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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  Perfect Fit - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By numberonecargirl - February 1 - 6:13 pm

  I had a Lexus SC300 so I am used to luxury. In purchasing this my 2003 Volkswagen Passat, I had to make sure it had all the comfort and options that I was used to. I was just looking for something bigger to fit my family needs. This Passat did just that. It is fun to drive, and my children like all the lights at night, they look cool according to them! LOL. I love that it plays my burned CDs and I love my heated seats. The 4Motion is wonderful, since I was used to the rear wheel drive with the Lexus, and that was an uncomfortable feeling in the winter. Now I feel stuck on the road. I also have room to fit a ton of groceries and my children are not cramped. I also get a ton of compilments, and that I like!

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  VW R32 - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Pathfinder - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I bought the R32 for my 16 year old son. However, I am really enjoying the car over some much more expensive choices. Performance is good, handling and braking are excellant. I am looking forward to doing some mods to extract a bit more power-probably K&N air filter, and a chip. I own MB and Audi and enjoy the R32 more than a M3 that I just drove. Price is fair for the quality of this German-built car.

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  Very impressive car! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By HAZER - February 1 - 10:00 am

  Have 2100 miles on it. Excellent low end torque/power--it glides effortlessly over mountain passes. Great mileage. Avg so far 41 mpg hwy @ 80 mph w/air on. Car handles really well. Passengers dont believe it is only a $27,000 car. So far, Im convinced you would have a hard time finding a better combination of comfort, power, class and economy in the under 30k price range. If the reliability is good, this will be a tough car to beat.

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  GOOD CAR - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VWdriver - February 1 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the car for about a month, im at 1200 miles. So far no technical problems. Car looks great inside and out, many standard features. Love driving it,handles great. Its my first stick shift and car as well, i actually had to learn how to drive manual before buying the car.If you get bored with it, there are many modifications that u can get on this car, check ebay. Overall good car, i would definitely buy VW again.

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  151,000 miles and still going - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By Mary - February 1 - 6:34 am

  My Golf TDI is going on 14 years-old. I bought it brand new and wouldnt part with it for anything. I have followed the owners Manuel as directed, changed the timing belt just under 100,00 miles as suggested even though there was no problem. Changed the oil faithfully, and addressed all other regular issues as advised via the owners manual. I have kept seat covers on it and the original cloth seats look like new. The other day a stranger rang my doorbell and offered me $6,000 for it....Im like no way. I hope I will never have to part with my little Golf buddy after 14 years I still Love driving it.

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  Best car for the Money - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By kriley50 - January 31 - 7:04 pm

  What I love about his car is the Turbo engine. Plenty of power when you need it and excellent fuel economy as well. I love the way the car drives. German engineered cars are just fun to drive period. The seats are comfortable and the Cabin is extremely roomy. I just love the way the interior is laid out. The best thing about this car is the price. I paid around 26k for an SE and I feel like I got a ton of car for the money. I just dont think there is a better deal out there.

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  The Best Car Ive Ever Owned - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By neu2dubz - January 31 - 5:30 pm

  This car ROCKS! This is my all time favorite car. I have owned roughly two dozen cars in the past 17 years and this by far beats them all. It is a blast to drive and comes complete with a following. The VW culture is great and all the people I have met are fabulous. Not only did I end up with the best car I have ended up with a new family also and i love it!

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  When can I drive it again? - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By VWGTI2007 - January 31 - 1:33 pm

  The title explains it all, you dont want to stop driving it. This car is the perfect blend of performance, practicality and value. I think it sums it up to say that this car does everything well but not super. As I drive it more and more, I know I made the right choice to jump over to the VW GTI club from the Honda Family. I was very skeptical but so far the experience has been amazing. If you treat a car as a vehicle going from point A to point B, you might not appreciate what this car has to offer. If you treat driving as an experience, this is a must have.

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  Top Choice - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Michael - January 31 - 3:30 am

  Out of all the cars I drove, and i drove a lot, none had that feeling I was purchasing a $30,000 vehicle. However, the 2006 Volkswagen Passat 3.6 feels like a $40,000 vehicle and still does even after the purchase.

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  My Golf - 2006 Volkswagen Golf
  By Larry - January 29 - 1:16 pm

  I have a 2005.5 Volkswagen Golf GLS 6 speed auto. This car is fast, fun to drive, and very comfortable. I realy like it. I feel it was a bargan given the equipment it came with. The cold weather package is a must in the north. My other car is a turbo diesel pickup so I am probaly not a good judge of the handling, but the Golf car is a real treat to drive and and seams to be put together very well.