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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  New Beetle Convertible - 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Dennis Souza - October 23 - 2:16 pm

  Bought this 2009 in 2010. Great price. 30 miles on it. Fast enough in a retro sort of way. Good gas mileage. Nice smooth auto with triptronic shifting. This is my 3rd new beetle. My first was a 2001 new beetle turbo and the other was a 2003 new beetle turbo s. Loved every one of them. This being the best as a drop top. Smooth, fun, and easy handling. Certainly this is not a sports car but never claims to be.

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  Great Ride - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By jack - October 23 - 12:53 am

  I have now had this car for one year, and it is going back to the dealer for the first time, with nothing to do other than usual 10,000 mile service. I get good mileage 18mpg around town and 22 on the highway. If you want a sporty set up, you can adjust the suspension setting. If you want faster response slip it into sport setting. Nary a problem, you and your family will feel safe and secure at all times. Best car Ive ever had, and there have been many from all the top brands. Just wish VW would do a better job of promoting this great car, but then again maybe its better this way because you can have a truly exclusive ride for a reasonable price.

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  great buy - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By rodimus - October 22 - 11:13 pm

  i love my rabbit its fun to drive and easy on my wallet at fill up. Will be buying Volkswagen again

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  FAVORITE CAR - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By yellocharis - October 22 - 7:06 pm

  I bought this car in November 2010, it has only been a few months of ownership but I absolutely LOVE this car! No other car of this year can really compare. The mpg is excellent! It is a small car, but thats how I like it. I do not like big cars, I dont have a family so I dont need one. It has great handling. I love every moment I spend in my car! I hardly ever want to get out of it. It is comfortable and sleek! I have had no problems with my car so far, it has been great to me=) A pleasure, not a problem. I would recommend this car to everyone!

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  GLI All the Way - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By batn0 - October 21 - 6:16 am

  If you dont know about the the 2.0T FSI engine, then you need to do your reseach and see what you have been missing out on. Youll pay a few more pennies but the fun it puts back into driving will make all the difference. I havent let the wife drive it yet after she peeled out of the dealership in the test drive vehicle.

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  Great Car, Few Quirks - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By microbreak - October 20 - 8:53 pm

  Love the car. Would definitely purchase again. The only complaint stems from a glitch in the nav-equipped stereo. The Sirius unit sometimes forgets its presets. Other than that, no problems whatsoever.

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  Love My Jetta - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Ohstillsoinlove - October 19 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my 98 Jetta GLS in Dec. of 1997. It is truly a "peoples car" by the best automakers in the world (think Mercedes, BMW, Audi and others available in Europe). Today, I can honestly say this is one of the best cars out there today! After 6+ years and 73000+ miles (and counting), I have not experienced ANY major complications with it. I do the oil changes and tire rotations and that about covers it. Handles magnificently!!! Leaves other compacts in the DUST in its superiority!!! I feel my Jetta is just getting broken in. It is a superb car with outstanding appeal, both inside and out. My next new car will definitely be another Jetta!

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  The Audi of VWs - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By jessla - October 19 - 2:00 am

  The AWD R32 is the car VW had to build to give it its own Audi TT. Smooth, fast, no tire spin, great handleing. What more could you ask for? Maybe a lower price.

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  great family / sporty car - 2001 Volkswagen Golf
  By drtraw - October 19 - 2:00 am

  This golf is a sporty, fun car and also handles family needs. Although it is not huge, it holds up to four people w/good headroom and a large hatch area. We often choose it for family road trips over my wifes midsize SUV. The turbo engine is great, easily rivals honda for vibration free power and has much better torque for city driving. I thought the base suspension was comfortable but too soft so I switched out the springs and shocks for GTI-style handling. Also, the interior is very well done for a car in this price range and it is very quiet on the highway.

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  A Commuters Dream - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Leah Bryant - October 19 - 2:00 am

  I fell in love with the car during the test drive. I was very impressed by the quick response of the Turbo compared to the others cars that I had test driven. It has stable solid feeling while drving so I feel safe. But the best thing of all is that my car insurance rate dropped because of the ALL the safety features it has!