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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  The hottest car Ive ever owned! - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By Redlinez - January 11 - 10:23 am

  I just bought it on 5/17 and the only thing Im unhappy about is having to wait so long for lunch and to go home! I dont know what it takes for some of you to rate a car highly, but this is the best vehicle Ive owned out of 30. It has unbelievable handling, a superb interior, its full of features, and I got 26 mpg on the first tank. This car has that intangible "right" feel like no other. Its power is an absolute blast, its fun to embarrass other cars that cost quite a bit more. Its suspension tuning is spot on. It has safety features are everywhere. I felt drunk the first few days of ownership. I also considered the Civic Si sedan, but couldnt wait and 129 lb. ft. of torque wont cut it for me.

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  Great car for the value - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By NYattorney - January 8 - 4:40 pm

  I really wanted to reward myself with a hardtop convertible- just wasnt entirely sure which. Once I saw and test drove the Eos, I immediately fell in love. Its the perfect size, picks up fast (thanks to the turbo engine), is the only hardtop with a sunroof, and the style is sleek. The only complaint Ive had so far is since I bought it towards the end of winter, Ive noticed that when it drops below freezing, condensation builds up inside the car and freezes on the windows. The gas mileage is not GREAT, but i guess we should expect that from a turbo engine!

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  2007 Volkswagen Jetta - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mboggian - January 8 - 1:20 pm

  When I searched for my first new car, I had focused on Honda, as I have had good experiences with Hondas previously. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the VW Jetta. It is small on the outside and big on the inside, theres plenty of space for passengers and storage. Its a lot of fun to drive. The only drawback it has is it gets lower gas mileage than I would like. I can justify this by attributing the lower gas mileage to a heavy car body, which serves as an excellent safety feature.

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  Best VW Ever - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By GYGY - January 8 - 10:00 am

  The 2000 Passat is definitely the best VW ever built. I still love the car after 50,000 miles. Its reliability is above expectations, I only replaced the rear brake pads+rotors at 45k (500$). The car is ageing gracefully, I plan to keep it for at least another two years.

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  Love the Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Lenlori - January 8 - 10:00 am

  Researched and test drove all the other mid-sized SUVs. Touareg was by far the best deal. Much better fit, finish and interior design than BMW, Mercedes or Lexus. V-8 gets over 19mpg on the highway with a full load. Could be better, but not bad considering vehicles weight and power. Love being behind the wheel of this vehicle. Amount of features are unreal for the price. NAV coiud be better, but gets me where Im going. Fantastic ride and handling. Luxury car quiet. No problems at all with my vehicle. Dealer has been the best Ive ever dealt with. Everyone that sees my Touareg is amazed by the quality and ride and immediately want one!

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  Fun Bug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Ladycat600 - January 8 - 10:00 am

  There have been some problems with the window mechanisms, and a recall on the window bolts, but other than those inconveniences, this car is without a doubt a FUN car to own. It is very attractive, with many comments from passerbys on the attractiveness and admired changes in spaciousness, including an impressive sized trunk.I enjoy listening to the camaraderie of "bug lovers" memories shared with me while sitting at stop lights( with the top down.) It is a sharp, peppy, fun car to drive! If you want FUN at a reasonable price, the Turbo Bug Convertible is THE CHOICE!

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  2nd VW and 1st Passat - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By royalobtuse - January 8 - 7:50 am

  I picked this baby up on trade in of my 2002 Jetta GLS TDI. I would have gotten the TDI but they were out of the 04s. After getting over the mileage difference (about 10mpg or so) I am very happy with the change. There is a lot more room and with the leather interior and all the included options for only about $50 more a month it cant be beat. My insurance went down about $20 too! You owe it to yourself to test drive one of these!

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  R32 Greatest Car Ever - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By seattlefitz - January 7 - 8:20 pm

  You gotta drive this car! I went from a BMW X5 4.6 to an R32. The hatch is great and provides more useable room than a big SUV. THe car is super fast. The car is sticky on the roads. THe car is so fun to drive. THe exterior is beautiful. The interior is racing style. The only down side is the carpeting is that felt type crap. I compared it to the others. It looks way better than the comparisons. It preforms better unless your a cop and need the extra 10 or so HP. This is plenty fast enough to keep the cops busy.

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  Just Purchased a 2013 VW Passat SEL Premium - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By psujim85 - January 7 - 2:50 am

  It is all that is advertized. Everything works intuitively and is well laid out. The diesel is GREAT. Kicks butt in a start and I am getting 48 mpg on my second tank full. The seats are comfortable and adjust well. My only issue is that the break pedal is too close to the accelerator and my wide shoe picks up one or the other when I do not want to. I have to be careful to pick up my foot each time.

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  Not Tuned for the Musical Drivers - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Vic54 - January 5 - 5:16 pm

  Everything about the car is perfect as far as acceleration and performance. It has great handling ability in emergency situations such as quick, sharp lane changes at high speeds. It has only one problem and it is a very BIG problem for drivers like me. I am not a car buff and would drive any vehicle capable of going from point A to point B - as long as I can play my music. Sadly, the worst stereo system of all car manufacturers truely belongs to VW. It is designed to prevent blown out speakers, the volume lowers itself once the level passes the halfway mark. Any adjustments made temporarily raises volume for two seconds, then auto adjusts back to the same level. This is unacceptable when driving with the A/C on or on highways.