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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  Best Car Ive Ever Owned - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By mattia76 - June 13 - 4:56 pm

  It was love at first drive for the Rabbit and me. Love that it was one of the first ones off the boat. Love that it was made in Germany. Love the way it looks. Ive been agonizing for months now at the prospect of selling it since we have a baby on the way. Test drove a lot of used cars that would have cheaper payments, and nothing even comes close. But weve decided to sell the wifes Versa instead. Woo-hoo! Ill drive this thing till I die or until I can trade it in for a diesel version.

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  IS THIS FUN OR WHAT? - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tmeier - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Had my new TDI for about 3 weeks now & I love it. One of my neighbors told me what a beautiful new car I had, which isnt something often said about VW. It looks and drives like a car twice the price and the gas mileage cant be beat. My only problem with it is keeping it under 80mph it is so effortless on the highway and has so much zip around town too. What a car!!

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  VW Phaeton - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By viorel pana - June 13 - 2:13 am

  The Volkswagen Phaeton is a very well balanced car. Its transmission and engine are perfect math!

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  An excellent choice for AWD - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By jd749 - June 12 - 3:13 pm

  We purchased this car used after a good experience with a 2003 Turbo Jetta. Refined and quiet are good descriptors of this one. It is a bit heavy. The AWD is good; just make sure you have good tires. I wouldve liked the W8, but I dont mind the proven VR6, even if it is a bit sluggish. It has plenty of torque to haul 5 adults and pull a jetski. The interior is quiet, and looks like-new after five years. Heated seats are the best in the industry! Great styling too! You can get 27mpg+ if you dont drive like a maniac on the highway - even at 65mph!

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  Evo 8 to Jetta GLI - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TucsonDesertRat - June 11 - 8:43 am

  Well, you may think Im crazy going from high-performance to economical but, this car still holds to the same fun as the EVO 8 w/o the speed or the cops always looking your way. I choose the GLI because of it great features it offers the features of a BMW 3 Series without the sticker price and you get all the extras that the EVO didnt have! GREAT gas mileage! The in-dash display that almost tells you everything about your cars status is pretty cool too! Ill miss the HP and torque of my EVO but, not the highschool kids always trying to race me! ;-) Good job VW!!

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  Super Value - 2013 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By mnjim55 - June 11 - 2:58 am

  We have about 4,000 miles on our 2013 Jetta Diesel Sportwagen. Excellent car. Fantastic value for the money. The front seats are comfortable and supportive. Adjustment is quick and easy. This car can carry alot of stuff or people with ease. Mileage has stayed around 45mpg. With a cargo box on top I still managed over 42mpg. The audio, bluetooth, CD, IPhone, memory card system is great! Sound quality on our standard system is pretty good. So far we are very happy.

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  My Best Car Yet... - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Connie - June 11 - 1:16 am

  I rarely make it more than four years without getting the itch to replace a vehicle for some reason, but I still love getting in this car every day. I bought it used in 02 with 34,000 miles and aside from oil changes, brakes, and tires. The only work Ive had to do was replace the belly pan under the engine. Im meticulous about changing the oil and my mechanic has changed to synthetic oil, probably due to the "oil sludge" problem. It is basically an Audi A4. It is a great looking vehicle loaded with extras, very economical, and reliable at 115,000 miles. It is still a quick car that is FUN to drive. I get compliments on it all the time.

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  Converted from the Honda Odyssey - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By mspmn - June 9 - 9:36 pm

  Ive been an Odyssey driver for the last 5 years. When my lease was about to end I though I would lease yet another. But after checking out the Routan, I made the change. Sure its a redesigned Chrysler, but you literally have to see and drive it to believe it. Dollar for Dollar, you get SO much more with this vehicle. Toss in the 0% financing and the $1000 conquest rebate (for converting from a Honda) and the other cash-back programs and its a smarter use of your dollar.

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  awesome car - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By vw4life - June 9 - 4:10 pm

  Ive had this car for a couple of years now and it has 270,000 miles on it and have had no problems I mean I have had to replace some belts but this car is great! I love VWs and as long as you do regular maintenance on them they keep going. This car is proof. It has been up and down the east coast with no hesitation! Its comfortable, roomy , and drives great. It still can get up and go if you need it to! I would recommend this car to anyone!

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  Fuel tank defect? - 2008 Volkswagen R32
  By Robert - June 9 - 2:33 am

  I have had my 2008 R32 since December 07. In February of 08 the car stalled on me at a red light, and the check engine light came on. I had to put the car in PARK to start it again. Several times after, the car hesitated on acceleration. I told my dealer about this problem and made an appointment. The car stalled on them 3 times on testing. It ended up being the fuel canister (it was soaked), and was replaced. I was given a rental car. I am now experiencing the same problem, and will be taking the car back to the dealer this week (4/18/08), for what I suspect is the same problem. Has anyone else had this problem w/ their 2008 R32? Could this be a design flaw?