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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  Wake Up USA - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By capemaycruiser - January 21 - 10:00 am

  The VW Beetle TDI diesel, pervasive in Europe due to really high fuel costs and forward looking regulations, is a pleasure to drive, easy to maintain and much less stressful at the pump than a comparable gas burner. The high torque (and low rpms) of the TDI makes it quiet and powerful on the highway while demonstrating the hill climbing strengths of a goat. And burning high cetane, low sulfur fuel or better yet a 20% blend of biodiesel, keeps the emissions low. In 18 months and 34K miles, my TDI Beetle has performed flawlessly and has been a hoot to drive past a bus load of school kids instigating a punch buggy frenzy!

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  Love my New Jetta - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rosweet - January 19 - 10:46 am

  I traded my 9yr old Civic for a new jetta SE automatic. Really enjoy the horsepower I got and all the conveniences came with the car. Love the sunroof and heated seat especially in cold So Cal winter.

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  Love it! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dr. John Harris - January 18 - 7:33 pm

  I love this car. I have owned 2 other passats in the past and will continue to buy them in the future. These cars are extremely fun to drive. They handle like a sports car and keep up with other sports cars in bigger clases. I race mine frequently against trans ams, corvettes, etc. and keep up with them. Not bad for a "family sedan".

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  Should have bought one sooner - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Buffalo Bill - January 18 - 1:26 pm

  What a great vehicle. Fun to drive, great looks, snappy acceleration, corners like a dream, comfortable and simply one of the best buys in my life (and I have owned several Lexus). Should have had these over the years and saved a ton of money. Thanks VW.

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  Great new tech laced SUV. - 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Chris - January 18 - 10:55 am

  The best SUV I have owned yet. The tech in this vehicle blows all others except Tesla away. It rides smoothly and the moonroof is illuminated so it’s great at night. Gas mileage is average. The Bluetooth is reliable as well as the voice commands.

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  Such a great car - 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By beachdad - January 18 - 3:43 am

  This is the finest car I have ever driven. That includes 7 series BMW, and even my Lexus. The fuel economy is surprising, averaging 22 city & highway.

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  Cool Car - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By slug bug red - January 18 - 2:30 am

  Weve had our Volkswagen Beetle Convertible for a couple of months. Its a cool car. My wife loves to borrow it from me. We bought the base model with the auto transmission and satellite radio, mainly because of worries about the semi-auto top breaking during the life of the car. Inside, everything is easy to operate and clearly labeled. The console redesign is nice - two cups fit with room for a cell phone and iPod. The radio has a jack for iPods or MP3 players. The engine is peppy and has plenty of power for freeway passing. The car easily hits triple digit speeds but its attitude is that of a cruiser. Im a bit disappointed with the gas mileage, 21-22mpg freeway / city on 89 octane.

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  Great Ride and Engineering at a Great Price - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sergio Bermudez - January 17 - 11:43 pm

  This is the car that have most enjoyed driving overall. Its best features are its powerful engine, stability, quality of interior design, and roomy space. Before I decided to get this car I drove an Altima, Maxima, and and Accord, but at the end my decision to get the Passat was made by the excellent drive feeling.

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  Completely satisfied - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By kpk63 - January 15 - 1:21 pm

  I looked at and test drove several comparable SUVs to include Equinox, CR-V, Escape, Outlander Sport, Mazda CX-7, Sportage, Tucson and of course the Tiguan. After a couple of months I had the Tiguan and Equinox as top contenders. They both had minor concerns with the transmission. The Equinox did have a "kick" after decelerating and the Tiguan does have a "lagging" effect when it drops automatically into 6th gear at around 30-35 mph but heres the remedy to that...just throw it into Sport mode and it wakes right up. I truly enjoy the feel, ride, tightness and especially the performance/sound of the engine when you drop it down to pass or enter the freeway. Enjoy....I certainly do.

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  I love my GTI VR6! - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By jloden - January 15 - 10:00 am

  This is my favorite car ever! Fun to drive. Never left me stranded. Had my window drop, but got it fixed. I get 24 mpg in the city, too..but its a V6...what do you expect? If you want better gas mlg, get a 4-cyl. I was going to get the Acura RSX Type-S until I drove this car! Tight, fast, comfy, safe. I dont see any reason to get any other make but VW...now that they have the Toureg!