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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  More solid and spacious then it looks like - 2013 Volkswagen Golf
  By yli2 - February 17 - 6:24 pm

  Now I know why Golf is so popular in Europe after driving a while. The car is not fast; engine not quiet and the looking not sharp. Overall it has nice build quality, comfortable ride, and good handling. Very solid in and out. Many upgrades and detailed features not mentioned in specs. We had plenty of time researching before final decision. Extensively compared with Toyota Camry and RAV4, and compared within VW models. Passat feels so heavy, GTI is too dear for a collage kids; base Tiguan model looks plain and higher model is expensive. TDI does not have many benefits in America since diesel is expensive. Prefered waiting for the next generation Golf, but wife insisted buying.

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  Love my first brand new Volkswagen GTI - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By turboveedub - February 17 - 1:33 pm

  Since I was young, my dad always has driven a Volkswagen. As I got older his passion turned into my passion for VWs, espicially the golf. Ive owned a 1987 4 door golf, a 1985 Jetta, a 2000 gti vr6, and now the new 2006 gti. I cant express how satisfied I am with my new car. I traded in my 2000 vr6 for the 2.0t and had doubts, not anymore. The car is absolutely everything I wanted , from the fit and finish to the performance, it is awesome. VW has come a long way and finally did it right once again.

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  The 2006 is so much better that the 2004 - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Keith - February 16 - 5:00 pm

  I am so glad that we went to VW again for our new Jetta. I can hardly get the keys away from my wife. We had a 2004 GL, but we needed more room. We got that and more! It handles the Alaskan winter roads better than any 4X4 SUV I have even driven. ESP is a great feature! What, there is ice on the roads? I am looking forward to long road trips this summer.

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  Cutest car on market - 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By Paty Robertson - February 16 - 2:00 am

  Best car I have ever owned

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  Dedicated Passat Fan - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Barry Ryan - February 15 - 9:46 pm

  This is my third one. I had a 2002 wagon in which I survived a broadside collision. The car was totalled but I escaped without a scratch. VW has an ad which depicts exactly what happened to me; at an intersection the other car ran a red light and I hit them broadside. I saw my life flash before my eyes! I replaced that one with a 2006 sedan. Just today we picked up a new 2008 wagon for my wife. For me, the Passat is the perfect car. The quality, performance and aesthetics are unsurpassed. In my opinion the Passat beats out far more expensive Euro competitors and puts Honda and Toyota to shame. I know I sound like I work for VW but I dont; I just love the product.

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  Great Vehichle - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Sandeep - February 15 - 7:26 pm

  THis is our 2nd touareg. The 1st one was a buyback because of electrical problems that were never ending. However, we still loved the car and agreed to take a replacement Touareg. The 05 Touareg has met all our expectations is probaly the nicest SUV we saw while we were looking to make our purchase. We compared it to the BMX X5 and X3, Lexus, etc. However kept coming back to it. Even after our initial lemon Touareg, this is still our favourite vehicle and am glad we stuck with it. The 05 has been problem free since we have had it.

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  Happy with this car - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Linda Johnson - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car after having 4 SUVs in a row. At first hesitant about owning a car, but very glad I bought it. The handling is great, I feel very safe in it and styling is classy. I have had it for 6 months and have not had any problems at all. You get a lot for your money with the Passat and I would purchase one again.

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  A Real pleasure to Drive. - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mikael - February 14 - 1:56 am

  I really like driving this car. Its styling and performance are just what I was looking for and the price was right too. Ive had the car for four months now and have had no problems at all. I only regret not ponying up for the sunroof/upgraded sound package.

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  Perfect Econo Car - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TDIman - February 13 - 9:16 am

  Although a Jetta might cost a little more going in, with a TDI powerplant, it can last far longer than other low- price, mid-milage cars. I dont know who said 43mpg for the TDI, but Ive gotten over 55mpg. With gas prices going up, who could say no? This is my third diesel VW, and I wont drive a gasoline car again. Performance, awesome pickup, tight brakes, and lots of room to personalize with aftermarket gizmos.

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  4-Motion is KING in snow! - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Steven - February 13 - 8:53 am

  I bought my VW CC with slight hesitation as I originally did not want the VR6 4-motion. What I originally wanted was a VR6 Sport with black or silver exterior w/ navigation. The vehicle that fit my description was not available at my local dealer but they did have a VR6 4-Motion in Iron Gray ext w/navi (64mi on the ODM) with huge discount on the price as they were already getting in MY10s. So I took it. It took me a while to get used to the ext color but I instantly fell in love with the car when winter came with heavy snow. The 4-motion makes driving in Michigan snow weather so easy when I compare it to my previous MY2000 BMW 323i. No slips or ESC/TCS lights blinking...just WONDERFUL!