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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  Its my turn to drive!!!! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Bostonian VW - September 15 - 10:00 am

  We now fight over who gets to drive the best car weve purchased so far. Considered other cars at first and after test driving and considering cost/value, this one wins hands down! This is also our first VW and we love the casual style and attentive service of our dealership.

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  FABULOUS! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By artee419 - September 15 - 10:00 am

  The Touareg is a great SUV overall! From all the standard features to the smooth driving and sweet price compared to the Cayenne.

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  Love my bug!!! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By wtchhazle - September 15 - 10:00 am

  Well, to be honest, Ive only owned it for about a month and a half, but I have never loved a car like this one. Its just sooo much fun to drive. Im just thrilled with the purchase of this car. Its a peppy little turbo and simply a blast.

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  First VW and First Turbodiesel - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By bristowbob - September 14 - 8:54 pm

  There is not a lot I can say yet at 2000 miles, but my first impressions after a month are that this is a great vehicle. I did a 440 mile R/T from VA to NJ and averaged 51.8 mpg while cruising on crowded I-95 between 50 and 75, depending on traffic. Very comfortable, very quiet, smooth ride - all relative to my 10 year obsession with 3 Saabs, including the last 95. I notice some of what I consider to be turbo lag when I hit the gas from a full stop, but not a big deal so far...the engine still feels tight at 2000 miles. Acceleration on the freeway to pass traffic is terrific, no lag there. Ill write more as I add miles.

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  48MPG - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By samson - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Idrive 25000 miles per year and get 48 MPG. Diesel fuel is now 15 cents cheaper than regular gas.

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  Farfeg...something - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jer - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Good car that has held up well. After four years, I still get a kick out of driving it and love all of the little creature comforts it has.

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  toureg v6 - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By suzanne - September 14 - 2:00 am

  This car is great for the money but after driving it for about 6,000 miles we began to notice a vibration we asked vw what it was and they couldnt fix the problem finally after so many people complained about the problem with the v6 they figured out what the problem was it was the drive shaft was off balance and had to be replaced with a v8 drive shaft instead. outher than that we love the car.

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  My Fun Mobile - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By rich116 - September 13 - 5:36 pm

  Needed something with a back seat, and also wanted a car with decent gas mileage. But mostly the car had to be FUN to drive, since I was giving up my roadster. I drove Toyotas, Subarus, Chevys and Mazdas, but once I drove the GTI, I knew I was buying one. Ive always been a manual transmission guy. But a salesman encouraged me to try the DSG transmission, I did, & loved it. I bought the 4-door in white, really looks classy, sporty, yet practical.

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  A Beautiful Car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By whterbt - September 12 - 10:00 am

  This is, hands down, the best car I have ever owned. Fun to drive, tasteful styling, and more features than you can shake a stick at. Definitely get the GLX model if you like creature comforts. The Tiptronic system works like a dream, and is excellent for driving in mountainous areas, like I do (Colorado). I typically get 20/25 MPG, which is better than quoted, but still could be better.

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  "I love my bright yellow beetle!" - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Holly Fry - September 12 - 10:00 am

  My first car was a 79 volkswagon bug, and now Ive moved up in life to the 99 volkswagon beetle. I love it! Like my 79 it is a lot of fun to drive, but it has so much more room than the 79, more get up and go, and a lot smoother.