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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  What a great little car! - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By mbloof - February 24 - 11:29 pm

  I was shopping Mini Coopers and other small economical hatch backs when I decided to try out the Golf TDI. It handles like a go-cart, feels like a mid-size, nice and quiet inside, rarely sounds like a diesel, plenty of power - you REALLY have to watch as its easy to speed in this car. Mine came with: DSG Auto, HID headlights and touch screen sound. I really was not looking for flappers on the steering or 3 way shifting tranny (auto, sport auto and manual/auto) however Im very pleased with the DSG even leaving it in "D" %99 of the time. It shifts smoothly without jerkyness. The TDI is a bit surprising - most of the time feels like a gas engine - other times some turbo lag.

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  Far-From-Pumping - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By diesel-nut - February 24 - 11:13 pm

  Just hit 25,000 miles and loving every second with this car. Fun to drive, sips the fuel, and plenty of power to spare. Ive added a Thule luggage basket, tinted the windows, and added a trailer hitch. This car looks awesome!

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  Major Disaster - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mightymoe - February 24 - 3:43 pm

  For those looking to purchase this car, take every problem listed seriously. I encountered every single problem listed in other reviews. My car has had a bad coolant sensor, a windsheild crack, bad coil pack, one of the pistons went out, problems with the brakes and brake light, a bad oxgyen sensor, the check engine light went on, the glove compartment broke, and the cupholders broke as well. VW customer service stniks and they dont even know how to fix their own cars. I am never buying a Jetta again!

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  A Break from the Cookie Cutter Transport - 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By Angelou - February 24 - 10:00 am

  With just over 5000 miles and a trip from LA to Lake Tahoe logged this past December, I cant say enough great things about my family Eurovan. Its got plenty of power, handles very well and has plenty of room. It performed exceptionally well in the snow and dry raod conditions.

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  Jetta TDI - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By marku - February 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought the Jetta TDI about a year ago, and have not been sorry. In terms of reliability and ergonomics, it was and is the hands down winner in its class. I get about 39MPG in mostly highway driving, which is slighly less milage then the advertised 41 highway. Bottom line: spend the extra $$$ and get the Jetta!

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  jetta GLS 1.8T (terrific!) - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jwbitz - February 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought a new 02 Jetta GLS 1.8T (galactic blue) w/luxury package and cold weather package. I love it! Very fun to drive, comfortable ride, great fuel economy, nice sound system.

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  my jetta has some problems - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jettaprobs - February 24 - 10:00 am

  I love my black jetta GLS but there are some problems that the dealer will not fix. For example, there are buzzing noises coming from the windows or speakers and various places inside the car. It is a beautiful car and after 13,000 miles I havent had too many problems but the dealership still cant figure out those buzzing noises.

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  Great alternative to small SUVs - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By DrDave - February 23 - 8:43 pm

  We love this vehicle! I wanted a small SUV like the Nissan Rogue or VW Tiquan, but this little machine is both sporty, fun to drive, and has plenty of room. The 4 cylinder turbo is amazingly powerful and quick. The manual shifting options are bit cumbersome and rarely use unless I want the real feel of performance. You will not think you are in a wagon driving this at all!

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  Favorite Car Ive Ever Owned! - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By uhlie - February 23 - 7:20 am

  I bought this car two weeks ago and I still look for reasons to go for a drive. I really do believe that it is the best car for the money. I did extensive research and test drove a Subaru Legacy, Ford Fusion and a Nissan Altima. The Volkswagen kept calling me back. It looks great and is simply fun to drive. Tons of power, good gas mileage (I get about 32 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg overall) plenty of room, and an unbelievable list of options even on the base car. As long as you can live with only fitting two in the back seat, Id definitely recommend it.

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  Love the Tiguan! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Jay - February 23 - 2:26 am

  Just picked up my wifes 2009 Alpine Gray tiguan with nav and panoramic roof. Wow! This vehicle is fast . Stops on a dime. And is surprisingly comfortable. My wife keeps referring to it as "awesome". She loves it . It is a gti in disguise! In my opinion. Build quality is superb! VW and Audi have a winner on their hands in my opinion. Not for the faint of heart! A must drive before you buy anything else!