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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  04 Passat - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By GV - September 26 - 10:00 am

  So far, we have truely enjoyed this vehicle - considering that weve only have 180 miles on it. We are looking forward to a long road trip that we have planned for the Thanksgiving holiday!

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  w8 6 speed - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By tony6spdw8 - September 26 - 10:00 am

  in syracuse, I wont let my wife drive anythin unless it is awd. build quality is excellent, shifter is good, clutch is very vague, easy to stall, to assisted, car is reasonably quick, for a family sedan, but put 19: rims on it, tint the windows, and put a spoiler on it, and even the fast and furious kids are impressed. only real complaint is the soft rev limiter in 1st gear that starts shutting it down almost 800 rpm faster than in 2nd-6th, just as the car really starts coming on in 1st, you are into the rev limiter, then it pulls real strong to redline in every other gear.awaiting the snow, to see how it performs in a syracuse ny winter with blizzaks on it

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  Passat GLS V6 - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Piech - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Best car I have ever owned. The way the switchgear works, that all effort is the same, the solidity, the quality of materials and build quality cannot be matched by any American.

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  Oh yeah I love Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ohmaud - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Excellent performance; true German engineering, hugs the road tight on curves when going fast, dual transmission (shift from auto to stick) is awesome fun!

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  This car always makes me smile - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By grammatarz - September 26 - 10:00 am

  The only unfortunate thing that I have found is that 2003 is the first year that they installed a plug in the back of the manifold. Unfortunately mine blew without warning after 4 months..this may be a chronic problem. Ultimately, the car gave me no warning that all of the oil was blowing out as I was driving. It should have given me a low oil pressure sign or something. Its something to look into.

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  very good, more stuff than you need! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By will - September 26 - 10:00 am

  very competent car. lots of fun! runs great, handles like on rails.

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  I really like this car. - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By jamesbim - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This car is really fun to drive with its tiptronic shifter. I especially appreciate the exterior design, because it says class. I love driving it.

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  Here I Come! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Bea - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. Handles smooth. Warm seats for cold winter days. Plenty of cargo space with the wagon. A joy to drive, plus practical.

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  A good solid car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By nnsrchof - September 26 - 10:00 am

  My car experience has been a good one so far over the last 18 months. My only true regret is not buying the more upgraded version with a 6 cylinder, leather, etc. The turbo has more than enough hp on the highway but is a bit slow off the line. Gas mileage was a good trade though.

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  What a great car!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By simplysalsa - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I have been a Honda girl for years. Had 6 of them. Then I drove my Passat and it was love at first site. The car handles great and has a much heavier feel than my Hondas did. The Turbo feature is just the ticket for driving the hills of West Virgina. It accelerates smoothly.