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 Car, and an Absolute BLAST! - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By Chris O. - November 26 - 3:36 pm

  Being a lifelong Manhattanite, getting a car is really a luxury. I was really close to buying a MINI Cooper S, but after much research I went with the Volkswagen GTI. Im a musician, so I needed a little extra room for cargo. With the GTI comapred to the Cooper I get better top-speed, equal acceleration, better performance, almost-as-good MPG, and 25 cubic feet more cargo space, for thousands less! I cant say enough about how much fun it is to drive. The 05s dont have the slick style that the 06s will, but I like this boxy little guy. It looks so unassuming and frumpy. But then you step on the gas, and it says, "See ya!" Fun, fun, fun.

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  get ready.. - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By timme791 - November 26 - 2:43 pm

  I am 18 and work on cars as a hobby so I do know what Im talking about. To start off I have done many mods to this car. Watch out for European parts vs American... Very different supports. And parts can come pricy. My car... At about 105k miles had an intake valve come loose. It cost me 2400 bucks... More than I bought the car for. After I fixed that, my maf went bad (cost 500) and a week later... Engine light back on. Stick with jdm than this. The handling is fun, but needs a lot more power and the gas isnt as great as most everyone claims it to be. Stock averages like 20 mpg and I get 22 with my intake. Just... Prepare for problems basically. I love this car but it can frustrate me!

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  grinding brakes - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By lufferman - November 26 - 1:11 pm

  At 40k the rear brakes are shot. The care has always braked well. Front brakes are still good. Only clue was grinding metal to metal. The inside brake pad (the one actuated by the calipers piston) is totally worn down. The outside pad is still very good. Its either poorly designed or the servo actuated emergency brake might be the cause. We have never noticed any brake drag.

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  pocket rocket on steroids - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By GTI_TCK - November 26 - 2:00 am

  the best gti ever!

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  A real keeper - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By TimTim - November 26 - 2:00 am

  This car runs like a top. Its affordable, fun to drive and has earned my trust. The cup holders are cheap and flimsy, but I can live with that. The features-to-cost ratio is much better than anything in its class. I LOVE THIS CAR!

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  Love my GLS - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By Dave in Bay Area - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Researched different cars on Edmunds, glad I did! I even got it at the TMV price with Monsoon system, sunroof, Alloys, and winter package. Seat warmers are nice even in California! I am very happy with the design, "feels" better than other cars I test drove. Plenty of power... if I wanted more I would have gotten the turbo, but that might mean more maintenance$. Nice to have all the airbags also.

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  Luxury, performance & affordable- - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By jmontoro - November 26 - 2:00 am

  1 great suv.Blows x5 away.Ride is adj w/ air susp option & there are noticeable diff btwn the 3 settings.Quieter than X5,virtually no wind noise.Steering is solid & responsive.Accel w/ the 310hp V8 will snap head back. 6 spd auto for normal driving/5 spd sport for spirited.Shift points are smooth.Safety features:side/curtain airbags,adj height seat blts,smart windows that go back down if you stick your hand in.On board air comp to inflate the spare or a raft,.Stnd features are great

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  Buyers BEWARE! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Anders - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Reliability of this car STINKS!Mine completely broke down after 2 weeks ownership.A friend had complete electrical failure after 1 month.They do not have the quality testing measures and facilities to make this car reliable! VW customer service is HORRENDOUS.The car has been stuck at an LA dealership for 2 weeks now!Not 1 customer service representative has contacted me after I have made 10 calls.Calls to headquarters, the dealership, etc have all been ignored.Trust me, pay a little more for a BMW 4.4. This car is not proven and will be plagued with unreliability and poor customer service- 2 traits you dont want together!

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  This is a VW? - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By rangerfan - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Very handsome sedan.Takes the bumps a little hard(would gladly give up some handling for that).Nice dashboard with all those red and blue lights.Looks like the cockpit of a jet.Just passed 8000 miles with no problems.Also,very nice power.I wish I could let this car out somewhere.Did go to 95 once and it felt solid.Love all those GLX goodies.

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  Noisy Sunroof - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mary Ann F - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Have had nothing but headaches with the sunroof. When it is very cold or there is a strong sun on it for an hour or so, the sunroof rattles so much you cant even hear the radio. They have tried to fix it five times and it still makes a racket.