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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  2002 GLX V6 - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By JOHN - March 17 - 12:33 am

  Bought vehicle with 22k miles I have put 30k more on in the past 8 months. 52k miles I have replaced tires, brakes, axles (twice on one side) heater core, vacuum lines, air pump. Nice vehicle when its not in the shop.

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  Even An Old Guy Must Have FUN! - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Craig - March 16 - 9:23 pm

  You will absolutly enjoy the ride, German engineering, convertible, and its quick and responsive engine. Spend the extra $1,500 dollars for package 2, you need great wheels/rims to go with a great car.

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  Not bad, but not great - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By Sean - March 16 - 7:46 pm

  I owned my 03 VR6 GTI for just over 2 years, putting around 32K miles on it. Overall its a fun car to drive, but I had quite a few quality issues, especially with the paint (pearl indigo blue). The VR6 has great low-end torque, but it is very heavy which is really noticeable when cornering at high speeds. The car handles fantastic at high speed on the highway, with very little cabin noise even at 85+ MPH. The Monsoon stereo system is fantastic, the heated seats are great because you can adjust the heating level, and the cruise control is much more user friendly than on other cars I have driven. Overall, its a fun, versatile car that is a good deal for the price.

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  Full - 2016 Volkswagen Golf
  By Greg Krupa - March 15 - 6:50 am

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  8-Way Power Seats a Must! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By EB4VEEDUB - March 15 - 4:06 am

  I purchased the vehicle on 01/29/10, and have received several compliments on the look of the vehicle. The ride is solid, especially in bad weather. The dash is easy to operate, and has a stylish appearance. My only complaint is the manual seats that require turning a knob for the backrest, and cranking a lever to go up and down. After 30 days I still have not found a comfortable seating position. I have to do yoga stretches in the morning before I get into the car to help ease the discomfort

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  Luv My Bug - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Jennifer B - March 15 - 3:00 am

  This is the car I have always wanted! Its fun to drive and the new Gecko Green for 2006 is so pretty! I got the manual transmission with package one and satellite radio.

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  Norm from Mississauga - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By nplatt - March 15 - 2:53 am

  I have a 2011 Golf Sportswagen (Jetta in U.S.A.) and knew precisely what I was getting into. I was aware of the DSG problems that have been fixed . I knew that these were perhaps the finest seats that you can get in a car because I have a very bad back and these seats were the tonic. I loaded up the options list because I travel a lot each year - about 60,000 miles per because we have a home just north of Maine and I drive about 16 hours at a stretch. My only complaints have been the trim seals for the rear doors that were fixed under warranty. Other than that I knew to get a mid cycle refresh model so that all the bugs were worked out.

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  A great small car - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By 2fastdre - March 15 - 2:00 am

  I really enjoy my Golf GLS TDI and have almost 14K miles on it already. The fuel economy is excellent and rivals that of electric hybrid cars. I have not got lower than 45 MPG in mixed driving even through the cold winter months. Although 90 HP is not impressive, the 155 LB-FT of low end torque is what makes the around town and Colorado Rocky Mountain drives very satisfying. Even when loaded, this thing cruises along in 5th gear at about 2200 RPM up slopes where 96 4cyl Legacy has to scream at more than 4000 RPM in lower gear to maintain the same speed. I would recommend this car to anyone who is shopping for a small car.

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  Jetta is nice surprise - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Vwowner - March 15 - 2:00 am

  My new Jetta turned out to be a nice surprise. The gas mileage is great. The monsoon stereo rocks. I have owned trucks for years and this was the first car that I have driven that was actually fun.

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  Best first car - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JourneyOfTheJetta - March 15 - 1:33 am

  My 2012 Jetta is my first car and I can easily see it lasting me all throughout college. Traveling 15 minutes to and from school everyday, then to work, then to friends houses, this car has been so reliable! Super safe with reliable braking and acceleration. Super sturdy and reliable in harsh weather and road conditions as well. I have had no maintenance problems with the car and it has been more than good to me. If youre searching for a first car or a good commuter car, the Jetta is the way to go! Once again, reliable, comfortable, safe, and easy to navigate!