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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  quick feet - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By vdubber - June 2 - 6:03 pm

  I could not be more pleased with the bang for buck total. Its quick, fast, quiet, comfortable and stable fit and finish are way above price point. For me there is no comparable car in this class also not many on road that is dominated by Asian vehicles.

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  Gr8 SUV - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By LovinTig - June 2 - 9:43 am

  My 09 SEL has only been home 2 days. I must say going from the Touareg to the Tiquan was a step down for me. But the cost of gas plus the 1800 brake job on the Touareg made up my mind quick. I think dealers should disclose the high cost of maintenance. You can rest assured I checked out the cost to replace brakes on the Tig! I love all the features! Opted not to have the nav sys. Rather use my phone nav. Have everything else. With the limited supply and end-of-year incentives (they were gr8), had to settle for the blue-pretty though. The only down side I experienced was the negotiation at the dealer! I HATE that part of purchasing a car! Otherwise, I am happy so far! Happy Drivin VW Folk!

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  2002 VW Passat GLX Wagon!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By trissa - June 1 - 6:36 pm

  Loved the new simple but classy style of the wagon. Moved up from a 99 Jetta GLS after becoming a loyal VW driver.

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  What a fun vehicle to drive! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ChrisCichocki - June 1 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is practically unbeatable - assuming you have the V8 and air suspension option. The ride is smooth and unbelievably quiet, and the V8 gives you TONS of power to accelerate. And its a 6 speed automatic so all the power is easily reachable when you hit the pedal. I test drove the Toyota Highlander, Nissan Murano, Buick Rendezvous, Lexus RX300, BMW X5, Mercedes M500, Volvo XC90 T6, Porsche Cayenne S, Range Rover, Cadilac SRX, Acura MDX and Infinty FX45 (as well as a bunch of 30- 50K sedans) and I love the Touareg the most.

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  Great - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By msbeeatch - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Very fun to drive, sporty yet refined and stylish!!!

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  I like it. - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Passat - June 1 - 2:00 am

  I love it. It is better than a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.

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  just drive this car! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By vrandal - June 1 - 2:00 am

  I love my Passat. It is absolutely luxurious, quiet, and extremely powerful. I find myself speeding sometimes because the ride is as quiet and smooth at 90mph as it is at 45. The base stereo sounds great and the seat comfort is excellent even on long trips. Driving 5 large adults,I didnt notice any loss of power.The black velour interior is really comfortable, but does attract lint that is hard to remove. My only major complaint is the fuel economy. I have yet to exceed 28 mpg on a freeway roadtrip, and only average 19-20mpg in the city/local hwy. This is less than advertised, and doesnt compare to my Corolla. And the Passat only takes Premium gas.

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  one awsome german car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By robert98765 - May 30 - 10:00 am

  This car is one of the best car Ive ever bought. It is roomy, handles great feels luxurious and turns heads everywhere. The only thing I would change is that I would buy the V6 instead of the 1.8T 4 cyl(its a little noisy under 2k rpms, but believe me, very little noise compared to other cars).I would definitely buy again!!!

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  Schweet W8! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By multi-valve - May 30 - 10:00 am

  The Passat W8 is an excelent buy compared to the 540i and the E430 4matic (which simlarly equipped cost $15,000 to $20,000 more). Although the car is very similar to the GLS, keep in mind that even the GLS is a very good buy as far as fit and finish, general quality, and features go. The W8s fuel economy isnt that bad either, in fact, its very similar to the original VR6s fuel economy...not too shabby, an 8 with the fuel economy of a 6.

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  Love My Jetta - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mtnlover - May 30 - 10:00 am

  This has been the best car I have ever owned! All I do is the basic maintenance on it. Ive had this car for over three years and will have it for many more. I see that a lot of people are complaining about the new model. Maybe VW should not have changed a good thing!