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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  Review of 2003 Passat 4 cyl SW - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ole - February 10 - 2:00 am

  Great car. Only problem: dealer refuses to provide any information on basic maintenance [oil changes, bulb changes, etc.] I guess they want to force customers to take the Passat to overpriced service at the dealership.

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  Mid-life Crisis Resolved - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By CelticGreyhound - February 10 - 2:00 am

  Fell in love with this car immediately just on looks, but was completely sold when I test drove it. The 2.0 engine gives fine performance and really does have plenty of zip for the highway. The top operates easily and Im just waiting for full blast spring to really have fun. A great price for a nifty baby boomer dream car. Even room in the back seat for a big dog (always use pet seat belts).

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  FunBunny2Love - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By BunnyLover - February 9 - 8:00 am

  I have owned a LOT of cars in my day and this is most definitely at the top of my list. Solid(a very comfortable tank), stable, superb handling with 16-inch tires, 6-speed auto shifts effortlessly and almost imperceptibly, great acceleration, and a genuinely fun driving experience. Fuel economy is in keeping with what the vehicle offers in the way of horsepower and performance. I drive mostly highway and get about 30 mpg with a spirited driving style. As to my ratings, I would be hesitant to give anything a 10, which would mean it was perfect.

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  Jetta Wagon TDI - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By crackers - February 9 - 5:50 am

  Back seat is a little tight otherwise I love my Jetta. Great gas mileage with the TDI

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  Love My GTI - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By bljahnke - February 5 - 11:23 pm

  Great Car! Owned 2000 Golf, 2002 Jetta GLI, 2006 Jetta GLI and now the 2008 GTI and it is the best yet. I went with the 4 door model because i got a kid and it just makes it easier. Love the leather package and the stereo. Oil changes on these cars are expensive so I opted for the dealer package that covers this. Hope I dont have problems with the air conditioner compressor and condenser that has plagued newer vws.

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  fun in the sun - 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By Bob Patteet - February 5 - 10:00 am

  This car is fun - and - my wife loves to drive it because it is small and handy in tight spaces. The electric roof is a plus and everything is well designed and works perfect, we even like the German styling which is not too ascetic in the golf GLS. Mileage is good now that gas prices are climbing and since Volkswagen stopped the production of these cars we are going to drive with a collectible car soon...

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  Die Hard VW lovers will love a Jetta GLX - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rsp781s - February 5 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. It has all the power of higher end luxury cars along with all the room you would expect from a midsize SUV. The trunk is HUGE. The engine is powerful, the drivetrain responsive, and the stock BOSE stereo is pretty amazing as well. It does require a little bit of car know how to keep in tip top shape however. The power window regulators in this car are also not designed well. They will go out. Guaranteed. If you like VWs, you will like this car. Mine has 85k plus miles on it and drives awesome.

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  Great! - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By DragonLee - February 5 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this car....wonderful build quality! Very fun to drive and great gas mileage. Cant beat the ride and feel of German made automobiles!

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  Buy this car!!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By VR6shooter - February 5 - 10:00 am

  One has to really appreciate this car. Unbeatable build quality especially for the money. Perfect amounts of power (any more and you would need VWs 4-motion. Way to go VW!!!

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  Fun and Safe to Drive - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Dan Miranda - February 5 - 10:00 am

  Safety features are reassuring, the gas milage is great and the 4cyl turbo has all the kick you need.