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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  My Jettta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By LadyDior72 - December 2 - 10:00 am

  My jetta is a fun drive! The most reliable car I have ever had! Its cute, I love the blue interior lights, and I can even take it off-roading!

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  Go Euro - Forget the Asian cars!! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Justin413 - December 2 - 10:00 am

  AWESOME car..not a single complaint..colors available are really sharp, extremely detailed..LOVE IT!

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  Best in Class - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VW FAN - December 2 - 10:00 am

  One gets all the bang for the buck more than any other sporty sedan $25,000 and under. Just about everything is standard (ABS,traction control,AC,security system,power doors,locks,windows and trunk) Options selected:turbo,tiptronic transmission,ESP,heated leather seats. Turbo 1.8 mated with tiptronic is a blast to drive. Paint and interior are flawless. VW has outdone itself with this model!!!

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  fun to drive - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By michael gunter - December 2 - 10:00 am

  it is a pleasure to drive and it is great on gas

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  Jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ricardo Z - December 2 - 10:00 am

  Best value for the money today. Passat is also a great value

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  AWESOME - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bogdana - December 2 - 10:00 am

  Im a lifelong VW owner. The wolfsburg edition 2003 1.8l turbo 4 door reflex silver is my latest. i LOVE it!!!

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  My Jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Nicoles Jetta - December 2 - 10:00 am

  I love my Jetta! It is so fun to drive and so comfortable! I always feel safe in it and its an overall wonderful car! I recommend jettas to everyone!

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  Love my Tourareg Executive! - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By vwbmwmbguy60 - December 1 - 9:04 pm

  This is my 2nd Tourareg, my first was a 2007. I bought the overloaded Executive V6 White/Cornsilk. I love all the enhancements they have made since 07. The build quality is exceptional and I have actually used most of the gadgets it comes with. It has a nice sporty look, 20" tires and it gives you great confidence while you drive, I feel safe and sound and in great comfort at all times. It feels like a completely different vehicle from my 07, much more refined and diginified. I just came out of a 2012 BMW X5 Diesel which I loved (this is my 60th car). I also have a 13 MB C63 Coupe and 13- BMW Z4 2.8 and I find myself driving this car as my daily driver. Huge bang for the buck! $$

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  Love My Jetta! - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Daniel - December 1 - 2:46 pm

  I love my Jetta. My 1.8T is re-chipped so it puts out about 230 HP which makes it really fun to drive. Even with my chip, my gas has been as high as 32 MPG. How about some comments about the low-end torque in this car? Come on! Name another 4-cyl car where you dont have to rev the engine past 3,000 rpm to get awesome power. The Triptronic transmission is great and is a blast to drive. It could use a bigger brain as all it wants to do it shift too early or late and seems fooled a bit too often for me. The trunk is huge. the heated seats are quite possibly the best invention ever. To top it all off, the car looks great. I bought mine used private party 2 years old with 25,000 miles and still got 2 years and 25,000 miles of warranty! Awesome!

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  Great Car... - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Rype - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Been waiting for a car to replace my long lost Corrado SLC. This has just the right look, feel, and overwhelming power I was looking for.