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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  VW Phaeton- Lux Lux Lux** - 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By clrevitup - October 26 - 4:30 pm

  I did a lot of research and compared the Phaeton to the Mercedes-Benz CLS- / S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Lexus 430 and Audi A8u, and have to say that the Phaeton won - hands down. What a great car to drive. You combine the fact that it is " hand " built on a Bentley Continental Chassis; and that they used only the finest leather, wood, chrome and talk about features! The car can either be your "Limo" ride or in a quick shift, can become as sporty as any luxury sportscar. It is fun to drive in any of 3 shift modes / 4 suspension settings / 3 ride heights - etc. It provides the most bang for the buck and hey - its not seen on every corner. It is the epitome of quality and style. If your confidence needs the "Lexus / Benz / BMW label - go and spend more to get less!

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  Peppy Passat - 2016 Volkswagen Passat
  By Betsy Money - October 26 - 8:47 am

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  Pocket Rocket!!!!!! - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By karma72 - October 25 - 10:00 am

  This car is a blast to drive. I have had it for 22 months now and I still can not wait to drive it at any chance I get. Great acceleration and handling. Extermely quiet interior too. This car drives and feels like it should cost alot more! The only problem I have had with this car is the power window mechinism in both windows have gone out twice. My dealer has handled this repair at no cost to me even with it being out of warranty.

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  Great Jetta! - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Silazius - October 25 - 10:00 am

  Very fun to drive. VR6 is a great performer. Fit and finish inside is very good. Exterior fit and finish is excellent. Have had some problems with the fuel oxygen sensor, esp. when there is heavy rain. Also had to have the ignition switch replaced!? This is one of the last old style body types before they "Passatized" the Jetta. Ugh!

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  Great German Car - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jettaguy - October 25 - 10:00 am

  Be Nicer!! Any car made in Mexico is gonna have some bugs. Ive had some minor issues, nothing my mechanic and I couldnt help. After 55k miles, and regular maintenence I couldnt be happier. I drive hard, and fast, I punish my engine and brakes. Theyve never let me down. * a note for those of you who are always in the shop... make sure that the mechanic you use is REALLY qualified to tackle what you throw at them. NEVER go to a mechanic that also services American cars too, German cars require more finesse and expert tuning. Dont trust anyone but a German Dealership to do your work on a German Car.

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  Excellent compact car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jbk70 - October 25 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car after driving Hondas for 10 years. Its been a great experience so far -- can schlepp a lot considering its compact size! Couldnt be happier would recommend to anyone.

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  Max bang for the buck - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By W.D.White - October 25 - 10:00 am

  This is an all around great car at a price that adds a real feeling of triumph for us value addicts.

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  Excellent car- great buy! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By mihirmaniar - October 25 - 10:00 am

  My Maxima was totalled in an accident. We were looking for a V6 family-sedan under $30K. Our shortlist was Passat, Acura TL and Maxima. We test-drove many cars- older 528i, A6. Weve previously owned Mazdas, Nissan, Toyotas. We did a lot of research on the web- Edmunds is awesome! After a couple weeks, we converged on the Passat GLX and absolutely love it! The exterior/interior is eye-catching and the handling is far superior than the Japanese cars. I am hoping the Passat will last me as long as the Japanese cars- theyve increased the warranty to 4years now which is great. German cars feel stiffer than the Japanese cars, and make you stick to the road.

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  Awesome buy - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By C.O. - October 25 - 10:00 am

  Ive had it for over a week now and I am very impressed. I went for the basic GL 5-speed, but you get so much with it. Power windows, power locks, security system, etc. I also got the Monsoon sound system that was already installed. Comparible cars couldnt compete. I had a Jeep Cherokee and swore I would never buy anything but an SUV again, that is until my wife talked me into to test driving the Jetta. I was hooked and I love it. It rides so smooth, so be careful. You can be doing 80 to 85 and not even realize it!

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  Not your typical diesel - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mccrazy - October 25 - 4:43 am

  Coming from a Legacy GT I was worried that the power wouldnt be there. However mated with the 6 speed manual it is plenty of zip and performs just fine in the mountains near Denver. The 1 regret is the gearing on the vehicle for higher speed driving. For customers that need to avg. 80 mph you wont get the typical 42 mpg I have been calculating. The best mpg - avg speed hovers around 60 - 63 mph which correlates to 50 mpg. Overall I am happy so far, 6,600 miles in the fuel costs are excellent and always try to get 600 miles to the tank. Pricing makes it hard to say no and the gov. incentives are nice. The only problem I foresee is taking it in for service, Ive heard horror stories.