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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  2000 beetle - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By jmass - July 6 - 10:43 pm

  Aesthetically fun car and very fun to drive. Durable exterior. Some pieces of interior are not very well-made, cup holder not well-engineered, sensors on dash not always reliable. Recent vehicle emission recall was issued.

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  Best all-around car....period... - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By BigBob - July 6 - 5:23 pm

  After owning SUVs, sports cars, economy cars, this is THE best all-around car that combines features of each of the above-listed automobiles. Fuel economy is excellent when compared to the performance. Sure you can get 40 mgg in a prius but the drive is boring, Ill take the 31-34 mpg in a fun-to-drive GTI any day. Ive owned the car for 2.5 years and have had absolutely no problems with it, besides a small rattle in the rear drivers-side door panel that the dealership was able to fix at no charge. I usually get bored with cars after a year or two but this GTI is the only car Ive owned that I am seriously considering buying after my lease is up.

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  Nice way to enter the driving world :) - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VWfan93 - July 5 - 7:53 pm

  Im a sixteen year old, and recently got my Volkswagen jetta, tdi, wolfsberg edition. This car is soooo Nice, I love it. The handling, the power, the diesel, the seats, everything! You name it my car, has it. I have loved this cars sense they came out and Im so glad I got one. Sure, it has its down falls. One being when I slow down the steering gets harder. But, as I go faster its sooo easy, which is better :). I love the diesel engine getting about 45-50, Im pretty happy. I could not ask for a better car, cant wait for 200k :)

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  Glad I bought VW - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Janet - July 5 - 7:36 pm

  I bought my 2004 1.8T in Oct ober of 2005. Just had my first oil change today. My dealership in town is very helpful and friendly. The car is a delight to drive. My teenange sons LOVE to drive it too. It hugs the road extremely well. The car handled fine in the winter snow of Wisconsin. Im very happy with this car. I test drove the Sonata / Altima / Camry. The Passat was the one that I loved driving! Im glad that I bought it. My car has had no problems so far.

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  6 months in, very happy with purchase - 2011 Volkswagen Touareg
  By azsundvl - July 5 - 7:59 am

  I got the Touareg for my wife however I drive it a good amount. We held off for a while on buying a SUV because we just couldnt seem to find the right fit. Were glad we waited because the Touareg is a great vehicle (looked at RX350, ML350, Q5). We do short trips and not a ton of mileage but are still averaging almost 18 mpg w/ the VR6. Theres a good amount of room without being too large of a vehicle. The driving feel and quality of vehicle is great. Theres enough power and its a great looking SUV. VW did a great job - definitely recommend it.

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  Great Car - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By mlbdvm - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Great car to drive, very solid ride

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  Flashy! Flashy! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ellissteven - July 4 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! I got it new with only 6 miles on it in april of 2004 when i turned 16. And Trying to be responsible with the turbo!!! After a minor problem with the sunroof switch there has been no problems since. Love This Car Gotta Get 1!!!

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  Jetta fun- but bad front suspension - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By turbohack - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Love the cars performance - really quick out of the hole (watch that red- line - tach revs-up really quick). Handles nice and I love the sunroof. Moonsoon stereo so-so. Right front suspension clunks on a left turn over a bump. Two weeks and three tries cant find the problem. I want my Jetta back - w/o the clunk !

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  Close but No Cigar - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By Finch - July 4 - 2:50 am

  The Gold GL TDI is fun to drive, gets great fuel mileage, and has a reasonable price. I want to keep this car forever, but the electrical system is lacks reliability. Ive had two airbag sensors needed replaced, one air bag, O2 sensor, thermostat, and a fuel pump. All of which were covered under warranty, but this leaves the question of keeping the car after the warranty has expired. If I had to pay for these things it would be the worst experience Ive ever had with a car used or new. Im at 49,000 miles now and cannot decide if I should keep the car or not.

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  Awesome Performance - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By cary95404 - July 3 - 6:10 pm

  This is my second Eurovan and my fifth VW van. This 2003 model has awesome performance compared to other VW vans. The pickup is outstanding and the traction control (ESP) is the best Ive ever driven. Braking is excellent. The only complaint is that I’ve had to replace the brake pads at thirty thousand mile intervals (using factory brake parts). It’s a solid vehicle. The VR6 engine is a monster!