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 passat glx 4MOTION - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Neil Austin - September 26 - 10:00 am

  A DREAM CAR...YOU CAANOT GO WRONG WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE.THE CRAFTSMENSHIP,PERFORMANCE,COMFORT LEVEL,RELIABILITY IS SECOND TO NONE. AS WE HAVE OWNED AMERICAN,JAPANESE ANDOTHER EUROPEAN CARS THIS AUTOMOBILE TAKES TOP HONORS. AMERICAN AUTOMOBILES ARE A JOKE...WE SAY THIS BECAUSE WE ARE AMERICAN AND HOPE SOMEDAY AMERICAN CAR BUILDERS WE AT LEAST EQUAL WHAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS PAINSTAKINLY DEVELOPED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. yOU CAN TAKE THIS TO THE BANK AND WATCH IT GROW.JUST LOOK AT THE RESALE VALUE COMPARED TO OTHERS....GET THE PICTURE!!!!

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  Great on the road but poor from a start - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By RichG - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Great looking, fantastic out on the road, solid as a rock and just purrs at 80mph but the 2 second pause before the turbo kicks in when you step on the gas from a dead stop is one big negative. (you learn quickly not to pull out with oncoming traffic) Oh, a second negative, the engineer who figured that a rotary knob on the side to recline the drivers seat was a good idea needs to go back to design school, i.e. just reach behind you with your non dominant hand and rotate the knob while lifting your body weight from the seat ...yeah.

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  Everyone loves my car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ktammy - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I am very glad I purchased a Volkswagon Passat. It is a fun car to have. I constantly have people get into my car and say "man, I really love your car!" I love the style, the comfort and the little extras my passat has to it.

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  A true VW Fan - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mary Hassan - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This is my 8th VW and second Passat GLX and they really have gotten everything right. The first time I saw a Passat in a parking lot, I had to go over to check it out. This car really spoke to me and I had to have it. I think it is as comfortable as or maybe more so than my bosss MB SL500. The lines are certainly better.

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  Beautiful handling family sedan - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ted White - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This is a top flight car in every respect. Looks, handling, mileage (usually about 30mpg) and the best seats of any car Ive ever owned.

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  This cat can fly - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Pop - September 26 - 10:00 am

  very nice fit and finish. Rides bigger inside then it appears on the outside. long legs can have the room. takes bump solid.............wit the W8 and all wheel drive its like driving a beer nut slot car.

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  You will love the Passat Wagon - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tom_from_Pennsylania - September 26 - 10:00 am

  We first rented a Passat wagon in Germany eight years ago, and liked it so well that we bought one. It gave us seven good years of reliable service, but the 2003 is worlds better than the old ones. It truly has the power and handling of a sports car. It would be a serious mistake to buy a mid-size wagon without test driving the Passat.

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  Great vehicle - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By PRMD - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I owned different vehicles in the last 32 years, Vega, Mitsubishi, Cadillac Seville, Volvo, Mercedes Benz, Oldsmobile, Conversion Van, Diamante, Honda and BMW. I enjoy more driving my Passat GLX than any other car I ever owned. I recommend it to everyone asks me about it.

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  Boy is this car fun to drive - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Joys VW is a joy! - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This car is fun to drive. Excellent in the city, and care free on the highway. The styling is unique and attractive. I enjoy being seen in this car almost as much as I enjoy driving it.

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  My Passat - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By DThomas - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I have only had this car for about a month or so. I had originally orderd a BMW 325xi and couldnt get the one I wanted in the time frame I wanted. I am very glad I went to the Passat, it has just about the same performance as the BMW and I got a top of the line model for about $10,000 less than the beamer. I am very satisfied so far with this vehicle.