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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  This is car should be 45 grand! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By DallasJennifer - July 2 - 2:00 am

  Buy this car if you like to drive. I cant understand people who buy Hondas, Toyotas, etc. Boring.

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  Great car to own - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By earl - July 2 - 2:00 am

  great car at a great price. Our third Jetta !!!!

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  Diesel "BUG" TDI - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By PV ALEX - July 2 - 2:00 am

  Great car for the $$$$$, I am getting close to 40MPG in town and 50 on the road. Great car, tight ride, needs to provide temp gauge along with other standard gauges, seats are very good

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  so far so good - 32k miles - original owner - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By reverseswing - July 1 - 11:07 pm

  I have had this car as a lease since 2008. I have had no issues at all, only been to the dealer every 10k miles for oil changes & scheduled service. Lease is about to end so Im trying to figure out if it makes sense to buy the car outright or possibly go for the new 2012 US made version.

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  2006 GLI 2.0T - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VW - July 1 - 8:10 am

  I have had this car for 6 months and love it. Interior is much improved from my 03 GTI VR6, the ergonomics are far superior. The turbo engine is strong no matter where you catch it in the RPM band and the six speed is excellent. Features such as the trip computer, auto up/down on all the windows, and ventilated glovebox are all small features that set this car apart from its competitors. This car represents excellent value. Oh did I mention I have logged 34.5 mpg on the highway?

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  Value for the Money - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jeremy - June 30 - 10:33 pm

  It costs more but you get more. I also considered getting an Accord and Camry but after a test drive I was convinced to go with the Jetta. Its handling is solid and predictable, especially in bad conditions. Its not a sports car and does not perform like one. Instead it does what it is expected to do really well. It is very comfortable at speed on the highway with good torque. It suits my driving style perfectly.

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  The Good, Bad and Ugly - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By cgwcolorado - June 30 - 4:26 am

  My car now has 165,000 miles and is slowly hitting the hay. When the car works its an amazing car. Unfortunately, when one thing goes wrong you better expect to be making regular appointments with your mechanic for a little while. I have serious electrical problems, door lock problems, the ABS is out, the cruise control went out, only one windshield spray nozzle works, belts, lights, side molding, clutch, pumps, catalytic converter, hoses and transmissions galore. I love my Jetta to death but she hates the cold and the heat and is the end result of all my money!

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  Wonderful, Dependable and Fun to Drive - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Carolyn - June 29 - 4:36 pm

  Not only is his car fun to drive and hugs the road, but is reliable, easy to check the engine, has a thorough vehicle manual and an ample trunk for a car that looks compact on the outside. I also feel my son and baby- to-be will be safe in this car. I like all the little comforts and whenever I test drive another car, I miss the German ergonomics. You cant beat German engineering for the price.

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  Not Reliable/Poor Service - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Not Reliable - June 29 - 9:46 am

  I like the way the car drive and the interior design. I have had to take the car in for service over 15 times for problems in less than 3 years. On multiple occasions I had to return to the dealer because they didnt have necessary parts and needed to order overseas. This problem has occurred at multiple dealerships

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  Great improvement over 06 sedan - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By bpitt1 - June 28 - 6:13 pm

  Traded in my 2006 2.0t sedan for 08 wagon... what a difference 2 years and a wagon has made! The ride and handling are improved, its quieter and looks much better in wagon form (also more practical). The automatic transmission shifts more smoothly too. Gets better mileage than the 06... lets hope the reliability is better as well.