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:

• 

  Great car! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By briandjctn - January 1 - 7:58 pm

  I got this car new in Oct 2007. It now has a little over 46k miles on it. I have had only 3 minor warranty repairs. The car has been a blast to drive since the day I bought it. It has been reliable, and gets good gas mileage (usually about 25-28 mpg combined city/hwy). A word of warning though, to those that live in areas prone to snow in the winter: winter tires are a must. This car is truly terrible in the snow. It will go along ok on flat ground - but it will not go up the slightest snow covered incline. The DSG gearbox will not allow 2nd gear starts, nor will it shift to another gear if the wheels are spinning. Overall though, a great car. Love the torque!

• 

  I know others complain about VW but... - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By eli1172 - January 1 - 4:23 pm

  I love my Beetle! I have had no complaints in the 4 years I have owned this car. It is so much fun to drive, and feels like a more expensive car. My husband is trying to talk me into a new one, but it is so hard to find something of equal cost with the same features. The only concern: the transmission is sealed and the fluid cant be changed. They say its lifetime fluid, but I dont buy it. If not for that, I would drive this baby till the wheels fell off!

• 

  00 Jetta - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mwd - December 31 - 7:33 pm

  I have had my Jetta for a little over four years now, and have been fairly satisfied with the car. The 2.0 engine is pretty weak and goes through more gas than I expected. I believe VW has made a huge improvement in both of these areas in recent years. The car handles pretty well, but it doesnt take long various rattles and noises to present themselves after use on rough Midwest roads.

• 

  2002 gti vw - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Ivonne - December 31 - 10:00 am

  its a vw!! what else can i say...i love it.

• 

  great car - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By crowdlr - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Very good performance, safety and looks great! The cup holder is the only drawback, but it does work.

• 

  Great for comfort and handling. - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By fridaynight - December 31 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car as an alternative to a minivan b/c I was commuting. At the time I had one child and one on the way. It handles excellently and is very comfortable to sit in. You can fit a lot of stuff in the back and theres plenty of leg room in the back seat for the kids in their car seats. You can also comfortably fit 2 car seats and one adult in the back, or 3 car seats. Great acceleration even with the A/C on and low engine noise at any speed.

• 

  Im Hooked - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ILuVmyVW - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Just turned in my 99 Passat for a 2003. I love this car! Why spend the extra money for an Audi? Hondas cant compare. Smooth ride, excellent handling, excellent braking, safety - bar none, looks and feels like a luxury car.

• 

  Second Passat...Even Better! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By nedsogto - December 31 - 7:40 am

  We had an 04 Passat GLX 4-Motion that I loved except for poor gas mileage. We just got the Passat 2.0T w/ lux pkg 2, 17" wheels, Dynaudio and navigation. We just love the "riding on rails" stiffness of the new Passat! The added size pleased my family and me greatly. The navigation system plus compass makes my on the road job more enjoyable. Even with only 300 mi. on the odometer Im getting high 20s mpg vs. 20.4 for the 04 4-Motion. I really didnt need the AWD so Im happy to get the better gas mileage. This cars build quality (like on the 04) is superb! My friends who are "car guys" love it...and so do I!

• 

  T - Reg by Bob - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Bob - December 31 - 4:23 am

  I have owned my V8 Toureg for over a year (14,000 miles) and still enjoy the looks, features, and mechanical abilities of this car. It has been a good family car around town and for our vacations. Unfortunately, this is a luxury car without luxury service. The tire pressure system is too sensitive and will indicate a flat tire when the weather goes from hot to cold; you have to reset the memory of the tire pressure. My truck has had Issues with the airbag indicators as well (initial problem fixed by a recall) and had a defective battery replaced. There is a reserve battery to start the car by turning the key in the opposite direction (of course, no one could inform my wife of that when she called the service dept).

• 

  Got a FAST! - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By JR - December 30 - 7:26 pm

  I have only owned my GTI for three days now but I am really enjoying it. I was not a huge fan of VWs before my wife wanted to go look at them when we seen this car and drove it I had to have it. I first thought what am I doing dropping this much money on a 2-door hatchback but after driving it more and feeling the performance this little thing has it is worth it. If you are thinking of looking at one drive it before you look at the sticker price.