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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  200,000 Miles & a Head On Crash! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Florida Mike - March 19 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2000 TDI GLS Jetta a little more than 3 years ago. I use it for work and drive, on average, 275 miles/day. I had all the features you could get with the GLS - leather, sunroof, winter package, alloy wheels, etc. The other day I reached 200,000 miles. I never had any unexpected repairs and the car remained in excellent condition until the other day. Unfortunately, the same day I hit 200k a woman crossed the median on the highway and we collided in a 65 MPH crash. While the car was totaled, the cabin remained in tact as did all the glass - with the exception of a cracked windshield and I walked away with only a few minor bruises.

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  2nd Passat after 16 Years - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By Walter D. Medley III - March 19 - 4:06 am

  Traded a 2015 Mazda 6 for my 2015 Passat Sport Manual Transmission. Love the Passat. Just had the 10000 mile service after 90 Days of ownership. Trouble free . Great gas mileage. Large Fuel allows 500 miles between fill ups. Traded the Passat for a Tiguan at 45,000 after 10 months of trouble free driving. I was tired of driving the manual transmission.

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  With the wind in my hair... - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Kristabelle - March 15 - 1:43 pm

  Never thought Id have a VW, much less a convertible, but here I am. This car is so cute, fun and fun to drive. Ive had the top down non-stop and have had to figure out the best way to keep my hair fixed and out of my face! Gee, what a problem to have! Im 30 w/no kids and 2 dogs. Cant wait to buy doggles for the dogs to wear in the back seat...with the wind blowing in their hair...

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  A less expensive Cayenne - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By iaswell - March 14 - 10:00 am

  The Touareg rides like a dream, especially with the air suspension. Capable of going off-road, but built to comfortably navigate the concrete jungle of the real world. Adequate pick-up with smaller engine. Gas mileage is slightly better than advertised (still not great). The driving experience is fantastic! Fahrfenugen on and off road. The interior is extremely well designed. From the rear window shades to the driver and passenger visors - motoring concerns have been carefully examined and re-examined.

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  A Breath of Fresh Air - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Buglover - March 14 - 10:00 am

  Shortly after purchasing my bug, I made plans to drive from Chicago to California. A solo trip with diversions north and south of the direct route. I travelled through 13 states, through many twisting mountain passes and boiling deserts, and this car was atreat to drive! Tight turns on hairpin corners-she held at three times the recommended speed. National parks with a 360 degree view with the top down! Close enough to pet the buffalo at Custer State Park in SD. My bug handled the snow and off road terrain at Crazy Horse Monument. My 6CD changer and Monsoon sound system blasted and relieved other drivers from my questionable singing voice.

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  Go Beetle Go! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Rob Tarbell - March 14 - 10:00 am

  This car will fly! drives smooth, handles bumpy roads very well, excellent air conditioner- gets cool quickly and car still has excellent power while running air,heated seats are wonderful, excellent warranty, this is my 3rd beetle and each model year gets better,turbo is best model to have

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  Great Car...Engine noise when cold - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Stu - March 13 - 4:13 am

  Previously have driven the Passat since 2003. Lease every 2 years. First experience with the Jetta. When starting from cold, annoying engine noise until motor warms up. Usually only last for 15 seconds or so...but very noticeable. Dealer tells me the oil needs to get into the lifters b4 noise will go away. Havent found any recalls or so regarding this condition. Miss the 2.0 turbo. What a treat to drive that engine. Perfect fit for the VW line.

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  VW R32 - Just as advertised :-) - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Gianpaolo - March 12 - 10:30 pm

  From the first time I test drove this car out of the dealership I was impressed. Its true, it might not be as fast 0-60 as the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO or the Subaru WRS STi but this car was built to get to 155 MPH safely and fast! For a hardcore VW fanatic, this car beats hands down the competition due to the great refinements in the interior and the agility of the car. I have friends that have the EVO and STi, these cars need to be reved up really high to get the max torque whereas the R32 provides full torque at 3,200 rpm. The V6 engine can be easily upgraded with drop in supercharger / turbo charger kits making it a Porche / Evo / WRX / Ferrari killer.

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  My third diesel, 2012 Passat TDI SEL Premium. - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By rfb70 - March 12 - 3:45 pm

  My wife and I have driven it approx. 3,400 miles and have no rattles, squeeks or any other problems. We use it almost all open road and average 43 mpg. We drove from Pa. to Fl. and back, 2400 miles, got to try almost every gadget in the car. The Bluetooth was very easy to set up to our cell phone, also the seat memory settings and the remote key memory. The radio and nav. took quite a bit of reading up on, but operate very well after using them on the trip. I didnt baby the car, drove with the traffic, about 75 mph with the air on and still averaged 43 mpg.

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  Best car I ever bought - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tim - March 12 - 10:46 am

  Buying this car was one of the best decisions I ever made. Im extremely happy. Quiet, smooth, quick, reliable, safe. I can go on and on.