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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  Best car I have owned! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Christin Barone - September 11 - 10:00 am

  After doing much research before choosing the Passat, I leased the 1.8T and have never looked back! This is a peppy, fun-to-drive vehicle. I got mine loaded with options and upgrades, which I highly recommend. The top of the line sound system ROCKS and as a person who drives constantly for their work, this is a reliable car that gets excellent gas mileage. It doesnt hurt that it is a sharp car to look at and has turned more than a few heads! I highly recommend this automobile to anyone who enjoys a sporty yet comfortable ride and insists on quality and dependability!

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  Poor mans BMW - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By bigerock - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I teetered back and forth between the BMW Z3, the AUDI TT, and others. I was going to put my money on the BMW, that is, until I drove this little number. I went to the dealership for a test drive, and went home with it that day. This car is so fun to drive. Handles very tight. Its definitely a German car. It performs almost everything you ask of it. Yeah, its small, but I feel safe. Its got 6 airbags for gosh sake. The monsoon (upgraded) stereo blows. If you like listening to music, and consider yourself an audiophile, youre gonna have to get an aftermarket system. This car can also be electronically tuned to gain around 40 more horses and 70 more lb-ft of torque. Thats a TON!

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  Great Little Sedan - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Venus - September 9 - 7:46 pm

  I love this car! I admit I wish it had more power like the VR6 but it still has some kick to it. It is my first car and I can honestly say Im hooked on VW design and reliabity. It gives me a sense of comfort as I have not had to repair any thing major (one small thing only). This car has the great styling only a European car can offer without the expensive price tag an Audi has.

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  Summer Fun - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By bnw514 - September 9 - 1:43 pm

  I just got my eos 3 days ago and have been driving top down the whole time. I like when I stop at the store people stare because theyve never seen it before. Then I put the top up, just to give them a show and make them gawk. Then I zip off with the sound of the turbo. Although, 1/2 a mile down the road I have to pull over and let the top back down, just because its a nice spring day. Plus all the guys dig it because it has the turbo. Hope that doesnt get me in trouble because it has more power than any other VW iIhave owned. Trust me, so far, the best car I have ever bought. And this makes #6. It reminds me of a less boxy Mercedes SLK.

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  Blast from the past - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Kathi - September 8 - 5:10 pm

  I have only owned 1 previous VW. It was in 1968. I wanted a new one every since I saw the new design. They just keep getting better. The gas isnt what it use to be, but the quality out weighs that. What a pleasure to have this automobile. Driving it is so much fun. The only thing that I didnt get when I bought it was the wind stopper. Other then that I wouldnt have any other car. I picked the black over the silver convertible because it seemed so rich looking. It is everything I ever could have imagined. I love this car!

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  Im in love with my 1st VW and with VW service. - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By perezo72 - September 7 - 4:14 pm

  After a year of researching and testing cars, but avoiding germans, since I always consider them to be out of my budget, I finally decided to give the VW Jetta a try. And oh my gosh! I was so impressed that I bought the car without even do any research on it (I really took a dive on this one) But the reality is, this car feels amazing, I mean, if you drive a Mazda 6, Camry, Honda, Hyudai, Kia, Ford focus, etc... and then drive a Jetta, all you can wonder is, how come this car compete in this class? I love the car! If the reliability is just as good, then this car should be in everybodys garage. Only time will tell. For the time been I have become a VW fan!

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  I love my 2009 - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Cindy - September 7 - 4:36 am

  I purchased a 2009 EOS. Have only had it for 5 days. I love it already. It gets lots of stares. The sunroof makes all the difference in the world. I have a new 2009 color, not sure what it is call but it sometimes looks gold sometimes silver-just beautiful. I have owned 5 vans and an SUV. I am truly in heaven. Test drive one, you wont be sorry. (I lie and tell people I bought if for fuel economy...)

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  Caution Buyers - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tim - September 6 - 6:23 pm

  2006 3.6L Passat loaded. Passenger side Xenon headlights gone out for the second time. Can you believe a $ 460.00 repair. Incredible! Bumper needs removal to replace bulb. This car has only 17K miles on it. Thank god it was under warranty but Im worried when the warranty ends. Other than this problem, love this car. Dealership has been great with any repairs since its under warranty.

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  An incredible used car value - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By noahas - September 6 - 4:03 am

  Coming from a BMW 7 series, I was concerned, but this is a fantastic car at a great value on the used market. Make sure to get a CPO or aftermarket warranty though just in case. They seem to be quite reliable, but no doubt quite costly once the warranty runs out. The interior is huge, the engine very powerful, and enough little touches that show they thought of everything. Only downside is that VW dealerships dont know how to service customers for a higher end vehicle like this. They are used to people buying $15k cars, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus are not and thus, do it right. Buy it!

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  VW R32: All-around Winner - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Dinamael - September 6 - 2:00 am

  * Subtle but attractive styling * Intoxicating exhaust note * Torquey, powerful engine across entire rev band * AWD puts the power down, even in the rain * Amazing leather seats * Much higher build quality/material quality than similar offerings from Subaru or Mitsubishi