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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  Love My Jetta! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Betsy - July 27 - 11:23 pm

  I bought this car used in 2004 with 65,000 miles and it has been a gem. Its fun to drive (manual) and I havent had a bit of trouble with it. It has 128,000 miles on it and is still going strong. I will buy another Jetta next time I need a car but Id like to get a diesel for better gas mileage. My GLS gets 26-29 which is pretty good for such a fantastic engine that just purrs at 80 mph. Cant say enough good about it.

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  Sweet Ride - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sean9 - July 27 - 10:23 pm

  The Volkswagen Jetta TDI is an all round fantastic car to drive. It delivers amazing preformance for a small 100 HP engine and you have loads of power at highway speeds! Plus the great added space in the back seats and truck make life that much easier compared to older year models of the Jetta.

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  TDi is AWESOME - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Gazings - July 27 - 3:53 pm

  Get the TDi! This amazing little engine has tons of torque - much faster around town than the base 2.0, plus you get amazing gas mileage. TDis have more sound insulation, so the ride is actually a good bit quieter. Car feels like an expensive German sedan - great handling, high-end controls and displays, nice seats. A lot of car for the money! Monsoon stereo is fantastic. Auto transmission works great with the TDi.

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  Excellent choice for compact SUV - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By xeuropn - July 27 - 8:40 am

  My wife always wanted the VW Toureg, but could never afford one. After watching the development of the Tiguan since 2006, we decide to check one out this past summer. My wife had to have a manual, so we went for the Tiguan. With the 2.0 L Turbo and matching 6-speed, she has not been disappointed. All of the other competitive models (Tucson/ Sportage/ RAV4 and CR-V)seem bland and common compared to the VW. The extra details Auf Deutsch just seem to put it on a different level. This is our first German auto while living here in the US, so hopefully we will have a long a lasting relationship with it. We keep cars for a very long time, so this should be a good test of VWs durability.

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  My first VW - 2014 Passat 1.8L T - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jeff D. - July 25 - 4:53 pm

  I have test drove several used or certified VW vehicles in last month (Passat diesel 2.0L, Passat 2.5 L Manual, Passat 2.5L Auto, and Jetta 2.5 L Auto). I was able to test drive the 1.8L Turbo automatic - and I was sold as soon has I hit the gas pedal. It has great acceleration. After my first week of driving I was able to drive +400 miles for city and some highway driving. I filled up with 1/4 tank of gas and it cost me less than $24.00. The electronics (cluster, radio, and Hvac are decent). I picked the VW becuase of the simple styling. I chose the Passat over the Jetta due to additional space. I am very happy with my purchase. I hope to be a VW consumer for a long time. :)

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  Best Jetta Yet! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michael B - July 25 - 12:56 pm

  I have had many VWs in the past and the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 is by far the best Jetta yet. I came from a Golf TDI and was weary of going back to a gas enginem but so far it is a great, solid engine. Its gas mileage is comparable to previous models, which is impresive since the 06 Jetta is more powerful and a bigger car. I will reccomend this vehicle to everyone.

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  Its all good - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sandoz1938 - July 24 - 4:59 pm

  Great little car. I bought it with 166000km and now have 300000km. In the 134000km/5 years of owning it Ive only had to replace the breaks, alternator (I blew the alternator by not replacing the battery when I should have), and the rear wheel bearing. The car now needs a front wheel bearing and muffler but thats not all bad for 166000km of driving. I tow large loads all the time and generally dont take care of the care of the car like I should but it still takes care of me, kow. I do change the oil every 6000km with synthetic (5w40?) and replace the oil filter with every change. I also run premium fuel.

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  Doodlebug Girl - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Amy - July 24 - 2:30 pm

  I like this car because it is so very comfortable and very attractive.

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  A Manual in an Automatics Clothing - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By yuray - July 24 - 5:03 am

  The DSG transmission is awesome. Somehow (maybe double clutch) it smooths out driving at low speeds while retaining the juice. It feels taut inside (apparently it is assembled in Germany in contrast to almost all other VW models). Unfortunately, the stereo display is third world and the Sirius trial is worthless because you only have a sample of channels. The sunroof could be bigger. The interior trim is spare, bordering on cheap. I see part of the reason why the A3 goes for more. I have the cloth, which is alright, but the seats dont feel like theyd treat me well on a long drive. I am glad that I chose the 4-door. It is not bigger than the 2-door, but seems to get more out of the rear row while maintaining near identical trunk space.

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  Great Car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By TSF - July 23 - 6:43 pm

  Maybe Ive been lucky, but I have put almost 90k on the vehicle since purchasing used in 05 (now 119k miles), and havent had a single problem. Fun to drive, great mpg w/ the 1.8t and 5-spd. (avg. 33 mpg on the freeway), looks good, unbeatable interior design and looks with the leather seats. Matches or exceeds the 01 Acura TL it replaced in every respect except horsepower, and it has been far more reliable to boot (2 trannys, new dash, other issues w/ 01 Acura).