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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  Wolfsburg Edition = Great Value - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Happy in onnecticut - February 12 - 10:23 am

  For the price of a loaded Civic, purchased a loaded Wolfsburg with a far more sophisticated and powerful drivetrain (engine & transmission). The turbo 4cyl and DSG six speed transmission are the same used in the Audi A3, TT, and A4, as well as the VW GTI and GLI.

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  Great Compromise - Performance and Comfort - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Bob D - February 12 - 5:30 am

  Wonderful car (wagon)! Comfortable and fun to drive with real performance when you want it. As a wagon the space is there if you need it and rear passengers have always been comfortable. Why VW stopped making this car is a question Ill never be able to answer.

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  Best of Choices - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By meatloaf - February 11 - 11:46 pm

  I went to the dealership for a 25k miles revision on my Mazda 6, the same day i test driven the GTI, it was an instant decision. I had the GTI for the past 3 weeks and is totally awesome, great driving experience and a great reason to get up in the morning and drive to work. I also have not used my HD Sporter since.

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  Touareg Rocks! - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By BuilderDude - February 11 - 9:33 pm

  Ive had my 2006 Touareg V6 for a little over a week and I is a great SUV. I test drove every high end sedan and SUV and the Touareg beats them hands down. The quality, ride and comfort cant be beat. Ive also not seen another Touareg on the street since delivery and I love that. Ive owned VWs back in the early 80s and I had forgotten how well they are engineered. Dont by a Mercedes, buy a Touareg.

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  Superior Compact Car - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Scott - February 11 - 4:03 am

  2 days after purchasing the NEW Jetta 1.9L TDI, I took it on a road trip from Denver to Phoenix (14 hour drive through the Rockies over several passes). The TDI Jetta handled curving mountain roads and inclines seamlessly. I am very impressed with the New Jetta. I had Passat envy just after purchasing the Jetta as I thought it might be a tad too small. However, after this road trip (1700 miles) Im glad I purchased this pleasure drive vehicle (package 2 features) and excellent 42+ mpg. These diesels have tremendous torque handling Wolf Creek Pass as if it were a flat land drive with the ability to accelerate at any given time. The New Jetta TDI is an excellent choice for consumers.

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  Have never looked back - 2009 Volkswagen GTI
  By Matt - February 10 - 7:56 pm

  This is my 5th VW in my years. I grew up on them. Ive wanted a GTI like mine for many years. Black on black. I wanted a car that would be fun and give me good gas mileage at the same time, and this thing does it all. I live in an area with awesome curvy roads and I truly enjoy driving it. I average 28 mpg in everyday driving. You cant go wrong with it as a family car as well.

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  7+ wonderful years - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jim - February 10 - 4:51 am

  VW Service is outstanding. Only issue is the wheels have corrosion from the winter salt.

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  Excellent buy - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Heather P - February 10 - 2:00 am

  I cant stess enough how anyone looking for a nice sedan in the 30-32000 price range should definitely take this car for a test drive. I was pretty heart set on the Lexus IS but after driving the two in the same day, on a scale of 1-10 I gave the IS a 5 and the Passat a 9.5. Very impressive value. The extras go on and on where other vehicles in this same range offer 1/2. Im very happy with the whole experience from buying to owning.

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  2000 1.8L Turbo - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By nicksrick - February 10 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is very stable on the road, it has quite a power range in many gears, so that I can frequently skip gears if I am up to speed. I owned several VW Beatles years ago, and this car looks reminiscant to the early modles but handles like a Porsche. The acceleration is a joy as it moves one right into position in tight traffic.

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  2002 Turbo S - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By John Parrish - February 10 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely fun to drive. Has been therapy for a hard working professional that enjoys performance in a vehicle and some fuel economy to boot.