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 ever - 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Susan Dillon - May 4 - 8:42 am

  Great car, this car does require premium gas and is slightly more in repairs but well worth the money.

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  2009 VW Rabbit 2dr - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By 2009 Rabbit - May 3 - 6:23 pm

  Well built with more than expected standard features. Excellent performance and safety features. Interior of car feels like a much larger car. Average mileage has been 27 mpg in all around driving. Very quiet interior and smooth 6 spd tiptronic auto trans. I am extremely happy after 2 months with this gem.

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  NEW BEETLE TDI IS A GREAT VW! - 2013 Volkswagen Beetle
  By countrydan1 - May 3 - 2:55 am

  Our new Beetle is our 7th VW. The new Beetle TDI is a far cry from our 2003 model with 490,000 miles. It still gets 47mpg, the new one is not so good, but at 41-45 that ain"t bad. It rides like a much larger car, but is fun to drive and quick in both acceleration and twisty roads and traffic. My wife is very impressed, since she drives it to work because of the gas mileage. Our previous jetta topped out at about 25 mpg, but was also a great car. The Beetle TDI is an ideal short or long trip vehicle, well appointed and much roomier that we imagined. My wife has owned much more expensive cars like Mercedes and Audi, but the Beetle TDI is her favorite. Go Figure.

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  not a hot hatch its better - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By yager - May 2 - 10:00 am

  next week will be a year,have all options,black leather,black paint. 15,500 mi must have one of the first ones. love the car it can do every thing very good. understear is the cars only weakness in performance.I have a 2000 mazda miata a true sports car so the vw fells big and heavy.For every day use you cant beat its low end power and interior comfort and quality.

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  My Yellow TDi Bug - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Manu/nothias - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Lots of head turning, and a fast bug with 49 mpg. Could not have asked more. Have some interior youth defaults, fixed on the newer models. 83000 miles and still going like new. Love passing on the left lane, and seing the SUV stopping for gas. Love that Bug even if I did not really want one, was the only TDi on the lot.

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  Great Car! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TDILOVER - May 2 - 10:00 am

  This car has not been in the shop for anything except for the regular maintenance intervals. I bought the car because I drive about 50,000 miles per year and wanted the good gas mileage/longevity that a diesel provides.

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  loving it so far - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By JGinNC - May 2 - 10:00 am

  We have just passed 10,000 miles on our 2003 Passat and could not be happier with it. The interior is gorgeous and classy, the seats are very comfortable, and the Monsoon sound system is very clear. The exterior is quite handsome, and the car makes you feel like you are driving a luxury car in many ways. The car handles well and the V6 is strong and quiet. Our only issue has been 2 damaged tires, which seems odd for such a young car. Also, the service experience has been awful, puncuated by long waits for service, even oil changes. Overall though, we are very happy with our purchase.

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  I LOVE THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jetta Lover!!!! - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I love everything about this car, great teen car!!!

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  Very practical for parents and children - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Dads Taxi - May 2 - 1:36 am

  The GTI is amazing. gets better with age. Perfect for urban areas-- park it anywhere. Equally at home ripping down curvy country roads in the mountains or cruising on the highway. Equipped with winter wheels/tires/roof box it easily can take four skiing or riding. Cruising range over 400 miles-fill ups are infrequent. VW put the money where it counts in this new gti. The handling is crisp and predictable. Squirt through some traffic and take the exit a little faster or go for a Sunday drive and enjoy motoring with the windows down and sunroof open. Sound and options could be better. If you can only own one car this is it. buy it used and save some $. Fun and reliable. kids luv it.

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  Great Car, but High Maintenance - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By mateosquared - May 1 - 6:23 am

  This is our fourth Volkswagen, and each seem to get better design and performance, but at the same time higher maintenance. The car runs great, and is really nice to look at. Volkswagen really has the basics down. We have the 2.0T with the Sports Package which reminds me of the sorority girls I dated in college. They were fun to look at and knew how to have a good conversation, but the maintenance was crazy. Two hours to put on make-up, lots of shopping and were always a little too picky about what they ate. The VW is the same way... there is always something flashing or beeping, and it requires synthetic oil and the premium gas. Not worth the trouble for all the extras. Get the base model.