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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  I love this car - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By J man - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This is my first car, and its better than any other car i was looking for. its fast and stops very quickly. handeling is very responsive.

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  Have enjoyed every minute! - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By fpl1972 - March 7 - 1:51 pm

  Weve just put over 10K on our 2011 diesel wagon and it has been awesome! We routinely average 40+ on the highway and even through mountains with the car loaded with 2 adults a dog and all the accompanying crap! The seats are extremely comfortable and all the controls are easily accessible and fuctional. The only grib I have is that the car gets door dings and scratches SO easily! Ive had cars in the past that have been hit with a shopping cart and nothing...maybe a tiny scratch. This car, you have a dent AND a scratch. Just be careful...thats all Im sayin! Will see how it handles in the mountain snow next weekend and we are heading to Mt. Bachelor in Oregon!

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  Love it! - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Beth A - March 7 - 8:06 am

  I was really nervous plunking down $22,000 cash for this car, but so far Im thrilled with it. Its so comfortable -- tons of room inside. The engine has lots of power and its getting more than 40MPG. I debated between a hybrid and this, and Im so glad I got this -- its so much more fun to drive compared to the relatively blah hybrids. The back seat is really, really tight -- not a problem for me since I have no kids, but if you need to use the back seat for anything more than storing stuff, you probably shoudl think twice. But I really have no complaints at all.

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  Awesome Car - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Brian - March 6 - 6:53 pm

  This is the best Passat yet. The quality put into this car even rivals Honda. Im a VW fan for life.

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  VW - WOWed me! - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By car mania - March 5 - 5:30 am

  I am leasing Passats since 2000. The newest one is simply superb! So much faster and smoother than 2004 model. I was very pleased to find that so many things were added to even the least expensive Turbo!

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  Love This Car - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Stoked! - March 5 - 2:00 am

  This car is beautiful, understated, stylish and comfortable. The interior style and quality are remarkable, from the leather wrapped steering wheel to the red and blue lighted instrumentation. The perception of elegance and quality is high throughout. Its a baby German sports sedan with everything I want, and I paid $17,000 for it! That was a steal. Amazing value. In summary, a refined piece of automotive art. Finally, note the spread between the reviewers ratings # and the consumers ratings # above. People who buy this car love it.

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  good piece of advice.... - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jettaowner - March 5 - 2:00 am

  I had this car for little over a month, 1900miles. Great car....but, I am ready to replace it for regular gasoline. The dealership found already traces of regular gasoline in my fuel system, even I only fueled only 3 times with diesel. You will have hard time finding a good gas station that doesnt mix the cheaper regular gasoline into the more expensive diesel fuel. Be aware, this becomes your problem, warranty doesnt cover this fraud. Replacing fuel system could cost you $6,000.

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  Awesome car - 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Hugo Barragàn - March 4 - 12:18 pm

  I love this car. It drives great and its fuel efficient.

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  2007 Wolfburg 42K miles - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By swkohnle - March 4 - 8:10 am

  I have driven my 2007 Jetta with 5 sp manual for 42K miles without any issues. It gets serviced at my VW dealer only at the required intervals. I follow the dealer service recommendations. I love this car. I have it detailed every 4 months. I drive between NY and Pittsburgh every 4 to 6 weeks and love the comfort and reliability this car has provided me. This is my 3rd VW having had a 2000 Passat, and a 2003 Jetta TDI. Both I drove over 200K miles.

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  Nice Solid Compact Car - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bob - March 3 - 1:00 am

  This car drives and handles well. Its fun to drive and is nicely appointed, but its the most expensive Jetta package, costs over $25,000. Trading in a 01 V6 fully loaded Passat, I didnt want to give up any extras. The new styling is great, and the upgraded 17" wheels make the car stand out. I did not test drive the car on the interstate before buying...big mistake. The road noise is very noticable, much louder than what Im used to. I keep turning up the radio to compensate. If I had it to do over, I probably would have looked more at a midsize car and checked for a quieter ride. If youre looking for a small car and can get past the road noise, its a nice car.