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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  My first Passat - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By jrichard - July 6 - 1:20 pm

  Only 2 months old, but love the car. Fun to drive. Looks great. No problems yet. the 1.8T with auto has plenty of power. Engine does make alittle noise when under load, but is quiet otherwise. No wind noise to speak of but there is some road noise. Overall love the car.

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  A beautiful beast of a car... - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By 9X - July 6 - 10:00 am

  This is pretty much one of the more amazing vehicles Ive driven. Its an attractively designed, well-modeled, performance oriented machine thats ridiculously fun to drive. To top it all off, its boosted. Granted, the turbo isnt huge, but it feels like a kick in the pants and pushes you down the road like you wouldnt believe. Theres not a rice- racer on the road that can take this car, stock. Too sweet. The only car that Ive driven that surpasses this is the Audi S4, but Im not sure the difference is worth another $20k. For a fun, safe, reliable, and above all boostable car, this is definitely worth a very long look.

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  Doesnt get any better - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Skny - July 6 - 10:00 am

  Absolutely incredible car. when the turbo kicks in I am in heaven!!! Little more leg room would be nice but no kids so no prob.

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  Thank God for the aftermarket - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JettaJ - July 6 - 10:00 am

  I put on alot of mileage on the car per year and I need it to be fun to drive/reliable. I am actually considering getting the new GLI because : - 2 front rotors changed - Front wheel bearing replaced - O2 sensor replaced - The Remote dies after a mounth - Rattles and noises - Speaker changed - The 2 year warranty (2001) By switching my 2001 for a newer version I would regain a full warranty, a new car with hopefully less problems... I still have time to think about it...

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  great minivan - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By JHudds - July 5 - 10:30 am

  I know there are people out there that poo poo the fact that the van is a Chrysler rebadge... Well I can say that this van is a great vehicle. Sure there are some lemons in every line of vehicle. But from what I have seen so far this VW is by far the best minivan out there. It has S P A C E everywhere. Drives like a dream, and is a great family uhaller. We love the styling that VW has done to the van and the suspension is great. It out handles my Pacifica, and WAY better then the Windstar we had before. We got a great deal on this and it qualified for the cash for clunkers! The MPG on the highway is decent, it falters a little in town though. BUt otherwise a great van!

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  vw convert - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By remingtone - July 5 - 4:53 am

  I have owned a lot of cars. I used to love rwd cars and trucks and hated fwd. I love my rabbit. The interior is way better than what my friends have. It looks great, especially with my optional 5 spoke Gray wheels which sets off the look of the car. The drivers door came off set and scratched the paint, warenty fixed that in 2 days. I dont understand the brakes, every car I have owned gets brake dust all over the front wheels but on this car it gets dust on the rear wheels. I was really hard on them a couple times to see what they are capable of and the rear brakes got so hot I could light a cigarette off it. I dont understand it but I havent had a problem with them yet.

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  Great Car! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Randy - July 4 - 7:43 pm

  I test drove numerous other compact to midsize sedans. The Jetta outperformed all but the Passat in my opinion. For the price and the added features, I chose the Jetta. The handling and performance are incredible. The only downside is a slower acceleration off the start. Once it gets going though, be sure to check the speedometer because it does not feel like you are going that fast. I also found the added room in the interior to be very accomadating. I am 66" and I am very comfortable in the car with lots of head and leg room. The added features are great a well. The trunk is huge, the stereo system is awesome.

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  Premium Jetta - FUN to Drive - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By eubor - July 4 - 1:13 am

  The car has been nothing but sensational, smooth, quiet, quick, powerful and very comfortable (even though firmer suspension). The interior quality is amazing, including soft touch materials, premium cloth and overall presentation. The car has a nice balance between fuel economy and sport. You really feel like your in a BMW, very tight. If you want a premium car, with near-luxury appointments - this is the car, believe me. I have had only two minor issues including a passenger-side seat heater stop working and a rear taillight bulb (brake light) went out. I love this car, love its beige and black interior combination that is unbelievable rich looking. Highly recommended.

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  Best VW yet - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By RSVW - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Awesome car. Summer tires arent good for winter driving though. Even if the tires are replaced with all season or winter ones, the car sits a little low to be driving in snow.

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  I love it! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By KDMR32 - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Ive only got 1,400 miles on the clock, but theyve all been fun! This car is thrilling to drive. Ive conqured all of the local twisty roads.