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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  So Far So Good - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Si - September 6 - 8:43 am

  We bought one of the first New Jettas in 2005 after considering Toyota and Honda, but the interior of the Jetta was far superior. So far the only trouble weve had was a cooling fan that would not stop running and was replaced by the dealer under warranty. There was one surprise: the rear brake pads needed to be replaced at 18,000 miles while the front brake pads looked like new. Beware of the state troopers - the car really comes alive once you pass 80 mph!

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  Why Buy a Hybrid, When... - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By j - September 6 - 6:56 am

  VW has the answer already. Its the TDI diesel. Man, this engine is great. It is low on power in the specs, but it feels much better with the torque from the turbo diesel. Its fuel mileage is incredible. The EPA estimates are way off. I can get in the 50s on highway driving, and in city stop and go I am getting at 38-42 mpg on avg. tThis is the best car for the money out there hands down. Since BMW wont bring over their diesel version to the USA. Until then its VW.

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  Touareg is too heavy for V6 - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By fabiola - September 5 - 7:06 pm

  Im dissapointed with the V6 VW Touareg, it has no pickup with the V6 engine. This causes problems when trying to accelerate onto, say, the highway. The fuel economy is also quite poor but perhaps it is better on the V8 since youll be gunning the engine less to get the truck to respond.

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  Very Pleased Passat Owner - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Michael Farrell - September 5 - 4:10 pm

  I just completed a 600 mi. round trip to Crested Butte from Albuquerque in the new family wagon, including interstates, mountain passes, 2 lane roads, muddy dirt roads and even a few inches of snow. The 07 Passat Wagon was an all around pleasure for either driver or passenger. The ride is very comfortable, handling excellent with plenty of power (for me) on acceleration and the highways and hills. Excellent gas mileage as well; nearly 33 mpg highway. I opted for package #2, 17" wheels and Dynaudio. Wow -- the Dynaudio is well worth the $$$! After 6 months of ownership I have neglible complaints about the vehicle. A little higher sticker, but a fine step up from our 05 Passat Sedan.

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  The car to have! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By J. Salcedo - September 5 - 1:26 pm

  I have the SE level with the sunroof. There is no words to describe how fun to drive this car can be. The quality of materials is obvious along with the beauty of designs. Pick up is amazing and smooth and the suspension is the perfect combination between sport and sedan. Not only were the dealers at VW ready to deal, the financing was great. I get compliments on this car all the time, people stare at it on the road too. I am very happy I purchased a car that is not ubiquitous and that allows me the freedom to enjoy rides with the sunroof fully open.

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  Many problems too fast - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jettasnotrok - September 5 - 8:46 am

  Bought a new jetta it seemed to offer good fuel economy and it does. I drive from Michigan to Florida a lot so it seemed like a good car to drive on the e-way with its good fuel economy. Well a week later after returning from Florida the car had 3,000 miles on it and the starter broke. Dealer fixed it free. The tires dont hold air (maybe there is a hole) so I replaced the tire that I filled up every week. But the check tire light was still on. Took it to the dealer and it was broken. When I go to start the car in the morning it revs up to 7,000 rpm for no reason and the slowly will settle back down. After the fuel injector went bad I sold the car with 17,000.

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  Gotta love it! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dude - September 3 - 3:40 pm

  I was car shopping for 2 months and couldnt find anything. Until I test drove this car. I never before had an adrenaline rush driving a car. I told myself I would never buy a manual but I had to make an exception. It shifts so smoothly that it feels like an automatic. Its simply awesome. The interior feels like a BMW interior.

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  I like this car - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By mronyx1 - September 3 - 1:58 pm

  Having been a person who has never cared about such things as cars. point A to Point B dry, Im good. This car is a treat I did buy a 2012 with 8000 miles on it but have no break in worries and it sure is easy to drive. There is a little warming up to the gas peddle, over all this is a smart vehicle and for the price get a few options, youll be glad you did. Very pleased with the gas mileage.

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  What a Change from My 05 Cadillac STS! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Rick Williams - September 3 - 5:50 am

  Bought this car in PA and drove it home to SC. I took secondary roads all the way home to make sure it got broken in properly and I still got 43 MPG. I am very happy with the comfort, fit and finish, and fuel economy and I love the DSG. I can barely feel it shift. The car drives firmer than my old Caddy but in a good way. It just feels more solid and its certainly as comfortable. My only concern is long term reliability since Ive read about earlier generation Jettas having some significant quality issues. Only time will tell if VW has improved on the quality.

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  Great Buy!!! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lilly - September 3 - 3:06 am

  I Love this car.. I went from an Equinox to the Jetta... It gets great mileage.. has a lot of zip and is fun to drive. Also has a ton of trunk space!