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:

• 

  Fun Fun Fun - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By HoosierRealtor - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 2004 VW Beetle Convertible in Sept. 2003. I had a sunflower yellow Beetle prior to it for 4 years.

• 

  Love my BHAPPY car! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By PattiP - July 21 - 2:00 am

  My second New Beetle. This 2003 Aquarius color convert has none of the electical quirks of my first 98. Ive had it now for 9 months and have been nothing but happy with it...in New England weather. Added weight of the top makes it even more stable for slippery driving. Love that top down!

• 

  drove it, bought it, love it. - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By poppy doing - July 21 - 2:00 am

  im 48, retired, and this is the least expensive car ive ever purchased since getting out of school. i still have and love my v-8 landcruiser, but i drive the beetle as much as possible --- more fun for the buck than any vehicle! i thought it might just be the 6-speed that was so much fun, so i considered trading for a 350z or an rx8 --- drove both ---no way! beetle is more comfortable, roomy, smooth, and makes me feel smart for saving so much money. its clearly not the best performer you can buy, but unless you have a need to race everyone on the road, its satisfying. this is a great car and an unbelievable value.

• 

  They aint like they use to be! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Waterford - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Interior upholstry impossible to clean. Interior door handles peel - very poor quality of rubber coating. They dont make them like they use to.

• 

  Customer VW 1998 tdi beetle - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By John F McCourt 3rd - July 21 - 2:00 am

  The car has been one of the better vehicles that Ive owned and operated and have put on a lot of mileage. The fuel efficiency is very good and the beetle has been very reliable.

• 

  Love the bug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Neus - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Initially had some problems with the top. The problem has since been fixed and works perfectly now. A little bit of trouble at first in getting the boot on without a lot of elbow grease and sweat. Now its easy. Theres not a lot of storage space in the car since I used up the arm rest with the CD player but the trade off for the wonderful sound system is worth it. The back seat is great for groceries but forget passengers for anything more than a short ride. Riders sit low at a 90 degree angle with not a lot of leg room. I bought the wind screen so that uses up the back seat anyway but its a worthwhile purchase.

• 

  Punch Buggy, MellowYellow - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By NancyB - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I love my VW! It is stylish, fun, comfortable and cute. It has enough room for two adults and two small kids, as long as luggage is not a priority but it isnt a car for a long trip for other than two. The back seat is too upright but there is plenty of room in the front. The fit and finish is excellent and the top is tight and dry. Overall, it is the most fun car I have even owned.

• 

  UltraPhun - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By oedipus - July 21 - 1:30 am

  This car is all about fun. Itll stick a grin on your face as soon as you turn the key and listen to the 3.2L VR6 engine come to life. Forget the GTIs of recent years. This thing means business and VW didnt disappoint. Gone are days of throwing on a GTI badge only to lift the hood and find a underpowered 2.0-liter inline-4 or having to resort to the utilitarian Golf, which, to give it credit, is not billed as a roller coaster ride. The German engineers got together and figured out how to revive the GTI/Golf name, and they called it R32. This car rocks. It handles with aplomb and the engines high-torque output connects anywhere on the powerband. What a thrill!

• 

  minor changes - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By peter - July 20 - 11:10 pm

  Great car, only issues, car is not level, higher in rear. Driver seat feels like you are tilted forward (falling forward), not sitting level. Also front windshield is smaller than previous Jettas and window pillars are obstructing drivers view, saftey issues. Car has great mileage.

• 

  Awful CAR - Value Wasted! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By TX3Ni - July 20 - 8:56 pm

  I owned a 2000 Passat and absolutely hated it! The warranty only covered 24,000 miles, and the engine sludged. The service at the dealership was lousy. My wife decide she wanted a new car which is why Im here again. VW Passat still has the same awful mess created in 2000, just a slicker version. Its reliability was terrible. I lost a lot of time taking it to dealer and getting a run around delay from VW USA. It looks nice but if you want a reliable CAR dont try a VW.