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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  VW Passat TDI SE Review - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By M. Carey - May 10 - 12:42 am

  Turbo Diesel fuel mpg is excellent: 45+ hwy, 33 - 39 city. Interior room is very spacious. Controls are friendly, simple, intuitive. Turbo diesel acceleration is sporty. Touchscreen is good but no navigation system. Most features are smart and helpful. Car requires little maintenance, so far. Overall, an excellent vehicle/purchase.

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  On the Mark - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By dman - May 9 - 10:13 pm

  We owned a 2008 Toure for 1.5 years and we love the Tiguan even more ... here are the reasons: 1) Practicality - smaller but not to small to hold 5 adults and luggage! Great gas mileage for SUV 2) Free 3 year maintenance program 3) Overall fun to drive and cost of ownership

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  Buy new or used, its awesome! - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By boomervandal - May 9 - 5:06 am

  Bought this SUV 10/05 after looking at MB500. VW is so much quieter. No problems in 18k miles! I love this vehicle and its durability, wear and tear. Everyone who has sat in it wants to borrow it when additional space is needed - theyd buy but cant afford it. Great family car - whether you have kids or just a dog like me! So much fun in the winter and summer! Definitely will buy another after this hits higher miles.

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  R32 - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Hotvwcurves - May 9 - 2:00 am

  pictures dont do the R32 justice, and she is well worth the price difference between the GTI (6K) for AWD, sport suspention a 3.2l vr6 6sp, naturally aspirated and had awesome potential for car builders, without having to worry about traction... engine pulls even all the way through, and the additional styling inside and out is flashy without getting you pulled over;)

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  D*mn near perfect - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By godfathr609 - May 9 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car you can buy for $20,000. Its got performance, quality, a long list of standard features, and a solid grip on the road. Mine is still stock but many plans for this car that will make it an ultimate street racers. With minor modifications you can easily touch horsepower numbers of 250 and with high modifications, easily over 300 hp. The best part is, all those lil civics roll up dont think its got balls, till it eats them up!

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  Love my VW - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By katie - May 7 - 5:50 pm

  The bug was fun, but the SUV is luxury. All the bells and whistles, plus towing at 7,500 lbs! Great on the highway and in town. Fuel cost is the ONLY drawback. The rain sensitive wipers are really nice. Buy one.

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  In Love with My Beetle - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Liz - May 7 - 1:16 pm

  I went from having a Ford Explorer to my 2006 Volkswagen Beetle, so the change in what I was spending on gas was fantastic. I also went from having a 6-cyclinder to a 5, honestly you cant tell the difference. And dont think youre going to feel like just another person with a Beetle. The new lights and lines make it look noticeably different. It is so fun to drive, so really get the dealership to let you test drive it. If you get the harvest beige, the Mr. Clean magic erasers are awesome at getting left over adhesive and little skuff marks off the car :).

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  Volkswagens are the best cars - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By JimBo - May 7 - 10:00 am

  This is the second VW product I have owned and it has lived up to every expectation I have. I was surprised when the right front wheel bearing went out at 50K, but that was easily replaced. A quick V6 that gets 25 mpg, an easy to read dashboard, comfortable riding car. We even took the family vacation with this car, a very large trunk and the room in the back seat is enough the kids cant kick the front seats. I wouldnt tell anyone to stay away. One more thing, I was rear ended and only the bumper cover was replaced on my car, the other car sustained much more damage. I feel very safe in this car.

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  READ THIS REVIEW!!! ONE FABULOUS CAR!!! - 2001 Volkswagen GTI
  By seandmc1 - May 7 - 10:00 am

  I know cars, and Volkswagens build quality has greatly improved in the MKIV series. The VR6 has a great track record + torque and HP. The build quality, drivability, ergonomics and looks are excellent. The wheels tend to be a bit weak, so watch for potholes! Manual trans. is the only way to go on this car. If you are looking for a sportier, classier, and cooler alternative to a Toyota...then the GTI VR6 is definately for you. Do be prepared for mediocre dealership service. I do most of the car work myself anyway, and this car is a breeze to work on! This car epitomizes all that is great about German engineering. Japan and the U.S. cant touch it!

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  vw turbo gti - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Emilo - May 7 - 10:00 am

  every car manufacturer has its problems, the ones you will get with your volkswagen are not big enough to worry about, its a great car.