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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  would buy again - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By js - July 17 - 4:43 pm

  Only complaint is quality of the leather. Looks great everywhere except drivers seat, weathers too quickly, but gets used 90% more than others.

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  Love that Car! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Phyllida - July 17 - 11:26 am

  I love it so much that I do not want to trade it in for a 2007, although I probably shall. With every New Beetle there is usually one problem. For the 2000 model, it was the parking gear, which was somehow attached via computer chip to the brake light and the cruise control. For the 2003 model, it was the alternator and the heater. The car handles so beautifully on the road that these are mere annoyances!

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  Rrrrrr Mateee! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Smyle - July 17 - 8:16 am

  Ive only owned my bright red R32 for a couple of weeks now, but I absolutely love it! It does bother me that I cant beat an Evo or an STI, but then I just remind myself that it CAN beat 90% of the other cars on the road and has all the lavish luxuriousness of a fine German automobile. I also remind myself that everyone and their dog owns an Evo or STI and my 2004 R32 is one of only 5,000 in North America (one of only 500 in red). This puts a large grin on my face, as although the Evo and STI may be faster, the owners of these very cars lust after an R32. A driver of an STI approached me enviously when he discovered I was buying it from the lot. Performance and luxury beat just performance!

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  Beautiful machine! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BRM10984 - July 16 - 7:30 am

  Great German engineering! Great ride and solid feel, good with Tiptronic. Only problem is a bad door seal, no big deal. With leather and spt. luxury, its a dream! Wonderful acceleration. This car stands alone- the Civics and Altimas cant touch it.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Nic - July 16 - 3:46 am

  I have a black over tan Wolfsburg. The color combo just pops and looks classy. The interior textures and materials are the same quality as my previous Mercedes. Its got all the fun stuff like heated seats, mirrors and washer nozzles, ESP, traction control, 6 airbags, Tiptronic sunroof and more. I havent been able to lose control of the car even when I try. Feels solid and safe and looks great. There is no other car out there for the price with the quality and features you get... not even close. I love this car, I hope the reliability is as solid as the way the doors shut.

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  Best Car I Ever Owned - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Manuel R. Tamayo - July 15 - 7:36 pm

  Previously, a car was simply a means of transportation. Now it is fun to drive, comfortable to be in, and a real pleasure to own. At first I questioned about the difference in fuel cost between the diesel and gas engine. However, I am able to average 33 miles per gallon in tight city traffic and about 42 on the open highway. The diesel engine is quiet and smooth. The car rides extremely tight with a comfortable road feel even in high wind. It corners like a cannon ball in a laundry chute. It simply has a solid sensation about it both inside and out. When asked how I like it, I say "Best car I ever owned and I have owned a bunch." That about says it all. Except, I bet I sold some.

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  VR6 GLX 2000 - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By SFD - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I am very happy with my Jetta. I have put 4000 miles on it since buying it used with 17000 miles. I have had no problems, although I wish I had read some of the other reviews before purchasing this car. I hope I dont have to look forward to the expenses that some of the other buyers have. Ill keep my fingers crossed.

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  Great car, but interior could be nicer - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By mjegan59 - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I went out truck shopping and came home with the Passat Wagon turbo. It gets close to 30 MPG and is so fun to drive that I even went without my coveted 6 cyl engine and 4 wheel drive. It whips around tight u-turns, accelerates like crazy on the freeway (moves just as fluidly between 90 mph and 120 mph as between 40-70 mph), makes almost no noise on the road and has a sick sound system. It feels great on the road even at high speed and still accelerates at altitude and climbing mountains.

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  Love It!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jowibo - July 14 - 10:00 am

  To the guy who complained about no room for owners manual--theres a cubby for it underneath steering wheel- -I didnt know it was there, either until I read about it online. And VW is replacing all 4 coils now, so that point is moot, too. I am so in love with this car--Id marry it if I could. Ive always been a car nut, but dont think Ive ever been so pleased with one. I have 10,000 miles today (bought back in July--allegely first 2003 in town) and never had any problems. Great in snow, excellent mpg, etc. Cant figure out why they put 180 hp in Jetta but only 170 in Passat.

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  Yipee - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sophie - July 13 - 2:00 am

  What a great car! The power and pick up are unbelievable. A very smooth ride for a smaller car. The interior lights top it all off. I also love the heated cloth seats.