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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  Definite buy again - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By ssrx8 - October 12 - 1:00 am

  There is a solidity to this car that Japanese cars dont have. So far after 1.5 years no reliability problems. The 2.0T is efficient but allows for easy passing. We get 32 mpg on rural roads, though premium grade reqd. Another minor niggle is that 2.0T sounds "gravelly" compared to a most V-6,I-6 or even a smooth I-4, though it feels very smooth and unstressed for the most part. The suspension is ideal - not floaty but still supple. Road trips are very comfortable. Road noise is low to moderate. The seats are comfortable and leatherette (vinyl) is a good alternative if you dont want leather. Touches throughout that demonstrate very thorough engineering for everyday livability.

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  Life Long Vdub owner - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Blake W. - October 11 - 10:00 am

  Ok read up... This is the only review you need to read on this car. If you can live with a few little glitches and dont need your car fixed every time there is a slight shimmy, shake, creek, etc. (other wise you will pay a lot to keep this car running as if brand new like you would for ANY OTHER car), then this is the best car for the money... period. This car is a tank, I beat it hard every day and have put 110k on in just over 3 years. Ive put a few thousand into repairs but who cares. Its fun to drive, I will get it to about 210k and get a new passat. Ive changed oil every 10k (synthetic only) 91 oct MIN! Great in the snow, rain, in 100 degrees or 30 below. Dont be silly with fixes

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  Excellent all-around car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AlexV - October 11 - 10:00 am

  After having driven this car for 1,000 miles, there have been no problems with the car so far. The TDI makes this car very fuel efficient, averaging over 48 mpg, while being able to zip past cars when the need arises. The interior feels and looks upscale while the price is very reasonable.

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  All of my love - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By RYE - October 11 - 12:13 am

  This wonderful car is a reliable workhorse. After 4 years of 2k miles a month this car has only needed minor expenses for tune-ups. I cant express how well built and dependable it is. The ride quality is head and shoulders above Camry or Accord. I love my car.

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  Great Compact Sports Car - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Steve - October 10 - 9:03 pm

  This is my very first "new" car and its a long time waiting. I wanted a small sports car; either the Mini Cooper or the GTI fit my style. I ended up picking the GTI because I felt the flood of Minis out there on the street would dilute my enthusiasm for my car. I am extremely happy with my purchase an happy I chose this over the Cooper.

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  This is a great highway cruiser - 2011 Volkswagen Golf
  By msita - October 10 - 1:15 pm

  Just got this 2011 Golf TDi last month and it has been an amazing car so far. The ride is very german, firm but still comfortable. The bluetooth streaming and phone feature pairs instantly. The touch screen audio system is awesome. Great sound with no subwoofer. We also have a 2009 Jetta Sportwagen TDi with 30,000 miles on it and reliability has been great. Im expecting the same with the Golf. I commute between Irvine and San Diego and I consistently average 48 mpg cruising at 65 mph.

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  Worth Babying - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By stoontdi - October 9 - 6:10 pm

  If everybody had one of these, it wouldnt be as much fun. The TDI can pull a 1500 lb. boat and trailer better than a gas with all that torque and still get over 32 miles to the gallon.

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  Tiguan Review at over 48,000 miles - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Butch - October 9 - 4:10 pm

  We have had this car for over two years and have driven it over 48,000 miles and have had only one problem. The right front head light assembly. The mechanic wrote it up as a problem of the internal mechanical malfunction of the headlight assembly. Other than that our Tiguan has been a pleasure to own and drive.

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  Great Car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GMAN - October 7 - 11:40 pm

  Ive had the TDI Jetta for 4 months and put over 8,000 miles. Ive saved over $370 in fuel costs in the first 3 months. Ive been getting an average of 42-44 mpg and drive at 70-80 mph on highway. This car is a great alternative to a hybrid and is fun to drive. Ive also tested the Prius and Insight before making my decision. If you do a lot of driving I recommend that you take a look at this car.

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  Just beautiful!!!!!!!!!! - 2011 Volkswagen CC
  By jsantos05 - October 7 - 1:24 pm

  This ride is a straight up head turner! sport feature is amazing and on the freeway going 60+ just so smooth. Interior / exterior are beautiful they really put effort into making this cc look more expensive then it really is. BEST THING ABOUT THIS RIDE YOU HARDLY SEE IT ON THE ROAD SO WHEN IT PASSES BY DEF. CATCHES PPLZ EYES.. BEST DECISION I EVER MADE IM VERY PICKY WHEN IT COMES TO CARS. I WANTED TO BUY THE AUDI A4 BUT ITS TO EXPENSIVE WHEN I TEST DROVE THE CC SPORT I WAS SOLD ON THE SPOT IM 24 YEARS OLD AND A PROUD VW OWNER !!!