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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  It is my Sunshine!! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Clara Worley - January 11 - 2:00 am

  My yellow TDI is like a pet! It is fun to drive and VERY economical. No troubles just fun to drive. Took it on our 25 anniversary trip to Niagra falls and turned a lot of heads with our Beach Boys CD (in our changer). I wlll be buying 2003 convertible TDI (if possible). Have owned VW diesels since 1980. Took Amtrak 500 miles to Atlanta to buy this one (in an ice storm).

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  Nine Great Years - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Happy Driver - January 11 - 12:46 am

  I bought this car new in 1999, coming up on 9th anniversary. It has been the best car Ive ever owned by far. Aside from routine maintenance, Ive replaced the water pump and the timing belt. Thats it. Gets 26 mpg city, 36+ mpg highway, with standard transmission and regular gas (although VW recommends premium). It is now well north of 150K miles and still runs beautifully. No rust. No complaints. And lots of zip too! Has a few features (like the sunroof) that now cost a lot more.

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  Great Car! - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By jhon2k1 - January 10 - 1:06 pm

  I have a 08 Passat and I love the DSG technology. It is a very fast car, excellent in the highway

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  My Phaeton - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By wtahra - January 9 - 10:00 am

  I recently leased a 2004 Phaeton, having previously leased Passats. The Pheaton is far superior to any Volkswagon product I have ever had. The attention to detail is obvious from the seats to the dash including the a/c vents in wood trim which fold back when the a/c is turned on - Wow, what a cool feature. It is a pleasure to drive (power and quietness of cabin)with a mountain of room in the back. Based upon the price as compared to others whom I know who have leased the BMW 745i and what they have paid - It is a supremely better deal.

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  Not all Bugs are bad - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By PalisadesBug - January 9 - 10:00 am

  Whats this headlight BS? I change my own! The bulbs cost between 8 - 15. And I burned out 3 in the years Ive had the car. Yes, I know plenty of people with VW products. Some are nightmares, only made worse by incredibly poor dealer service. Even so, another New Beetle is a possiblity for me. The car has some great features, and the interior is comfortable, and capable of carrying quite a bit. Even with a Kayak on top I get over 30mpg. Try to do that in an SUV. The car is a personal expression. But be forewarned there are some genetic throwbacks out there who have adverse reactions to the little bug...screw them! Have fun, drive safe and alert...

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  My Next Car Will be a Passat - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By mcambs - January 9 - 10:00 am

  I have loved my 2000 Passat since I purchased it in the summer of 2002! Friends comment what a beautiful car, both inside and out, my Passat GLX 4 Motion Wagon is. The car loves to drive fast and even at high speeds the ride is smooth and quiet. I did buy the car used with 29K miles and purchased an extended warranty. Ive used it to replace the tie rod ends ($500 repair) at appx 55K miles. The rear wiper works but the washer has never worked...oh, well. My youngest stepped on the rear cupholder and broke it...wasnt really functional anyway...besides I prefer the no eating/no drinking in the car!

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  Tourag for people who diidnt buy this - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By baskridgenj - January 9 - 10:00 am

  This is by far the best suv we have ever had (6 to date). It is elegant and the v8 delivers more than enough power. highly recommended. complaint is teh navigation system is not on par w/ bmw or lexus and the roof racks cause wind noise at high speeds (we removed teh racks, teh car looks better without them). But the car is awesome, great ride and teh interior can not be beat

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  awesomeness - 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By rocky balboa - January 9 - 4:56 am

  You can cause pain just by driving it. Punch buggy is still popular, right?

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  BEST CAR EVER - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By swede3333 - January 7 - 2:00 am

  Germans at it again. Nothing beats german performance, quality, and reliability like a german car. If a tin box with a motor is what you are looking for, head to the japanese makets, if your looking for unreliability you can find those right here in America. Wouldnt buy any other car.

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  The Best Car Out there - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Saturnr - January 7 - 2:00 am

  The VW Jetta Is one the best cars out there. You cant beat it. so fun to drive and the car looks great the styling will never go away.