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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  TDI - Yeah Baby - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Danny - September 18 - 3:13 am

  Dude - What an awesome car. I used to drive a 95 Jeep Cherokee. Quite a step up. 43 miles to the gallon! Smooth and quiet ride. This our first VW but we cant wait until we get our next one. You sit in the drivers seat and you think, "Man, Im drving a pretty posh car!"

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  Nothing hidden, "It is what it is..." - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cmc370 - September 17 - 8:01 pm

  I purchased a manual SE w/ conv package a few months ago and have driven about 80 miles a day since, mostly highway and I have been satisfied by the MPG, transmission (wish it had a sixth gear, but the fifth and forth gears are rather tall) and features. If you expect high grade interior material, then you should understand that this car is a compromise, high value, high feature, something had to give, and that was the "plastic" nature of this car. I call it my plastic car (even the seats are plastic) but appreciate the good ride, decent acceleration and good transmission. The car is surprisingly fun to drive, but compliant as a highway cruiser.

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  Nice comuter vehicle - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By scanman11 - September 17 - 9:16 am

  After quite a bit of research-usuall Hondas, Toyotas, Chevrolet, Ford etc we (My wife) decided that the Vdub was for her- I think it was the lightly covered leatherette, the bluetooth and the touchscreen radio (Interfaced well with iphoneSatelite radio etc) It is a comfortable car for her 45min commute-actually more comfortable than my 2009 BMW 335i- very good MPG, she is getting about 32 mpg in mixed traffic conditions, this after about 1800 miles. My only gripe is that after 1750 miles the injecters went and left her stranded. Yes, the dealership fixed the problem- but she had to fight for a "Loaner" or "rental" for the day and a half that it was off the road.

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  love my golf - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Haley - September 17 - 3:43 am

  This was my first brand new car and I could not be happier. Its extremely fun to drive, gives a very solid ride, and has a million little things about it that I just love, like the entertainment from watching people try to open the hatch. Plus, the back seats are very spacious and easy to get into, even though it is a 2-door. And I love getting 30 mpg on average.

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  4th VW, wont buy another one - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By ericnjodie - September 16 - 10:18 am

  ive owned 3 Jettas and have always liked VW. that is until i traded in my 2008 Jetta for an 07 EOS. ive had the car only a year and have had 3 different services for leaks and window switches, etc. now that it is cold outside, the water is now freezing in the inside of the windows because of the water leaks. it seems no matter how many times i get the "windows adjusted" it keeps leaking. im taking it back and will not be buying another VW unless the dealership takes care of me. thank god i bought the extended warranty when i got the car. i would recommend anyone brave enough to buy one of these to get the extended warranty.

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  A Wagon Even a Teenager Likes - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By dlayne - September 16 - 7:06 am

  Our son out-grew our A4 Avant and we needed a larger non-SUV replacement. We looked at the A6 Avant, BMW 535 and Volvo wagons. Since we had to have an all-wheel drive and wanted a wagon, it left only a few choices. While not as posh as the Audi or BMW the VW is a steal based on price and standard equipment on the VR6 4-Motion model. If a badge for the neighbors to see isnt a priority this is the best valued german wagon out there and it is a blast to drive compared to its Japanese counter parts. The back seat leg room is great - even comfortable for adults. Cargo space is cavernous. This car handles incrdibly well in the snow and ice even with the stock 18" all season tires.

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  I LOVED this car, just too small... - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Nicolle - September 16 - 5:06 am

  I absolutely adored this car. She was gun-metal grey and I named her Judy, after Judy Jettson. Also lovingly called her the bubble-mobile because EVERYTHING inside is round or rounded. Super fun to drive, very reliable, very comfortable. But it did some weird stuff, as do all my vehicles. The overheat light kept coming on, even when Id first start it up. Then it would go off. Then come back on. Eventually I was driving on the highway and it severely overheated, melted the head gasket and there was anti-freeze in the oil. Ridiculous. I had thought the light was malfunctioning, not the cooling system. Only complaint about it is that any time something went wrong, it was EXPENSIVE to fix!

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  35mpg highway - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By 30vpassat - September 16 - 4:10 am

  Bought a 1999 30v manual Passat and it is getting 34mpg+ on crosstown trip. Leather heated seats, heated mirrors, lots of power and still 35mpg at 75mph. Searched hard to find a better deal and am very satisfied. Paid $5150 for one that had $4000 spent on it, glove box had many tales. Water-pump, all timing-belt components, ABS computer, marker lights, oil-stuff. Love it for what it is!!!

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  MY New 08 Jetta - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Carolinep - September 16 - 4:03 am

  This is my second Jetta and I absolutely LOVE it. I originally had an 04 Jetta and the improvements since then are amazing. What a stylish car it has turned into! I love driving it and its got a lot more oomph since with the 2.5 upgrade. definitely a great car worth looking into.

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  W12 Phaeton - VWs Masterpiece - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Michael Moore - September 15 - 6:06 pm

  My 2004 Phaeton W12 is my 8th Volkswagen. I am very happy with this car, it is quiet, powerful and very well designed. Elegant, but understated - stealth wealth.