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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  Fun. downside: window/lock switches. - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By jjd - April 25 - 10:00 am

  The only crticism of this fun-to-drive car is the window and lock switches were of poor quality. The difficulty in changing headlamps is a myth (even the owners manual tells owners to take it to the dealership--I got a $53 estimate to change it). I found a procedure on the inernet and changed the passenger side headlamp quickly and for $7--the cost of the bulb.

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  So far darn good - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Thomas T - April 25 - 10:00 am

  I bought my car in July this year and I have nothing but praise for it. It looks cool,handles beautifully,has all those wonderful extras that you dont expect in the so called "entry level" model and then theres the German workmanship that you just cannot fault. A class act as far as Im concerned.

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  Solid Car, Fun to Drive - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VW DRIVER - April 25 - 9:56 am

  Paid less than the TMV price on Edmunds.com. The car is *solid*, puts a grin on your face on corners and turns. No problems with anything so far. Quiet, sturdy, quality all around you. The built-in premium CD player sounds great. I just splurged on model-specific rubber floor mats from VWs Driver gear web site as well as the cup holder insert for the center arm-rest. Now I have nothing to complain about regarding that mis-placed cup holder above the CD player.

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  215K plus miles - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By mtcranium - April 24 - 9:43 pm

  Over 215k miles. I bought the car with 20K miles. Replaced two sets of spark plug wire/ignition coils (70K & 150K), clutch (170K), replaced various cooling connectors (180K), front brake rotors (180K), control arm bushings (210k). Now needs a water pump and thermostat. There are several interior items worn out. The cd changer has an electronic tick when hot. The center arm rest/console hinge broke, along with the stick shift console housing/ash tray wrap-around. Vanity mirror light is dead. Cigarette lighter is dead.

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  Put it in Sport mode and fly! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By SBC - April 24 - 10:06 am

  Initially, I was drawn to the Rabbit coupes styling, but its performance has been whats impressed me most since leasing it. In Drive mode, its gutsy, in a small car kind of way, but in Sport mode, its a different car! Ive had cars with Sport modes before and have noticed little difference. When I put the Rabbit in Sport mode, its performance is similar to the Honda S2000 I used to drive, with better low end torque than the S2000. I have kept up with Porsches off the line in Sport mode, granted they could roast the Rabbit over the long haul, but the point was to see if the Rabbit was a gamer. It is up for any challenge. Good, and powerful, things come in small packages!

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  Passat Baby - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Damian - April 23 - 7:10 pm

  I fell in love with the car immediately when I saw it. Then I took it for a test drive and knew I must have it. The car drives like a dream. Its big safe and sturdy. The key is my favorite part.

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  Love it! - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By rufus - April 23 - 10:00 am

  Having driven a mini cooper S for the past five years, I was dreading the thought of driving something even as big as a crossover. However, the Tiguan feels almost as sporty as my mini. The handling is terrific! In my comparison shopping, I didnt find anything else in the crossover segment that compares to the interior quality and zippy nature of the Tiguan. Get it.

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  Passat: An Enthusiasts (Family) Car - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Doug - April 23 - 1:36 am

  Great car to drive. Very comfortable and powerful on the highway. V6 is the way to go. The leather seats are the most comfortable Ive ever had. Handling is better than several sports cars Ive had. Monsoon sound system is a real blast -- best Ive owned. Not too much bad things to say about this car.

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  I love this car - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By fxgolf - April 22 - 9:34 pm

  I have owned and driven almost everything that moves. I am a car guy I love them all. My last VW was a 2004 1.8t GTI and i loved that one alot but this new Golf TDi is an absolute blast to drive, throw it into a corner and it just sticks very well for a stock car. the power of the lil Diesel is very nice pulls super hard in 1st and 2nd, nice even power throughout the entire shifting pattern. the looks of the MKVI are really agressive and i love my Tornado Red Golfs color a real classic VW color used for many years now. If you love having fun behind the wheel this is a great car to play in.

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  fun to drive - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By Reggie - April 22 - 4:10 am

  This is my first VW I have ever owned and I couldnt be more happy with it. The plaid seats look very cool in person but in picture I thought they looked pretty ugly. Horrible gas mileage when using the paddle shifters as all you want to do is drive like a maniac :). I average 24 mpg when I keep it in drive. The sunglasses holder up near the sunroof controls kept popping open during the summer if I had glasses in it. After a while I couldnt keep it closed even if I took the glasses out. Finally after weeks of twisting things in different directions it stays up. Back seats are roomy according to my coworkers but you have to pull up the front seats for there legs.