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 Zip for the Dough - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By BR26354 - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This is an awesome car for money! It such a hoot to drive. Plus, there is ample aftermarket opportunity to tune this machine for not alot of green. Not that you need to do much more. Maybe a chip ugrade for more power and suspension to reduce the body roll a litte more. I am very pleased with #2780.

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  Driver Found - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By AJWCAW - February 18 - 2:00 am

  After driving Chevys and Fords all my life it is nice to find a car that is both reliable and fun. Living in the Pacific NW the traction contol really comes in handy during those long winters and my frequent trips over the passes to Seattle.

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  Outstanding Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Choaro - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Passat for a almost five months and I still absolutely love it! I strongly considered the Acura TSX and the new Saab 9-3 and looked at the Passat as an afterthought. Even though the TSX has a slightly higher horsepower rating, the Passat felt MUCH more powerful when I test drove them both in the same afternoon. The fit and finish of the Passat continues to amaze me and blows away most people who get in the car for the first time- the attention to detail and standard feature content is very impressive.

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  My Jetta is Betta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Spagirl - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is awesome! I have the 1.8 Turbo and it definitly has a lot of Pep! The interior is vey comfortable and it lights up neon blue & red at night..pretty cool..:) The color is a new one this year (2004) Platinum Charcoal Gray..which is very classy looking. I would recommend this car to anyone..:)

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  The Best Choice Ive Made - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Prashanth - February 17 - 3:20 am

  I drove a Honda before this and though I loved it, I was always dreaming of a convertible, and VW came out with a winner. Ive had this car for three months now and havent found anything bad about it. The handling is exceptional, while making turns and on bumpy roads. And it runs very much like a sports car. With the top down its a complete adventure, and with the top up, its dead quiet inside, as a regular coupe. This car is an out and out winner. Even though the price might seem a little upscale but Id prefer this over a Mustang any day, which hardly holds its value after a couple of years. The Eos has given me complete satisfaction and a bang for the buck.

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  Love That Eos - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By R.Graves - February 16 - 10:56 pm

  I absolutely love my 2007 VW Eos. I ordered and patiently waited for it. I got it in December 2006 and I have not put the top up yet. And I live in NJ. If you use the windshield with the top down, you get the luxury of having the convertible style and fun with the warmth of a sedan. This is truly a phenomenal car. I love my VW.

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  A Great Value - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tweetconn - February 16 - 9:26 pm

  I have had my 2014 Jetta SE for just over 3300 miles now and like it a lot. My previous car was a 2001 Jetta GL with 2.0 engine and a 5 speed manual. There are many things to like with this car. My previous Jetta was very reliable and I put 169000 miles on it.

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  I truly enjoy driving again, thanks to this car - 2011 Volkswagen GTI
  By philaburb - February 16 - 3:42 pm

  I did plenty of research on this, and have not been dissapointed. I bought a 2011 4 door with the 6 spd manual, and its been perfect. This is the best balance of fun/value/comfort I could ask for. 3 months, 3K miles and so far its been great. I did get an extended warranty just in case, however so far its been solid. The car has a very high quality feel, but you still feel involved as the driver. Its comfortable and practical when I need it, and its quick and precise when I need it- I cant imagine needing anything more than this out of a daily driver car. Roomier in the backl seat than my Volvo S60, love the look of the car and the hatchback practicality. Beautiful

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  Didnt want to buy it - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Karen - February 16 - 1:23 pm

  I did not want to buy a VW, but my husband convinced me to drive the 2 liter turbo (the 2 liter non-turbo was a joke). 3 years and 97,000 miles later, I am very happy with the Jetta. Its economical to drive(I average 28mpg overall), yet has plenty of horsepower when I need to pass. The interior is well fitted and has held up very well to daily use - car seats, grand kids et cetera. Trunk is spacious and fold-down seats very useful. Very quiet to drive and very reliable. Its a fun car to operate and has had no mechanical issues so far.

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  From an A6 to a Touareg - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By hunegnaw - February 16 - 4:30 am

  I have to admit, the wife and I stuggled with the idea of going from an A6 to a Touareg. To me, an SUV has always been the equivalent to owning a mini-van, but with a house and a dog (who destroyed the backseat of our A6 - - he didnt know any better), we decided to give an SUV a try. After looking at all of the options we decided to give the Touareg a try and aside from the HORRIBLE fuel economy, weve been quite impressed. Great looking, comfortable, head-turning, and a spot for Mickey (the dog) to hang out without worry.