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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  Near Perfect Car - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Brian - July 5 - 11:20 pm

  I traded in a 01 Audi A4 for my 07 5-door Rabbit. I loved my A4, but I love the Rabbit more. The only feature missing from my Audi is the Homelink and auto-dim mirrors. Everything else is just as good or better. This was definitely not a step down. Everything about this car is just right and the value is unbeatable. Its quick, fast, and super comfortable. Youre not likely to come across many others out on the roads, so its cool to be driving a unique car. I agree with the poster that said if they made this any nicer, it would be an Audi. I thought I might regret not getting the GTI, but I definitely do not. While I love the 2.0T, this 2.5 is a fantastic engine.

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  VW Junkie - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By GatorgirlVW - July 5 - 9:20 am

  This is the first vehicle that i have owned where i feel people are looking at me as i am driving down the road. Its an unexplainable experience. I have plenty of room for everything i need and i feel safe and secure for me and my family when we are out on the road.

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  Maybe the greatest car for your money... - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Chris Moore - July 5 - 3:13 am

  This is a car that can truly do it all. I was looking for a car that could fulfill my demands for having a fun, performance oriented vehicle that could simultaneously deliver respectable gas mileage, have four doors, a great warranty and not break the bank, including full coverage insurance. Oh, did I mention my non-manual transmission driving wife had to be able to drive it too? Under these strict stipulations, the GTI is absolutely sublime. I bought mine for $20.5K and spend $100 a month on full coverage insurance. I regularly get over 30 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg in town. Because of its sleeper status, I can drive it like I sat on a wasp, and a cop would be none the wiser.

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  Love this car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By soldonit - July 5 - 2:10 am

  I looked at every make in this price range and nothing came close to the fun factor, standard equipment, right size, and build quality of the Jetta. I havent owned a VW since high school (many many years ago) but love this car like the old VW Beetle that I had then.

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  High Quality with Performance & Style - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By Calif Warren - July 4 - 1:56 pm

  Due to recent Toyota safety issues, I switched to my first VW. From the outset, I was very impressed by the design, performance, and safety ratings of the Passat. The base model has almost everything you need, including a very fine AM/FM/SAT receiver with 6CD changer and above-average speakers. All controls are intuitive and easy to understand, unlike many cars that present a baffling array of buttons. The power is astounding for a 4 cylinder, altho there is a slight hesitation from a stop. It climbs a long 7% grade without any obvious downshifting or effort and easily allows you to merge into freeway traffic from short freeway on-ramps. Handling is superb and the ride is very quiet.

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  Awesome Car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Cardo - July 4 - 10:00 am

  This is by far one of the best cars that ive had the privelidge to drive. its got great pickup. and for all of you people out there that are wondering how much boost is in this car i just installed a autometer guage it shows 10psi which is great for stock. Awesome Car. Good job VW

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  Cruise missile - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rico101 - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Just got my GLI broken in , and this car is a cruise missile. I look forward to driving it everyday.

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  Rabbit vs. Mazda3 / Civic / Fit = Rabbit Wins - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By gumpyoldman - July 3 - 9:00 pm

  I test drove a Fit, a Civic, Corolla, Matrix, Mazda3 and a Versa. The Rabbit was by far the most impressive of the bunch. I never though Id own another VW but the Rabbit was far and away the better driving car so one is now in my driveway. Its gas mileage is better than I had expected and it handles really well. It is a great little snow car too!

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  My friends call it a space shuttle! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Moses - July 3 - 6:46 am

  We just traded in my old and tired 98 Olds Cutlass. After my experience with my Cutlass, I swore never to drive anything American (not that Im not Patriotic, but Detroit needs some overhaul). I was thinking of going Japanese but then the Passat got my attention and I do not regret my decision. This car is impressive. Its build quality is top notch. The stuff that you pay extra for in other cars (including BMW) come standard in this car plus much more. The engines power is adequate but is not as athletic as my other car, a 2000 Maxima SE. Part of that could be from the Passats porky 3,800 lbs. curb weight. But then the Maxima isnt loaded with as many safety features and AWD as the Passat. Go buy one!

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  Still Love Driving my CC! - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By toddaspencer - July 1 - 7:44 pm

  Purchased my CC a couple of years ago, used, with 30k miles on it and now have 61k on it. What a treat, every day. I have never enjoyed driving a car as much as I do my CC. Ive had no breakdowns (knock on wood) and have only had to complete maintenance stuff -- which arent cheap but I believe are part of the answer to keeping a great car up and going strong. I always recommend the CC to anyone else who asks about it. Keep up the great work, VW!