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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  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By memikl - May 2 - 10:00 am

  A little wind noise, but other than that a truly great car to drive and own.

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  Reverse problem - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Colleen Carney - May 1 - 2:23 pm

  I purchased this car today and everything was fine until I tried to get it in reverse. My daughter and I drive manual transmissions, and have never had any trouble until this one. I learned from our good friend Barry that you push down on the gear shift to get it in reverse! I was ready to take the car back to the dealer tomorrow!

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  Will Keep you posted - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Sean - April 29 - 3:36 pm

  Just traded my 08" APR stage 2 tuned VW GTI yesterday. That car kicked constant butt...This CC is totally a different animal with similar guts. This CC will get the APR tune this week and should be in the range of 252- 262HP for a APR stage 1 tune. I just love the looks of the CC and the Mercedes CLS...this is my Volkcedes! Will post more after the APR tune.

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  2011 VW Tiguan SE - Fits the big and tall! - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By thegrick - April 29 - 9:04 am

  I just leased my 2011 Tiguan SE last week after many months of deliberation. First off, I am 65", so that basically eliminates 40% of all cars right off the bat. The Tiguan has more than enough leg and head room for me, and someone can realistically fit behind me when my seat is all the way back. That puts the car at an A for driver and passenger comfort. Also, when you are in the Tiguan, you absolutely know that you are driving a European auto...the way it handles, the solid build quality all around, and the feel of complete control over the road. Overall, VW put a huge emphasis on attention to detail with this vehicle; every function is useful and well thought out. Great interior!

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  bes awd vehicle ever built - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By R32FREAK - April 28 - 10:00 am

  like the title said best car ever!! i turboed mine and estimate about 325hp to the wheels ran a 11.9 on stock tires.

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  Most Reliable Vehicle - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By Athomas - April 28 - 5:16 am

  I have owned my 2014 Passat for almost two years. I took a step down from the CC which I miss very much and the only reason for some 4 stars is comparing to the CC in performance which is to be expected as the CC is a high performance vehicle. I have had no problems with the Passat. It is the utmost reliable vehicle I have ever owned and for that reason, I am holding onto her. I am a high mileage driver and plan to keep her for at least 100K although the VWs are strong vehicles that I know they go way over 100K (I should have kept my CC as I was spoilt with performance but at 100k, I chicken a little bit as a single parent. My highest recommendations go to the Passat on looks, reliability and price.

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  Best Car Ever - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By CLM - April 28 - 3:36 am

  I am the past and present owner of at least two V-12 Mercedes-Benz models (a sedan and convertible) and the Phaeton surpasses both in every respect including, but not limited to price.

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  Excellent Daily Driver - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Joshua - April 27 - 5:26 pm

  My 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 is a great daily driver. It has lots of features like the satellite radio, navigation, etc. The leather is improved bigtime as well as interior design, with a quality you only see in higher priced luxury cars. The handling has improved 110% from the previous model. The only quark is to see more of the traditional "German" design to come back. Other than that its a great car!

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  6-spd manual TDI....Great car and value! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Eric - April 26 - 8:50 am

  I have owned my TDI for 6 months and it has been great. My previous car was a Volvo T5 S40 and I must say the TDI has plenty of power. Diesels have so many benefits but they also offer great power at any speed. Always wanted a VW but didnt like the quality of the gas motors. Decided to take the leap from Volvo (longtime owner--last 4 cars were S60 and S40 turbos...well one Acura TSX in that time also) after having some quality issues. I am very impressed with the quality of materials and how the car fits together. The ride is firm and sporty. It drives like a front wheel drive version of the BMW 3 series (if only the Jetta was RWD it would be the perfect car!) Average 40- 43 mpg.

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  No question about it!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ww401k - April 25 - 2:00 am

  This car is the bomb!!!! I have owned a BMW 318ti and although the engine was a bit smoother and it tracked a little better the Passat is bigger, nicer interior--many more features and about $5,000 less. Get the leather interior with heated seats...you will not want to get out!!!!!