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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  Not Your Old College Bug - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Dicker - October 25 - 9:36 am

  This car is as fun to drive as it is to look at! People smile and wave and give me the thumbs up, when I drive. When I park, someone almost always wants to ask about my little luxury convertible! The power and handling are very impressive, almost like a small sports car, especially with the Tiptronic transmission! I am very pleased with comfort, handling and performance, but a little disappointed in the gas mileage!

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  I Love My Jetta! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jetta 2.5L PZEV - October 24 - 5:33 am

  I bought my Jetta in July 2006 and Ive just love it! For a compact sedan, it feels luxurious. Ive always wanted a Jetta, and Im glad I waiting until they came out with a different look. It is bigger than the old model. It has excellent handling on the road. I just wish it got a little better gas mileage. But, with the safety airbag features, you cant go wrong with this car. I got the Package #1. It is awesome!

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  BEST car Ive owned! - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ManaGrace - October 20 - 10:00 am

  I bought my car used with 64,ooo miles. It now has 88+ and its still kicking! I have only had everyday normal wear and tare problems with it.

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  ss - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Shibamcancan - October 20 - 10:00 am

  This car is amazing. I cant say anything further I guess you have to test drive it your self to appreciate the technology and safety feature that is touareg posses .. oh and wait a V10 twin turbo diesel version will come to the us as well ... all I can say is Watch out BMW,Merc,GMC,Ford, and any- other far distant competitor out there which I have not mentioned. Ciao ciao.

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  1st VW - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Chris Wisp - October 20 - 10:00 am

  For my 1st VW I am totally impressed. I have owned several Audi Vehicles with Quattro and been very impressed. I owned the original 4000 Quattro and liken this car to it in the sense that it is an exellent value. The performance of a 20 year newer car is of course better by leaps and bounds but at the price that it sells for this car is a value. I am impressed with a wagon that can run with the best of the performance cars of today and is still versitile enough to hall almost anything. This car is new to me and of course only time will tell, but my Audi 4000 went for over 400,000 miles.

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  VW does it again - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By aromatic hydrocarbon - October 20 - 10:00 am

  VW pulls another "Rabbit" out of the hat. I am 6-3, and fit this car like it was made just for me. I didnt buy it for performance, thrills, and such, but its simply amazing what a 90 HP engine prodcuing 155 ft-lbs of torque can do. The creature comforts for the GLS level are well done, the sunroof is in the right place, the thoughtfullness and operation of the controls are, well, so German! And thats a compliment. Good drive- ability, outstanding, frugal economy, and reminds me an awful lot of the "real" bugs we loved so much in the 60s and 70s. I wouldnt want to go back there, this is a superiour car

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  Good so far - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By JMorr - October 20 - 10:00 am

  A great car so far. The design and engineering are terrific for the price. Car drives well and has quite a few features for the price.

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  You Cant Miss - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jimd - October 18 - 4:16 am

  When I first got the Jetta TDI I was averaging 36 - 38 mpg. After 30,000 miles I am now getting a solid 42-46 mpg driving in Austin commuter traffic. Needless to say I am pleased. Tell me again why hybrids make economic sense. I paid $24,000 for this car and have just priced it out at $21,000 hmm...

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  Great Car! - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By John E. Semken, Jr. - October 17 - 11:50 pm

  I have driven my Beetle to Orlando, FL. It is great fun to drive, very comfortable, and gets great mileage - 43 mpg. I have had several people comment on the beauty of my car. It has plenty of power.

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  A different experience - 2017 Volkswagen Passat
  By Valentino Marshall - October 17 - 3:36 pm

  After owning a 2006 Honda Accord V6 EXL with NAV for the past 5 years I was a little nervous about going with a VW with a 4 cylinder Engine; especially after having my mind set on getting a 14 Accord EXL V6. After about 4 months of research and 1 step in the Passat I knew this was the car for me. The VW Passat, in my opinion, is a totally different experience than what you expect with other brands. The VW Passat is classy, solid and a true drivers car. The 1.8 tsi is peppy and an absolute blast to drive engine; I find myself having a lot more fun than I did driving with my V6. I even got 40 MPG on the freeway going 65 mph with the AC on. The controls are simple to use and everything feels like its in the right place. The steering wheel is comfortable and doesnt take a long time getting used to. I opted for the lighting package, which takes this car to an Audi level. I get lots of looks during the day thanks to the DRL LED strip. The 3 stage seat warmers are awesome and the seats are pretty comfortable. I am a tall guy and I absolutely love the room in this car, I just turned 26 and wanted to get an "adults" car since I will be owning this car in my 30s. I feel very happy and confident in my decision to buy a new VW Passat. This car is surely to give me many years of reliability and fun. I know VW may have had some issues and people have a bad taste in thier mouth about VW, but I have owned 3 Hondas and it wasnt always as reliable as the perception would lead you to believe. I take great care of my cars and only use dealers. I put shell v power in my cars and do scheduled maintenance on time and still had issues with my accords. I believe with maintaing my VW as I should it will prove to be just as dependable. If your considering Honda, Toyota, Nissan, etc.. put the Passat SE with lighting on your list. One step in the VW will show you how a car should be built. Plus I got a $28,010 dollar car for $22,500!!! It was a no branienr.