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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  Great car - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By GregBlatty - May 30 - 10:00 am

  Great car very reliable and fun to drive

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  Near perfect VEEDUB! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Veedub Addict - May 30 - 10:00 am

  When I bought my Jetta I was surprised when I hound out it only had 115 hp! It wasnt really fast but did keep up with V6 Accords. This car is near perfect with a few exceptions: it needs more power, needs more legroom both front and back, and to restyle the seat back tilt(use something else than a wheel all the way back) I think its givin me carpal tunnel syndrome. Otherwise this vehicle is more fun to drive than my Passat.

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  1997 Volkswagen Jetta GT 2.0L - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sampman - May 30 - 2:00 am

  The Jetta GT is an excellent car! I have never experienced any of the problems with the alarm or sunroof, and I use them a lot, especially since warm weather has come. As for performance, I dont see why people complain, if you run it out right, it will take anything. This is the perfect car for someone who is looking to be different, but also wants to customize it. I have already put on exhaust, K & N air filters, nice 18 Rims and tires, Eibach pro-kit 1.5". Personally I have had no problems other than comfort on long road trips, but this car isnt for grandma, is it?

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  MY LITTLE GTI - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By alan young - May 30 - 2:00 am

  GREAT CAR I HAVE OWENED 6 NEW VW AND THIS ONE IS THE BEST OF ALL GREAT POWER AND GREAT GAS MILEAGE 32MPG.@85MPH TO WORK I YOU WANT A SMALL POCKET ROCKET THIS IS THE ONE TO GET.

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  Very happy - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By aj - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Weve bought a VW Jetta 1.8 T stick shaft over a year back and are extremely satisfied with the performance. Its a lot of fun...!

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  Very happy - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jane - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Weve bought a VW Jetta 1.8 T stick shaft over a year back and are extremely satisfied with the performance. Its a lot of fun...!

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  Great Little Car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jen - May 29 - 11:23 pm

  This has been the funnest car I have ever owned. I would highly recommend it. I have had very few problems and tons of compliments!

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  Never a Regret - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Missouri Lady - May 29 - 8:33 pm

  I drive 86 miles round trip to my job. I get an average of 48 miles per gallon on diesel. I was driving a 4 wheel drive, half ton truck which only got 14 miles per gallon. I live in St. Louis and the temperatures can be very cold. My Jetta is very reliable and fun to drive. I love it! I will buy another Jetta TDI. Thanks Volkswagen.

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  Fun Fun Fun - 2009 Volkswagen GTI
  By Bob T - May 29 - 7:16 am

  Wanted a sports car wife, wanted 4 door SUV. Great compromise, handles like a sports car, fun to drive, gives us 4 doors and a little room in the back to carry stuff. Very responsive. Fun to drive good solid feeling and safety features. I recommend to anyone. Great price for a lot of fun and safety.

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  Airbag and lighting - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By drew86 - May 28 - 5:58 pm

  I have to say that I overall that my jetta is a decent vehicle, but I have had some annoying issues with the electrical system. First off while it was still under warranty the airbag sensor came on. The dealer told me that a broken spring between the airbag and steering wheel was the issue was the reason that the airbag light came on. Well, a year later after the warranty had expired the airbag light came on again... a $500 fix... Now, prior to this headache, I did cause a minor rearend accident which caused the plastic grill inserts to come loose, but it was not serious enough to cause the airbag to deploy. Second, the headlights and tailights burnout randomly..