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:

• 

  decent quality and great mileage - 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By boatbum - March 2 - 12:23 pm

  Frankly I am a bit stumped by some of the other reviews. This little car is pretty sound and easy to maintain. Granted, if you try to take it to a shop that is now VW savvy, you might end up with a major headache. I recently replaced the waterpump - got quotes from $475 with timing belt replacement to $1400 for just the waterpump. Same with the brakes - Midas quoted $1200 but I got them done at a small local German imports shop for $250. Do your maintenance and the car is fine. It is fun to drive, fits me easily (I am 65) and it gets great gas mileage. I have owned alot of convertibles and this one is very practical and dependable if you maintain it.

• 

  sweet engine, need upgrade suspension - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By seb - March 1 - 2:00 am

  All I can say is that my wife thinks the ride is excellent, but Im already planning on doing a suspension upgrade. Engine is excellent. Plenty of power for this little car and it sure loves to go. The engine by far out does the handling, but that can be fixed easily, although for for between $1-2K.

• 

  Best SUV - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Polsky - March 1 - 2:00 am

  5500mi.and no complaints.Comfortable smooth ride. Great in snow.Plenty power for a V6.Fuel consumption as expected from a car that weight. Worth the money. Well recommended.

• 

  J-J-JETTA! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By yacky - March 1 - 2:00 am

  This car is sporty and fun to drive. The car sold itself, and I have had no complaints. For such a small looking car there is tons of room in the trunk and backseat. Stock stereo sounds nice too. Interior controls are functional and easily understood.

• 

  A Wagon for the Banana Republic Crowd - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ChadPT - March 1 - 2:00 am

  Our was quite a step up from the college car (Honda Civic) and worht the wait. It has all the necessary bells and whistles, and I would highly recommend the GLX model, because youll want the extra features. The backseat has ample leg room for passengers, and the stereo is very nice! A great entrance to luxury cars that is less than other luxury makers.

• 

  Just got my Jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By piggy - March 1 - 2:00 am

  This car is really sporty and fun to drive. Lots of room in the trunk. Great sounding stereo. The car sold itself and I have had no complaints. Comfortable, functional, fun.

• 

  German tank safety with GTI performance - 2010 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Val - February 28 - 1:20 pm

  I was an Audi Q7 3.6 FSI owner. Even Audi was very elegant, the mileage was bad, averaging 16 mpg overall. I always wanted to buy the Touareg in first place, but only the TDI version, for its superior torque, fun to drive and stellar gas mileage. I bought the vehicle with almost all the possible options, air suspension, xenon, navigation, rear view camera, etc. The car is very safe and fun to drive, excellent acceleration and passing power for such heavy vehicle.

• 

  I love my car - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By erw - February 28 - 12:16 pm

  This is the funnest car to drive for the money. It is the best on the freeway. Girls love this car, I get compliments all the time. I had one problem with a rattle but the dealership fixed it. I love how I can drive it way fast and aggressive or slow and easy and get great gas mpg around 34-38 mpg if I drive good.

• 

  My Herbie - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By psperl - February 28 - 8:23 am

  I turned in a 2002 Lexus LS 430 sedan for my Beatle. I wanted to make life simpler for myself upon retiring from professional life. The Lexus was a great auto,but I didnt need it anymore and dont miss it, as my Bug is such fun to drive.

• 

  Best Wagon on the Market - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By JolietJay - February 28 - 7:20 am

  We owned a 2006 Passat Sedan - great car, never had a single issue; fun to drive, good gas mileage, loaded with good features - an Audi at 60% the price. We needed more utility, so we decided to purchase a Passat Wagon. This car is great. Loads of space, fold flat rear seats, automatic real lift gate, heated seats, sunroof....great audio system. What can I say, the same great ride and handling, good performance of the sedan...with a ton of utility space. The kicker...we are averaging 28.6 mpg over the last 5k miles. This wagon is getting better gas mileage that our 2006 Sedan....same engine, same transmission....maybe were just driving it better, or maybe its just a great wagon.