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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  2000 Jetta TDI - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By EEROB - July 30 - 10:00 am

  No other vehicle sold in NA can beat this combination of fuel economy and performance.

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  Always fun to drive - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Terje - July 28 - 11:40 pm

  Ive owned several BMWs which all seem to fall apart @ 80K miles. My last 740I was very expensive to maintain & boring to drive. I wanted to try something more practical with better mileage. Im 41 so I thought my white GTI with 18"s was a practical, fun and young looking decision. So far I like it very much. The DSG is amazing. If you are considering the fun factor, compared to BMW, Audi & Honda, the GTI is a great choice.

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  Big Satisfaction, small disappointments - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By spidaman - July 28 - 10:20 am

  This is our first SUV, as the kids are older and we are downsizing from a minivan. The handling is excellent, even on snow and ice. We have not been able to take the T-reg offroad as yet. Power with the V6 is adequate; if I were towing a boat, I would probably want a larger engine, as the V-6 barely holds its own on merging on the highway. The NAV system is disappointing. Entering destinations is not intuitive. The NAV CD-ROM takes the only slot in the car. A 6 disc CD changer is in the back. This should be reversed. Although there is an AUX button labelled on the radio, there is no auxiliary input for an MP3 play, which is disappointing in a high-end car. Comfy!

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  EOS FAN - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Love my EOS - July 28 - 10:13 am

  Since the day that I test drove the car, I had to have it. It is my first Volkswagen experience and, so far, nothing but rave reviews. I love driving it and heads turn when I put the top down. It is quite comfortable, great pick-up and great build quality. I previously owned a 2004 BMW Z4 and, believe it or not, like this car much better. I looked at the Z4 again, but this car offered so much more for 12,000 less!

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  Do not buy! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ns_sanchez - July 28 - 7:27 am

  I purchase this vehicle pre owned for my wife at the time it had 70 thousand miles and was doing good until we hit 90 thousand. The car has been worked on multiple time and is mostly electrical issues. The car is very low and my wife knocked off the bumper twice just be aware of that also. I have changed out the alternator twice on this vehicle as well. This car is a costly vehicle and I would not recommend this car to any one. The space in this car is small and I honestly never felt comfotable driving it. In the future I will avoid anything VW.

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  Best one in years - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By Doug Haught - July 27 - 5:25 pm

  Absolutely NO problems. Excellent performance, responsive and all the acceleration you need when merging into high speed highways BEFORE I found I was lied to by VW about ecology. Modifitction is expected to ruin economic advantage of the vehicle which was why I bought it. I wont be holding on to this one and it will be my last.

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  VW Mk4 Gti 1.8t (TIPTRONIC) - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Tanya Luther - July 27 - 4:44 pm

  So, I bought myself an 02 GTI about a year ago with 73,000 miles and it was a one owner car. Interior and exterior of the car was excellent. Sadly, 1 month after buying the car...the glove box door broke. The next month, my car started to make a horrible noise. Took it to my trustworthy mechanic, and he said that the waterpump had gone bad. Along with that I had the waterpump, timing belt, etc..replaced; $1,000. Later on, my heater blower, windshield wipers, and turn signals ALL went out...in the middle of winter. Come to find out after replacing a few things it was the relay switch; $35. Still not finished, after dealing with that. The check engine light came on, needed a NEW TRANSMISSION.

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  Cutest car ever!!! - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By trekster - July 27 - 2:56 pm

  I love my car! The sports seats hug you when you drive. It corners easily, and I fit into any parking space. It is so cute, people actually watch it go by, especially when I have the top down! I just love it. It also has a lot of power, so I dont have to worry about getting up and going when I need to. Best car ever!!!

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  Sporty family vehicle! - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dale123 - July 27 - 1:02 pm

  I am overall pleased with our 2012 Passat we purchased from Birmingham Luxury Motors in Hueytown, AL. The car handles great, has plenty of power and holds THREE car seats comfortably. This is the first Volkswagen Ive owned and Im very happy of my purchase. Im 6 5" and I have ample amount of room and the trunk space is a huge commodity.

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  Go for it - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By davef - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Purchased a demo w/ 4,500mi. Very please with ride and comfort. Everything very tight. Radio reception leaves something to be desired but with a CD in the Monsoon sound system is great. Also stereo system just did not wrk one day. Took to dealer who pulled plug and replugged. No trouble since. Some areas of "chrome" molding are foggy. Dont know why. Acceleration a little delayed but when it kicks in watch out.