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:

• 

  W8 Underated Overachiever - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jim Powers - December 19 - 10:00 am

  This car is exactly what I was looking for. A quality sedan with the power to pass easily on the highway and the handling necessary for City streets. Going around corners is fun and exiting in rain or sunshine. The car holds its line and it is nearly impossible to loose control with the all wheel 4Motion drive.The manual mode of this transmission allows the user to drive the car like a stick shift without the hassle of a clutch. The leather interior is comfortable and luxurious and with the Monsoon Stereo blaring and the sunroof open driving beachside down A1A is a gas.

• 

  so darn cute!!! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By remark - December 19 - 10:00 am

  We had to have this car!!! It is our fun car, just tooling around the city, whether it be errands or a evening drive. We just absolutely love it. The turbo is a must have, since the pick up is amazing. We love the sound system and added the six disc cd changer (although it was ridiciously priced).

• 

  LOVE MY BUG!!!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By iam294evr - December 19 - 10:00 am

  This is the ultimate nostalgia car for anybody who fell in love with the original Bug model. My first car was a 68 VW bug and it just rusted out before a cross-country move I made. This remake of the VW Bug more than satisfies my desire to drive a Bug again. With all the cool, up-to-date features VW offers, it is second to none!! The diesel fuel option was a huge selling point for me as my former car was a conversion van. The contrast is stunning!! It is a very, very fun car to drive!

• 

  I Love My Bug!!! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By jmcmahan22 - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased a 2003 New Beetle a week ago, and I love it!!! It handles great, looks great & sooo fun to drive. The front seats have as much head and leg room as my husbands 4-dr dodge truck. It has so many options that make it a very "smart" little car. Like they say, "Dynamite comes in small packages", this car is DYNAMITE, it will run. A car with personality & attitude. VW put a lot in this car. I love my bug!!!

• 

  Comparable to Pre-2006 Passat - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rufustopheles - December 19 - 1:23 am

  I bought a 2006 Jetta Value Edition 5M to replace a 1999 Passat 1.8T. So far, I think the Jetta is comparable to Pre-2006 Passats based on size, handling, safety and mileage. The fit and finish differ between the two models but I have to say the Jettas interior is very nice. It has lots of storage space, no rattles, and no wind noise. I was concerned about the loss of Fahrvergnugen going from a Passat to a Jetta but Im happy with the 5-cyl. engine. It has roughly the same horsepower as the Passat -- and it handles great, classic VW ride. The Jetta is also quieter and more comfortable than I thought it would be (I just did a 3 hour road trip). The stereo is good quality too. I love the Value Edition! It is very nice, I have no regrets.

• 

  Fun, fun, fun - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Brenda Siewert - December 18 - 3:56 am

  I was looking for a great convertible that would be reliable transportation. This VW convertible never fails to turn heads and get a smile from everyone. We flew to Nashville, TN to pick it up and drove it back to Austin, TX. For 2 over 50 baby-boomers, it was a surprisingly smooth ride home. Very impressed with the power top and pep of the 2.0 liter automatic. Its a second car thats a fun weekend driver, but a very small area for luggage and other passengers. Worth the money. VW is a great automobile.

• 

  Diesel is the way to go - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By military - December 18 - 1:20 am

  5000 miles and this is the best car I have ever owned. I drive 100 miles round trip everyday. 41-43 mpg. Average speed 75mph. I cannot figure out why anyone would buy a hybrid. Clean diesel tech. is the way to go. GM, Ford, Dodge/Chrysler need to catch up. I would have bought American if they could match the quality and performance, but they cannot.

• 

  JETTA TDI is the best car i have ever owned. - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rp4042 - December 16 - 8:39 am

  I bought my jetta tdi on July 30 2013 and have loved it ever since. i have 27904 miles on it and have not had a single problem with it. i consistently get over 50mpg driving to work in the morning. the return trip home is stop and go about half the way and I average 40-42mpg.to obtain the best mpg try to keep rpm at 2000 rpm or less. when i have the car loaded with hundreds of lbs of gear and an additional person and driving 75-80 mph i still get between 45-47mpg. with the extra cost of diesel over gas i still saved $1500.00 over what it cost to run my old 2 liter gas trade in for 20,000 miles.

• 

  Very reliable, great mileage - 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rrocks - December 15 - 10:05 am

  After 10 months and 9500 miles, all is excellent...upper 40s on the hwy, 29-30 in horrible suburban driving conditions where I live (a lot of stop and start). Absolutely no problems. I think its a great, fun car for the money. A bit slow on the start, but it picks up speed quickly. Im sold on diesel. The only thing I dont like is the odometer display. My wife claims she doesnt care about cars but I can tell she loves it.

• 

  Terrific car - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Turbonium - December 14 - 9:00 pm

  This is a terrific car. Luxurious, perfectly designed interior with so many nice touches that it is hard to remember them all. Its luxurious, with soft leather, and lots of legroom, especially for rear passengers. The 2.0T engine is very refined for a 4- cylinder engine, very smooth, with lots of power, matched to a firm but comfortable suspension, coupled with very effective electromechanical steering. It has great brakes. Dont buy the car without the Dynaudio stereo. The navigation system is useful but costly. The car feels and drives like something special, not just a means of getting from point A to point B. I keep finding excuses to drive the car. "What, were out of milk? No problem! Ill get it!