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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  A Keeper - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By BSL - February 28 - 2:20 am

  Has been reliable, quiet, comfortable, and fun to drive. I dont ask for more than that. My wife has the 1.8 four cylinder. The six is smoother on acceleration. Both cruise on the highway with great ease. Interior controls took some getting used too, but they feel quite comfortable now. Would like a little better visibility when backing up. The small features for the price are an added bonus. Ive enjoyed it on long trips especially. Set the cruise conrol (or youll be well over the speed limit without knowing it) and just enjoy the comfort of a car that takes the effort out of driving.

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  Takes Your Breath Away! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By red - February 27 - 3:16 pm

  I just purchased my Eos this weekend after thinking about it for several months. What a waste of time! I absolutely love this car. The Eos is well designed and rides like a sports car. Its suspension is better than the one of my previous BMW 330CI with the M-suspension. The Eos 6-speed automatic transmission is outstanding and the shifters on the steering wheel are great...speeding tickets here I come. This car has is no rattling and no quality issues whatsoever. Open or close the top and you will be the talk of the town. It even has a sunroof in the convertible top - thats just the icing on the cake! Volkswagen really did some benchmarking and incorporated the best of its competitors features. Did I mention I love the car?

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  One year and 20k mile Tiguan SE Review - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By miless - February 27 - 6:15 am

  Bought my 2012 Tiguan SE late in 2012 as a leftover with 0% financing. I now have driven it for one year and just over 20,000 miles and still love it. I traded in a Jetta TDI because I wanted to go back to AWD. I am averaging about 25 mpg on the Tiguan, with the majority on highways. Better than I expected. Can get 30 mpg on highway if you work at it. Very comfortable seats and smooth ride. Handles well for a small SUV but dont expect golf-like handling. Has decent power, once the turbo gets going. The transmission does shift a lot as others have said. Brakes are great. Love the sound system including Sirius and iPod. Very few issues and free VW service for 36k

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  Very Happy So Far - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By desrocb - February 26 - 10:00 am

  Good looking very nice ride -- good value

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  Jetta TDI Wagon - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tdinut - February 26 - 10:00 am

  I love this vehicle.

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  NB 1.8T automatic - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By smokeonit - February 26 - 10:00 am

  very satisfied, auto tranny perfect, even w/ only 4 gears, the new tranny has 6 gears....

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  Love that Jetta! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Gene - February 26 - 9:40 am

  As a new owner, I have found that it is too close to the high beam switch. This is my second Jetta. I had the old style and when I traded it there was 199,000 miles in it. I love the new style and performance with the independent rear suspension and 10 extra horse power. The new style is really beautiful. I wouldnt buy anything else. I was told I would average 41 mpg highway and I am averaging 47 on the highway. As always, VW has under promised and over delivered. This is an OUTSTANDING vehicle.

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  Fun to drive but Thirsty - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mikey - February 26 - 3:26 am

  The car is really fast and handles really well. The only "negative" thing I got to say is that its too thirsty (and its Premium also). I get about 450km per full tank driving normal, and 350 km per tank driving fast, but I still LOVE it!!!

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  You can have it all! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Randy - February 24 - 10:43 pm

  I traded a 2003 Jetta TDI for this and it is everything the 2003--that I liked--was times 4. Mine has only the gorilla mats option and I cant think of anything else I would have wanted. The quality is much better than the 2003 (fit, finish, etc). The electronics are superb. Road sound is almost non-existent. The engine is just fantastic. Great power and quiet. I get 36 MPG on the low side and 46+ on the highway. I average around 39-40 and NOTHING is flat where I live, all up and down hills. In a flat region of the country, I have no doubt 50+ MPG would be easy.

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  Great Car, If You Can Get Over the Name - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By MB - February 24 - 9:13 pm

  We love the the Tiguan we purchased last May, so we have another on order for my wife (White Gold with the tan leather. Gorgeous!) We spent months driving other cars in the small sports ute category (RAV 4, CR-V, the new 09 Forester XT, we found the category to be pretty bland. Fortunately, I drove a Tiguan when I was on a business trip in Europe, and wow! It had me after the first 2 miles of drive time. The interior has been thoughtfully put through finishing school. Elegant design, well-placed instrument clusters. The inside actually has more front/rear leg room and head room than our mid- sized Jeep Grand Cherokee. Plenty of pep, and were averaging 28.5 mpg!