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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  my baby - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Spikeddy13 - June 10 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. Its my first car and I will never do anything other than a German build from now on. Its amazing.

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  great great mpg - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By leo1979 - June 10 - 9:43 am

  great car it sips diesel great mileage i drive 236 miles a day with only a problem with the a/c sent it to shop 3 times different shops

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  So glad I waited to get the 2008! - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By pprd - June 6 - 9:46 am

  This is a fantastic car. I previously owned a 2000 Passat V6 GLX, and the 08 Jetta is just as big and roomy. I really enjoy the +20 boost in horsepower (2007 was 150, 2008 is 170). Its a nice balance between performance and gas mileage. I certainly wouldnt want any less muscle, though. Road noise is minimal and the car feels solid in tight turns and quick maneuvers. I love the 4 year bumper-to-bumper warranty and road-side assistance. The exterior looks sophisticated and classy - head and shoulders above the competitors in its class.

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  Very good car - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By lovethiscar - June 6 - 6:10 am

  This is my first super luxury car. Prior to the Phaeton, I owned a Lincoln LS. The LS is an excellent car, but is not in the same class as the Phaeton. I was able to purchase a 2004 with 51900 miles for $24500 with an all inclusive VW warranty. I consider myself a well informed consumer that does his research. I have to say this car is the BEST car that I have driven and that I made an excellent purchase. Rides like a dream. On a back road, I got it up to 120 mph, but took it down because I got scared.. Flawless ride even at 120 mph...

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  Best Car In Price Range, By Far - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By cts - June 6 - 2:00 am

  The Passat is very quick "off the line" in every day driving, and that there is more than sufficient speed to merge and pass on the highway. The car also cruises quite comfortably at 70-90 mph. The seats in the car (eight-way power) are extremely comfortable and very supportive during aggressive driving. However, everyone has a different back- end - some of my friends prefer softer seats than those in the Passat. On value - you get an all-wheel-drive car with gobs of luxury features for under $31k (see below). Ive not owned the car long enough to discuss reliability. Well see.

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  Impressive - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By iMacMan - June 6 - 2:00 am

  I am incredibly happy with my 2003 Passat! My wife and I researched and drove many cars, but it was clear that we found a home the second we settled into its wonderful cabin. The Camry was nice, tight, but felt boring and underpowered. In spite of its exciting styling, the Altima felt cheap. The Accord wasnt really an option as Honda vehicles rust terribly on salted central Canadian roads. I intended on getting the V-6, but I much preferred the pep and fuel economy of the Turbo 1.8 four. Easily the best car in the class.

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  So Far So Good - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JF - June 6 - 1:26 am

  We did a lot of research when the dust settled it was down to the new Ford Focus, the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Insight. Why the Jetta TDI well it doesn’t feel like a small car has a nice ride with lots of safety features that goes a long way on a tank of fuel. Just hope the dependability will be as good as the driving experience has a lot of punch that comes in handy when needed. It’s not a luxury car but it’s nicely equipped you’ll not think of it as little car. Heritage VW of South AL didn’t try all the dealer sells tricks nice to deal with, thank you.

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  Love it, but... - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Cody H - June 4 - 11:36 am

  I purchased my VW new with only 13 miles on it. I have to say, I love this car, I like how it drives and the pure power. The only down side are the brakes and tires. I had the first set of tires replaced at 8700 miles under the tire warranty, I still had to pay $220.00. Then the brakes at 15000 miles, that was $600.00. Now at 27000 miles I need another set of tires. For some reason the car loves to wear out the tires. I take it to the VW dealer every 5000 miles for its oil change and tire rotation. So a car that is two years old with 27000 miles has a new set of brakes and rotors, and on its third set of tires. Be prepared to spend some money!

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  CC - The Peoples Car - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By acabrera10 - June 4 - 6:36 am

  What an amazing car. Fantastic ride, interior, and comfort. A totally amazing experience. VW has a winner here. My wife and I drive the CC and cant help to notice the attention the car gets. On the very first day I got the car, I had 3 people stop me and ask about the car. I went from a Honda Pilot to the CC and what a great move. One word describes the VW CC - AMAZING!

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  Mein Fast Makes Me Smile - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By anam - June 3 - 11:53 pm

  Ive got 2,000 miles on my GTI and she makes me smile! Im 61" and I fit into the car nicely with plenty of space to go around, and still feel Im part of the car. A lot of attention is paid in the finish details like a luxury car. In my shopping stage, it took me awhile to get over the stigma of the VW reliability that I heard from EVERYONE, but after doing a lot of research, the GTI is probably the BEST BET in the VW market. I got the candy white 4 door, and its a beauty! The DSG transmission makes driving an auto more fun than it should be, however it takes time to get use to it, but its a whole new experience. For city livin and city drivin, this is the best practical and FUN car for my needs!