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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  70,000+ miles and still in love! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By zmoney - February 26 - 12:56 pm

  This is my daily driver and I couldnt have picked a better car. I was looking at an STI or Evo about 3yrs ago, but then I found the R32 at a great price. Youll love it. I get 22/29 city/highway and youll have more than enough get up and go to zip in and out of traffic. The seats are great, but they might be a tight fit for a larger person. Everyone loves the sound of the exhaust of course. The look of this car is great, but at the same time its not a cop magnet which is always a plus. Test drive the 2004 model and youll be hooked! It wont be mine however as shell die with me. :) If you do buy one please take it to the track at least once. Youll thank me later.

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  This Car Saved My Life - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By kellylong - February 26 - 3:20 am

  I totaled my Jetta in a head on collision with a guard rail after a tire blew, and walked away with minor bruises. I then turned around and bought the same exact car. People can say what they will about cup holders breaking and plastic peeling, but I say quit complaining. You either are a VW person or your not, and I am 100%. I had to replace my battery, timing belt @ 120,000k (which was a choice to avoid problems), brakes, and my battery, but these are all things that should be fixed on any vehicle with over 100,000 miles. I am a VW believer all the way.

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  Dont hesitatte, This is the one!!! - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wolfsburgdino - February 25 - 9:20 am

  DSG, black on gray interior. Very solid build, improvement noticeable even over 2007 model (wife has 2007 wolfsburg). Great response and performance from engine and transmission both. Nice sounding engine. 2.0t is much quieter than 2.5 unless you like to hear it growl...it can be somewhat tricky to find right driver seat position, knees tend to hit center console, but i have been able to adjust the seat to minimize the discomfort. find it very hard to stay off the accelerator. can be driving 100 and not notice it. car is very solid and you can feel it. Was able to get a very good price for it. not quite a GLI without all the extra stuff but for 7000 less, you cant beat it.

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  Eh, its ok - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By whitney1313 - February 25 - 8:36 am

  My 1998 bug now has 72,000 miles (bought it with 5,000 miles). So far, I have replaced the timing belt, spark plugs / wires, window regulators multiple times, alternator ($$$$$$$), wheel ball bearings, taillight (twice). The list is endless. Some of the parts that have been replaced are normal wear items, but even my mechanics have said that the car shouldnt be doing this with only 75,000 miles. Also, about every interior trim piece is sitting in the back seat. If you do buy one, be prepared to take the three layer door apart often to fix the window problems- theyre notorious.

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  buyer beware!!! - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By CLenney - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Where do I start? My first problem occurred at 24,300 miles...just over the 24,000 mile warranty (how convenient). After shelling out a mere $650, I was confident that I wouldnt experience anymore problems. I was wrong. I sunk another $1300 into my lemon of a car at only 35,000 miles. A few months after purchasing my car (which had only 7000 miles on it at the time), I had my sunroof motor replaced (after driving around with a garbage bag flapping in my face). I also had the pleasure of experiencing this with my passenger side window!! Needless to say, I am looking forward to picking up my 2000 Toyota Camry XLE tomorrow.

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  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By calvinebox - February 25 - 2:00 am

  This is my first VW and I love it! Test- drive it and you will buy it. If you are interested in Golf, go and get a GL instead of GLS because the sunroof actually cut off the interior height above your head. It was amazing I got a 110 speeding ticket when I was trying to test the performance of my new car. It can run stably around 80-90.

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  Gem of a car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Praney Mittal - February 25 - 2:00 am

  It has been an extremely powerful car, still has the fastest pickup of many other cars I have tried. Extremely lovable possession

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  Touareg WOW - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By DavidJ7 - February 25 - 2:00 am

  An inexpensive Porsche. Wow, even the 6 has plenty of power and lots of luxury.

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  Good Egg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By tho16626 - February 25 - 2:00 am

  The Touareg has been a wonder addition to our family. Given the competition this vehicle does most of everything you can ask for when compared to its peers. The interior is timeless, it rides better than most luxury cars on the highway, and has been thoughfully designed in almost every way. Weve not seen another SUV, foreign or domestic, that compares to the VW in terms of quality and design.

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  Love this Car - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Al - February 24 - 11:50 pm

  This is my first Passat, I had two Jettas before and was happy with them. My wife and I had looked at many cars and It came down between the Passat and the Nissan Maxima. We took the Passat (with Package 1) because it is just so much fun to drive and I really like the interior layout. Take it for a test drive, and you may end up buying one.