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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  turbo s - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By the drake - January 15 - 10:00 am

  I love my bug. It has been a blast to drive and very reliable.

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  Awesome pocket rocket! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Erator - January 15 - 10:00 am

  I just got this Jetta, my first car to purchase on my own, I recently graduated from college. I love this car. My girlfriend has a 2000 Golf, and I loved the way VW does the interior on their cars, and the sporty exterior. Although I wanted a 300 series BMW or an Acura TL 04, my current budget couldnt handle the payments. I got a great deal on my Jetta, in Campanella White with the GLS trim, and some dealer custom 17" chrome wheels. Im loving it, since it has that BMWish look to it. If youre thinking about getting one, take a test drive and youll probably drive off on it.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By joseph_s - January 15 - 8:29 am

  I think the best way to start this review is with the famous saying *results may vary. I have owned my car for the past 3 years and put over 30k miles on it. In all the time I have owned this car I have only been to the dealer a few times and only for regular maintenance and recalls. I have yet to have to pay a dime out of pocket fixing it. I have also never had my check engine light come on. There are lemons out there but they are usually not hard to spot, just check the Carfax for excessive dealer visits. The car is incredibly comfortable ride and handling are also superb. If you do your research right and check maintenance records, this car is insane value for the money. Just be careful.

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  Wow - Havin a Blast - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Tom G - January 14 - 7:46 pm

  I just bought my Eos five days ago and I am having a great time with it. It is a lot of fun to drive with the stick. The retratable roof is a great conversation starter. It handles great with plenty of power.

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  Best VeeDub to Date - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Infrederick - January 14 - 2:16 pm

  This is my first VW, but I have purchased 7 smaller Audis since 1975. The R32 is everybit the equal of any of my sporting Audis, including the 225 TT quattro. The interior has a very similar feel to the TT. The engine is powerful but a little too turbine-smooth for my taste. Acceleration lags a bit in the lower rpm range - I prefer the 3k rpm kick of Porsche boxer engines. Even in metallic black the R32 gets plenty of attention from bystanders. Only 1% realize that it is a near- exotic vehicle. Others look at it with an expression of "theres something differant about that VW" This car is certainly the highest performance VW ever bolted together. No warranty work needed in 12 months.

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  Touareg - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Samuel Bekkers - January 14 - 3:56 am

  Love the way it looks

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  Mecedes CLS Styling+ Audi 2.0T Engine - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By JimandSue - January 13 - 9:43 pm

  This car is an amazing value and fun to drive. The heritage of the car is Mercedes CLS "coupe" styling, the powerful/responsive Audi 2.0 Turbo fuel injected (same used in the A4), DSG transmission (same used in the A4-A8 lines), Deep bucket seats (like the older Ferraris) and decent stereo. The car is very powerful and the DSG makes it a blast to drive. The car performs best on the highway where is gets an amazing 30 plus MPG due to its 6 speed DSG Transmission and wind cheating body. The sound system is good and allows bluetooth and easy iPhone/Pandora integration. Price was under $28K, Id get the extended 6 year/75,000 mile warranty. Finally, back seat leg room is far better than A4.

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  All the praise is true! - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By racerjae - January 13 - 2:13 pm

  I have owned my TDI 4-dr manual for two months (2500 miles), and it has been a delight to say the least. The fuel economy is unsurpassed (averaging 36 mpg city/hwy). The ride is firm but very compliant (soaks up bumps). The handling is sports car like (very little body roll). Theres plenty of acceleration. The exterior styling is simple yet elegant, sporty yet practical. Ive gotten compliments from pedestrians when Im parked. The interior is very upscale (feels like Im in a BMW/Mercedes). Despite its short wheelbase and length, theres plenty of leg room front and rear. This car is worth every penny!

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  Economical, and a pleasure to drive - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Florida Retiree - January 13 - 4:46 am

  The Jetta TDI delivers excellent mileage. Despite a tendency to be somewhat "lead footed," I have been averaging 38 mpg overall in stop-and- go city traffic and high-speed interstate driving. Furthermore, the Jetta is fun to drive. It handles like a sports car, and the TDI engine emits a deep-throated growl when you put the "pedal to the metal."

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  Awesome car - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By josh deeds - January 12 - 3:00 pm

  I love my jetta. I just bought a new Saturn VUE and love to continue to drive my Jetta. I have put over 120,000 miles on it. Ive taken it cross country 5 times round trip from San Diego to West Virginia and it keeps on going without any problems. As long as you change the oil and get a tune up regularly I believe it will last well into the 200,000 mark. I would recommend it to anyone who wants an economical and fun car with a lot of pick up and go.