  This car has great handling and gets excellent mileage, averaging 44 miles per gallon. I have only 1,000 miles on mine so its not even broken in yet. I expect to average 47 mpg city and 50 highway.