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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  My golf - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By Mason Hickmann - February 12 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE!!!!!!!! my golf, it takes anything or anybody anywhere, no questions asked. its a little packmule, its been all over america with a carfull of people and luggage and has never complained or given me any reason to doubt it. build quality is great, interior is fantastically designed, all my friends always want to take the golf anywhere we go, and i wouldnt have it any other way

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  Good Job VW - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hall4349 - February 12 - 2:00 am

  Great car! Been A VW fan thru thick/thin and this is one of the best cars ever. Great quality, value and looks. Many aftermarket upgrades!

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  every day I say "god, I love this car!" - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jetta lover - February 12 - 2:00 am

  got this car when my dreadful Neon died after only 60000 miles. This has been a TREMENDOUS improvement; Im fairly certain that from now on all of my future cars will be VWs. Mileage is EXCELLENT! Im amazed my husband and I didnt get any tickets when we first started driving this car since the drive is so smooth... its VERY easy to drive 10-15 mph over the speed limit, and still have it feel like youre doing maybe 5 over. Performance is great; overall quality of vehicle is great. This was one of the best decisions we ever made!

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  Best Four Seat Convertible for the Money - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By dave - February 11 - 11:20 am

  We just took delivery on a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible automatic. The car handles like a dream, is loaded with stock safety features, and puts a big smile on our face when driving. Its fit and finish are excellent. We have had no early onset problems. The 2.5 liter engine has great pickup. The car provides a sturdy and fun ride and has no cowl shake. Our first impression is great!

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  I love my rabbit - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By My rabbit is BA - February 11 - 12:36 am

  I love my rabbit. It sold itself to me on the test drive. No other car came close to that. I hit 95 mph without even noticing. Could be trouble but its a smooth ride I havent found a single thing to complain about yet. Only 23 mpg on first tank of gas though with lots of highway driving. I think Im just being heavy on the gas though.

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  2012 Tiguan - Early Signs All Very Positive - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By gobuffs2 - February 10 - 9:45 pm

  Purchased this SE model with FWD after about 5 months on the car hunt. AWD not necessary IMO & saved $2K. Looked at Hyundai, Nissan, Ford, Toyota even Audi & Merc. Benz. The car has good zip, the turbo kicks in when asked, and it rides smooth - suspension can feel a bit stiff though, so you feel some road bumps. Fit and finish are outstanding as are the ergonomics. It is very fun to drive, the navigation and audio package is very nice - IMO, no need to bump up to the next level of audio or trim. The leather-ette interior is very nice; most people think it to be real leather and I like the idea that it will clean up easier since I haul kids. Overall, very very pleased so far.

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  Great Car! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jetta 06 - February 10 - 10:06 am

  This is the first German car Ive owned. Ive always driven Hondas, Toyotas and an occassional domestic. Even though I bought the base model, it feels much more expensive and solid than anything I drove from Japan. Im very impressed with the build quality and materials as well as the amount of features that are standard. Not to mention the safety factor. Also, it rides like a little Audi or BMW. I definitely feel like I got my moneys worth from the Jetta!

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  The Car Drivers Wanted - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By KentClark - February 10 - 10:00 am

  I just bought the VW 2002 Passat...VW touts, "Drivers Wanted", I think this is the car that Drivers Wanted. I love the car! It drives like a dream and has really intelligent engineering features. My friends and family all want to drive it. I was in a friends BMW 325-something last night, at 5110", I was squished in the backseat...not so in the Passat...backseat has plenty of room and plenty of trunk room. I love the Tipronic. The controls and switches are simple and simply placed. Very nicely done and easy to use day or night. I love having dial gauges again! The car looks and drives smart!

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  New Beetle Turbo GX - 2000 - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Tom C - February 10 - 10:00 am

  Is fun to drive and still gets attention on the road. The few problems so far have mainly been minor annoynances.

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  Happy Driver - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By miana - February 10 - 10:00 am

  This Jetta is my second one and I absolutely love driving it. The handling and road feel are excellent and the styling brings positive comments from other people.