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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  Fun, efficient, solid. - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steve - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Well, only a few weeks in my Jetta TDI, but so far I love it. With the manual 6-speed it is fun to drive, especially between 2d and 5th gear, but even in 6th at 70mph on the highway, there is plenty of "go" to move around in traffic. And my first three tanks of diesel I am AVERAGING 41.5 mpg (I drive about70/30 hwy/city). And with the seats down, yesterday I put my daughters bike in the trunk without taking any wheels off, so whats not to like.....

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  Best car to own - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ToddFoxx - April 6 - 12:13 am

  This is the best car to buy if you are considering the hybrids. The Jetta TDI gives the preformance you need for every day driving and fuel economy that doesnt kill the pocket. It is a great value thats fun to drive has all the luxury feel and quality of a BMW.

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  2012 TDI - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By catom - April 5 - 5:00 pm

  I purchased my Passat 3 months ago and have driven it 5200 miles. I had to search for 2 weeks to find a White car with black interior but I located it in Fairfiel, CA. The salesmen, Zain, had the car as he promised and the whole process went smoothly. I have had a high of 44MPG and a low of 38MPG with a combination of city and freeway driving. It performs great once you learn to use the torque of the engine and not floor it. The radio is great and the bluethooth works every time. Ive had no problems to date , it;s been a fun car to drive with loads of room.

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  I love this car! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dlaporte1 - April 5 - 3:06 pm

  We bought this car new in 2006 and now have 211,000 miles on it. Weve replaced the timing belt twice and had 3 wheel bearings replaced. We recently replaced the original battery and the brakes have only been replaced once. Yeah, the rubber has worn off the radio buttons, but thats just cosmetic, who cares? I change the oil every 5,000 miles religiously and it doesnt leak or burn oil. Its been a great car! Were contemplating replacing the wheels because theyre getting beat up - again cosmetic.

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  This Car Could Be With Us For 15 Years! - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dolphin - April 4 - 10:10 pm

  I needed a new car, and it came down to the Passat TDI and a Camry SE. I am happy with my choice. The United Gray with gray leather interior looks great. We had some trouble with the original radio, but that was replaced. I am considering adding the rear fog light. This car will end up with my daughter when she goes to college, she is 10 now, and it is an incredibly solid car. It has room for 5 in comfort, and gets 33+ MPG’s cruising at 80-85 MPH, with enough torque to pass anything in your way! it is a little heavy on the wind noise at these speeds, but I can still hear the sound on my kids’ video games!

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  Fantastic! - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By 2VG26 - April 4 - 7:33 pm

  I have now had this car for a year and three months and this car has served me well. It is extremely fun to drive, gets great mpg (when youre not on it) and shuns most everything on the road. The manual transmissions are bullet proof and the electromechanical steering has great feel and control. Overall this is the best bang for my buck!

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  Still happy with my GTI - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Eric - April 4 - 2:16 pm

  Leased it two years ago this month. Now has almost 25K on it. The only problem so far was a fuel sending unit which kept indicating car was out of fuel. Dealer fixed it and no further problems. Car drives great, I average 27-28 MPG in a commute that is equal parts highway and city driving. I have owned MANY MANY VWs over the years, and some have been very problematic. Not this one. I plan to buy it at the end of the lease due to its reliability, economy and performance. Once its mine I will chip it and replace the OEM wheels & tires to improve the performance ever more.

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  Pleasantly Surprised - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By Skeptic - April 4 - 5:46 am

  I was skeptical about buying this for all the reason noted in most car reviews but my wife loved it. It has turned out to be a great vehicle with no defects in the fist 4 months and 6,000 miles. Got a great price on it, better than Honda, Toyota or Chrysler. We have owned a VW, Toyota Camery, Infiniti, Audi, Mazda, and Volvo and they all have/had their issues with build quality and mechanical quirks. So far I am pleasantly surprised and for a minivan that we will eventually get trashed by kids this is a great vehicle. Also, the VW dealer was the only one willing to give loner car and free oil service for the life of the warranty. Thats cool.

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  Loving It - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Lisa - April 4 - 1:16 am

  I was truly surprised at the power of this 4-cylinder turbo. My husband told me I had become the proud owner of his Lexus after he took it out for the day. I didnt think I would ever be able to go back to a 4 cylinder again, and was surprised that I didnt have to compromise anything in driving power. I was looking for something that would be fun to drive, get good gas mileage, and was hoping for a convertible as well. This matched all my criteria. I fall in love with it more and more each day.

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  Cant beat the mileage - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By richoxfordblue - April 3 - 6:43 am

  This is one great car to drive. VW did a nice job blending style and performance. My first tank got 43.2 MPG. The car has a solid ride that is great on back roads. Everyone has commented how quiet it runs for a diesel. On the highway you cant tell its a diesel. Its acceleration is better then you would expect for a 100 HP engine; the torque on the engine really shows when getting onto the highway, you can blend into traffic with no problem. Some people have mentioned that this car has a poor stereo, but I find that mine is fine. It sounds better as you crank it up. It is a little difficult to see to the side and back with the large pillars designed for safety.