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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  vroom!!! vroom!!! - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By babs johnson - March 13 - 2:00 am

  this thing flies. i just sold my saab 900 turbo and this thing gets just as much zip for half the cash. handles well with a nice interior. but for a "hatch back" it could use a lot more trunk space. also its 2002 could we please make it standard to have a cd player. im finding along with other vw owners that the stock batteries die early. mine died twice during the test drive!

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  Jetta TDI - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Joe Martinez - March 13 - 2:00 am

  Awosme car

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  Just what I ecpected - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jose - March 13 - 2:00 am

  The tdi Jetta is just what I expected,a well built car with an impressive diesel engine.I like the ergonomics inside overall.Since the begenning You feel you are driving a german design car for which you dont have to pay big bucks.Defenetely is a great example of european 4 door sedans with the right options a that special look.

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  extreamly pleased - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By W. Bowman - March 13 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is addictive if one enjoys driving. Ouite and clean running with more room than you might expect. Excellent for the long runner and snappy for the sprinter.

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  A superb CUV for Canadian drivers - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By DKE783 - March 11 - 4:43 pm

  I looked at 24 different CUVs before choosing the 2010 Tiguan. With superb build quality that sets it above the RAV4 and Nissan Murano, the Tiguan is a near-luxury crossover that I definitely recommend. You will pay more for the features of the VW, but youll get a substantial vehicle with features that are normally reserved for luxury SUVs in the $50k range. The Tiguan is an excellent vehicle for commuting Canadians who like to drive.

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  Sleeping Beauty - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ahren25 - March 11 - 10:43 am

  This is a great set of wheels and a blast to drive! The exterior design is quirky, but it has a lot of personality and grows on you. The interior materials are of the same quality you would expect from BMW or Audi. The engine is deceptively quick and you will be doing 80 mph in a few seconds and not even realize it (they did include a programmable speed warning feature to remind you). Overall, you will not find a better balance of performance, quality, and economy in any other car under $32,000. After a lot of research and legwork, I haggled mine down to $1,000 under invoice with 0% financing, so I feel you cant get more bang for your buck than the GLI.

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  Love this Car. Would Highly Recomend - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Kevin - March 10 - 1:13 pm

  I took this car for a test drive and enjoyed it a lot i also liked how responsive the throttle is. The 2010 interior comes standard with the Touch screen which is what pulled me in to purchasing this vehicle. Ive had the car for about 2 weeks now and everybody compliments me. My parents are jealous that i have a nicer vehicle then them :)

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  I Love My VW - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kilik - March 10 - 3:20 am

  I just love driving my 2006 VW Jetta TDI. It is excellent on fuel, stylish, quiet, and just plain fun to drive! This is my first experience with a foreign car. I will never own a domestic vehicle again.

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  Awesome commuter car!! - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Happy Camper - March 8 - 10:33 pm

  Bought the car for commuting. 150 miles a day, 30 miles back roads and 120 miles Interstate. I do not drive this car gently, 75/85mph depending on the traffic flow on the interstate. Summer 42-45MPG, Winter 39-42MPG. I do run winter tires on the car in the winter and summer tires in the summer. I have seen 50MPG keeping the speed below 70mph, and I have seen 60MPG on country roads doing less then 60mph. I have the 6 speed manual transmission, Fender stereo with navigation. Now the car has 100,000 miles on it and is still running strong! I have changed the Oil, oil/air filters and tires, that is it. Now its time for new rear brakes and a new battery, thats it. For $25,000 I think it has been a awesome car!!

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  Awesome commuter car!! - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Happy Camper - March 8 - 10:31 pm

  Bought the car for commuting. 150 miles a day, 30 miles back roads and 120 miles Interstate. I do not drive this car gently, 75/85mph depending on the traffic flow on the interstate. Summer 42-45MPG, Winter 39-42MPG. I do run winter tires on the car in the winter and summer tires in the summer. I have seen 50MPG keeping the speed below 70mph, and I have seen 60MPG on country roads doing less then 60mph. I have the 6 speed manual transmission, Fender stereo with navigation. Now the car has 100,000 miles on it and is still running strong! I have changed the Oil, oil/air filters and tires, that is it. Now its time for new rear brakes and a new battery, thats it. For $25,000 I think it has been a awesome car!!