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 - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By psfriend - October 9 - 10:00 am

  This car has been the best that I have owned....very clever design features, loads of headroom (I am 64" tall) and good handling...excellent reliability. I would recommend this make/model for folks who want a fun and relatively inexpensive mode of transportation.

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  Great Compromise - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DriverTDI - October 9 - 10:00 am

  MY Jetta TDI is a great great automobile. I average 47mpg with combination driving (75 city/25 hwy), it doesnt take off like a 3.5 Altima..but then again an Altima (no matter what engine) cant get 50mpg...ever. It can, however, get out into traffic with no problems...was pleasantly surprised at its ability to go from a stop. It is loads more comfortable than the Corolla I traded in on it, which is important when travelling more than 2 hours at a time. The has great build quality, and is surprisingly quiet on the road too.

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  Much more spacious than I thought - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By LoveBeetle - October 9 - 10:00 am

  Beetle is one of kind. You do not need to mention VW Beetle. It looks so distinguish that it never losses in LA traffic. We all know that, but the most impressive thing is the interior space which is much spacious than I judged from its cute exterior. The fronts have the most head room, the back seats actually fit two teens with comfort. It is a fun car to drive, practical daily car and low cost to own too. How many car can offer all these?

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  A Car With Personality - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Pinkmartini - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I picked it over the BMW and Mercedes CLK convertible. It says, "Im fun and Im happy" whereas the other convertible say, "Im a snob." VW is one of the only convertible that doesnt strive to something its not. Its not trying to be a luxury car. This car has so much more personality. Being a former BMW driver, I surprised myself when I picked the VW (fully loaded). I live in California, so I have the top down all the time. I cant even begin to tell you the number of people that give me compliments on it...while I am driving my car. My whole family loves it and sometimes I find my car missing because someone else borrowed it.

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  Fantastic car - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By scontca - October 9 - 6:40 am

  I absolutely love my Passat. I have owned about a dozen VWs and this is by far the best yet. The car is very quick, smooth, quiet and luxurious. I have had no problems and I am sure the car will hold up well over the next few years.

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  Unreliable yet built like a tank - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By weatherman07 - October 8 - 10:26 pm

  This is my second Passat wagon - Im trying to sell it. I have no idea why I decided to subject myself to another used VW after my experience with the first one. Dont get me wrong - new/nearly new (3-4 years old) VWs are great cars; theyre reliable, luxurious..etc. But after they hit the 5 year mark, they go to hell. I heard a saying once that a check engine light is a beacon to let you know youre driving a VW, and that certainly rings true. Its always on and always very expensive to fix. The car does feel very solid and is good in the snow. The engine is slow to accelerate and gets mediocre gas mileage.

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  I get excited everytime i turn it on. - 2005 Volkswagen GTI
  By jrx45x - October 8 - 2:21 pm

  This car is my love. I dont like how these cars look stock though. there kinda boxy and awkward. So i lowered mine and its the most amazing thing ever i get so many looks. At first i got it with 60k miles and it needed alot of maintenance like timing belt and ignition coils. Timing belt was $1000 at dealer so i took somewhere else for $500. Beware, the dealer is expensive. I either fix stuff myself or take somewhere else. It is a reliable car if you treat it good. If you always rag on the car itll rag on your wallet. Its fast too, i wont ever sell mine, in fact when the engine goes i will swap another 1.8t into it i love it that much. Hope you like yours just as much as i do.

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  New GTI - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Kmills - October 7 - 10:00 am

  Significantly more powerful than Honda/Acura VTech products dontt have to redline(5500 in Integra) to get max hp. But will not corner like one either. Generally great fun to drive. Interior with leather is sweet and the monsoon is good for a stock system. The seatbelt often gets stuck on the seat release which is seriously irritating. I had problems with the power windows at under 5000 miles. Apparently they used plastic clips in there causing world wide problems. They will only fix when broken as not enough replacement parts yet for recall.

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  VW Bug - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Francois - October 7 - 10:00 am

  Great fun car, easy to drive and feeling of sportyness and safty

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  Buyer Beware! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gmb - October 7 - 10:00 am

  I was thrilled when I purchased my VW - my 1st NEW car. It didnt last. In the past 2+ years, I have fixed the sunroof, replaced the front tires at 30K due to improper alignment, replaced the rear rotors, the max air flow sensor AND a myriad of other smaller repairs. My side mirror casing cracked 3 mos after buying the car - right on the seam in the plastic -but the dealer refused to cover it under the warranty. I finally traded it in for a Honda, b/c Im so tired of dropping $500+ everytime I take my VW in for service. The car also runs VERY LOUD, especially on the highway. Yes, it is fun to drive. But if you want reliability, buy something else.