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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  Love It! - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Nancy - October 25 - 3:06 pm

  The Volkswagen Beetle is a great, sporty car. I bought it in Platinum Grey. It has a nice sporty feel and a suprisingly powerful engine for such a small car! The dealership was great, very professional. What an awesome car!

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  Topless... :) - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ToplessBeetle - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Definitely a great car! There are people who think theyre chick cars, but most people love em! Its a comfortable drive and the tiptronic adds to the fun. Cant wait to take a road trip in it!

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  Yep, Its a Yes! - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By jburnette - October 24 - 11:53 am

  I always wanted this car. I feels very solid, fast, and sporty. This car gets tons of attention no matter where you go. It is much more solid then the Honda I traded in for it. I love it.

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  Great family car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jian Sun - October 24 - 10:00 am

  With potent V6 and 5 speed tiptronic transmission, its a great compromise between my wife (hates 5 speed manual) and me. Switching from Subaru Forester, Im very impressed by this wagons smooth, quietness and comfort. It has plenty of space in the back seats and good cago space.

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  THIS CAR IS AWSOME! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Teve Torbs - October 24 - 10:00 am

  This has to be one of the greatest cars EVER created...

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  Great Car - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By brentbrent - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I have had a great experience with this car. I have had it for 2 years and driven it about 27,000 miles. The only problem I had was a plastic vent cover on the lower portion of the front bumper was knocked out while driving. Also I had a flat tire but was quite impressed with the full-size spare and the ease of use of the included (although strange-looking) jack. My car has the five-speed and I personally think it transforms the personality of the car to fun compared to the automatic. I plan on getting another Volkswagen when my lease is up on this car.

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  cant beat the 1.8 - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bwrobert - October 24 - 10:00 am

  1.8t is the perfect engine fit for the Jetta. Great gas mileage and performance. The rear seat is just a bit cramped for adults on long hauls. I love the clean lines and night time blue color display. It is a fun car to drive and feels like a big car on long distance drives.

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  Nice car - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By maggy - October 24 - 10:00 am

  The car drives well, plenty of performance and handling. Well designed and built solid, all of the whistles and bells come standard.

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  Great car - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By beetleboi - October 24 - 10:00 am

  The best car I have ever owned

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  Great car! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Anonamouse - October 23 - 5:03 pm

  This is a great car! I was torn between the BMW 325 and the Passat. After doing some research I felt that the Passat was a better value. I decided on the Relfex Silver with grey leather and its beautiful. I never thought I would use the heated seats, but now I LOVE them. They stay on 5 everday! What will I do in the summer?