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 - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By jmg - May 21 - 7:53 pm

  A year and 7,500 miles after buying the car, it has been to the shop once -- for the scheduled oil change and service. Couldnt ask for more from a family wagon. It handles the streets of Manhattan just as nicely as the interstate. And lots of room for all our stuff.

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  Get yourself a Wolfsburg - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ndmike88 - May 21 - 7:33 pm

  Have only had our Jetta Wolfsburg 2 weeks and so far it has been a blast to drive. Interior and exterior quality are the best I have ever seen in a new vehicle. (And I have been driving over 40 years. First VW). Several people at work asked me when I bought a BMW. When I tell them its a VW Jetta they cant believe it. Great car for a nice price.

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  Cant stop staring at it - 2011 Volkswagen CC
  By jspeith - May 21 - 3:57 pm

  We recently bought a used 2009 CC VR6. Our main goal was to find a sedan that had comfortable seats, good fuel economy, and excellent reliability. I also wanted to find a car that was not so common that it would be on every street corner. We got that and more! The design team for this car deserves an honor equivalent to the nobel peace prize - I cant stop staring at it. The exterior of the car has lines Ive never seen before even on cars five times the price. The interior is laid out so simply it is genius. Coming from a RX330 it was an adjustment dipping down to get in but once inside the room is more than adequate even with only four seats and it is a blast to drive!

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  Drivers Wanted - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By SyouV - May 21 - 10:00 am

  All VWs are cars for Drivers. Touareg is no exception. One needs a Driving skill and focus to appreciate this car. The V8 is so powerful that a gentle but precise push on gas in needed to roll it from stop (the so- called "hesitation" problem). The ride is so quiet that air is heard flowing off vents. And one needs to buckle up before switching the ignition and fix tire pressure between weather seasons. These pretty much cover for the "lemon" issues. Then just Drive! This Car is amazing to Drive!

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  1 week in - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jack - May 21 - 12:56 am

  1 week into owning this car and I couldnt be happier. Im shocked at the power this car has. My last car was a GTI VR6, granted it had over 120k but this TDI has just as much pick up. I have full confidence powering into traffic from a stop. This is a simple, elegant and very well designed car that inherits many technical, structural and visual cues from Audi.

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  Great car with minor glitches - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By ecm64 - May 19 - 10:06 pm

  Purchased my Passat a little over a year ago with 77k. Thought this would be a good time to review what I think of this car so far. First off, this is a great driving car. By far the most enjoyable car I have owned as far as handling, engine performance, and road manners. VW has really nailed it with the steering on this car; very precise and accurate with good road feel. Also, the 4cyl engine in this car is very smooth with lots of power on tap. No turbo lag whatsoever. As for the minor glitches; main LCD dash display is starting to fade in/out and both power window switches on the drivers door that control the back windows only work intermittently. Typical German car wiring issues.

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  A car that is worth owning! - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By Chase - May 18 - 1:26 pm

  I owned an Audi TT 225 Q and I loved the car. However, after having owned a new GTI 2.0T, just like the Audi A3, I dont know why anyone would put forth the money for the Audi. The Audi, by comparison is cramped and expensive. When I purchased the TT, I didnt spring for the DSG transmission, but after having it in the VW, I never want another car without it. It shifts much faster than any manual I have ever owned. I loved the TT, but the new GTI is much more fun to drive and has a much lighter feel due to the electromechanical steering. This is an A3 for much less. It is definetely worth investigating. I agree with another reviewer here on this site, the stereo is cheap and not very good.

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  I love this car! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By jayo - May 15 - 10:00 am

  Every aspect of this vehicle exceeded my expectations!

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  More than expected for the money - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By floridasutherner - May 15 - 10:00 am

  With all of the options that come with the Suv, I couldnt compare the price with all that I have on the Tourage verses with the BMW, Lexus & Volvo. Very Roomy in the front and backseat. Wish that it had a 3rd row option and better gas mileage, A in dash disk player would be nice as well! The interior and the drive of this SUV feels as if you had paid for a top dollar SUV and in fact, I didnt! Very eye catchy and I get alot of compliments!

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  there nothin like a V8 - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mark B. - May 15 - 10:00 am

  Fun, fun, fun to drive!!; awesone steering and acceleration (especially merging unto a highway) and love the raspy engine sound. The interior is first class (I have owned many BMWs, Mercedes, Accuras + other high end car, and the quality in the W8 is second to none). This car is a looker and gets notice.