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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  Good When It Works, Which is 10% of the Time - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ME - April 3 - 2:03 pm

  This car is great when it works. It has good handling, and a nice feel, but it is the biggest pile of junk I have ever owned. I have spent more money in one year on repairs than all the other cars I have owned put together. I will never buy another and am trying to get rid of it. So dont ever buy a VW! Most people I have talked to have similar experiences.

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  Too many trips to the dealership - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By Qlueless - April 3 - 10:33 am

  I have taken this car to the dealership more times in 9 months than my toyota has been in 8 years. I think right now there is water leaking on the passanger side floor, and also the trunk. I have had the trunk lock fixed twice, rear washer, drivers door lock, window fell inside door, had to be towed becuase it would not start, car alarm was going off every night at 3am. Had to leave battery disconnected everytime I got out of the car or the alarm would go off. Drivers seat stuck in place. I used to be a VW mechanic years ago, and this will be the LAST VW that I ever buy.

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  Tons o Fun! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By blubyu - April 3 - 4:00 am

  My first real car was 77 Rabbit. Drove Japanese and American afterwards. Realized I missed my VW. I absolutely love this new Jetta! Great torque through entire power band. Love the tight German suspension engineering. Manual transmission shifts like buttah. Its so much fun to throw the car into any curve, have it stay planted on the asphalt like its on rails, give it some throttle and come rocketing out the other side. WOW!! And this is the base S model. Interior fit and finish is xlnt. Im 64 and have plenty of leg/head room, compared to most Japanese cars. Theres enough bolster in the cloth seats for those curves, but still very comfortable for my daily commute to the city.

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  What a fun car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sanford12 - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Ive had more compliments on this cars looks than any car Ive ever owned and they continue after 2 years of ownership. I love the turbo and the Tip-tronic works great. This is a smooth driving car even at speed(120mph and it felt like it had plenty left)and carves through curvy roads with ease. The Home link garage door opener failed and the Monsoon radio, sound great anyway My biggest cripe is with the adolescents that pass as mechanics at the dealership, Theyre the gang who cant shoot straight and it sucks to have to make a trip back to the dealer because of the just plain lack of pride in workmanship and respect for the customers intelligence

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  Luxury Golf, more practical than a TT - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By vdub69 - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Since Ive only had this car for almost a week, reliability and quality is not a question that can be answered yet. For this reason, Im giving it a neutral rating. After 100,000 miles Ill let you know how reliable it was and how it holds together. I bought this car partly because I see it as a more practical(and less costly) version of the Audi TT. All-wheel drive (4-motion), similar engine, similar chassis, great stereo, great interior. This is a luxury car in Golf hatchback clothing. Automatic climate control seems to be working great.

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  Nice Dress, Shame about the Bod - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By MTLA - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Think hard before falling for the Beetles very real charm. Replacement brakes at 35K, failed starter motor at 45K, broken hood realease, failed glove box hinge, sheared off mirror adjuster, 3 new O2 sensors, 3 mass airflow sensors later were ready to say bye bye. Add to that a customer service dept which manages to sound concerned and attentive while never actually giving the immpression that theyll ever do anything.

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  WOW - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By xelint - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Is this the car I have been waiting for or what. Roomy with out taking up the whole road. My wife and I were hooked from the first test drive. After 3k miles it has run like a dream. Only very minor problems that were fixed quickly by the dealer and then some. Try the Sport mode..try it I dare you..lol

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  zoom. - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By uwinferno - April 3 - 2:00 am

  This car is sick!!! Its the best bang for the buck. There are a few minor details that can be fixed....in dash cd player....but besides that the car is almost perfect.

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  Fantastic SUV - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By huey900 - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Your really buying the Porsche Cayane at $35,000 discount. Handles great, lots of creature comforts, quite, fast and responsive...great road SUV without all the mass. Youll love it!

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  Stuck in the Sand - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Diana Zimmer - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Two problems, one do not drive in soft sand, you may have to be towed out and two when folding the back seat down, be sure to move the front seat up. Oops, one more thing, dual air temperature controls should allow for dual air flow not just temperature. Overall,I am very pleased and comfy in my new Toureg.