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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  What A Fun Mini Van - 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By OT 62 - December 22 - 2:00 am

  Bought the MV Weekender Package. 4 years and 60,000 miles later couldnt be happier with the car. There isnt a more fun minivan out there. Kids just love it. No complaints, holding up well. Premium gas is only negative I can think off.

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  Stupid Happy - 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Bug Lover - December 21 - 5:30 pm

  I finally got my dream car: the VW Beetle. Mine is a 2007. I am in love! It is very cute, and I love to drive it. No problems yet; I am keeping my fingers crossed. Would and do recommend to friends.

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  Still With Personality - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By GREG TIBBETTS - December 21 - 9:30 am

  IMy initial attraction is the clean J.Mays / Freeman styling, but excellent interior materials and ergonomics make the Beetle better than similarly priced cars. This car has many detail improvements over the similar 2002 New Beetle. Its 6-speed auto transmission is a huge improvement over the old 4-speed design and even 5-speed manual that refused to accept a quick shift. It has excellent brakes and safety aids, both passive and active. Its handling is not particularly responsive, but safe and predictable. This car is able to cruise at high speeds with less wind noise than than in the past because of the 6-speed gearing. It turns approximately 3,000 RPM at 78 MPH. The leatherette looks like real leaather and is more luxurious than cloth. Plus car is style-proof.

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  GLI is Fabulous - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By LoveMyGLI - December 20 - 4:56 pm

  The main differences between this and the regular Jetta besides the obvious wonderful 2.0 engine (which by the way has longer maintenance intervals than the old 1.8T) are: 1) the steering is heavier, especially nice because it is not overboosted at lower speeds. 2) the suspension is firmer

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  Love This Car - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By susieq - December 20 - 6:00 am

  After owning 5 Nissans in a row a friend of mine, reccomended the Passat to me, boy am I thankful for that. It is far and away best car purchase Ive ever made. I love everything about this car including its overall handling, power, and safety features. The stereo is amazing and the interior is roomy and beautiful. In conclusion, I love this car and so does every one of my freinds and family.

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  MY 2014 Passat TSI SE Experience - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By aku2 - December 20 - 5:24 am

  I got my 2014 Passat TSI SE in October 2013 and I like the car for its driving performance with excellent fuel efficiency. I get up to 36 highway MPG and for my commuting route I get 33 MPG. I noticed I get the best MPG when my speed is between 45 and 75 MPH. I have 7000 miles on my car and lifetime MPG is 31 MPG. On my commuting route when I drive 2007 or 2010 4 cylinder Camry I only get 27 MPG. I like the music system design that produce clear sound without a need significantly increase audio level while on the noisy highway. I have driven Passat competitor vehicle and noticed high wind noise that makes it hard to listen to music.

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  German Lemon - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Kory - December 20 - 1:16 am

  I have to say that this is the worst car that I have ever owned. I traded my 1992 Saturn SL1 for this car. My Saturn was definitely a "no frills" car that was perfect for my needs, which at the time was reliable transportation to and from school and work. My husband wanted a larger sedan. Our VW ran great for the first 15000 miles, then it was in the shop constantly. The car stalled frequently, lost power steering, had all sorts of electrical problems. A recurring crack in the fuel line was the last straw and we traded it for a Saturn Vue. I know others who have had many electrical problems with these cars. They are pretty but not reliable. I will never buy a VW again.

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  Love It!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By MARKHK - December 19 - 3:53 pm

  JUST TOOK DELIVERY OF THIS CAR AND LOVE IT ALREADY. GREAT STYLING, GOOD HANDLING AND FEATURES ALL FOR UNDER $30,000. CAR HAS ALLL THE FEATURES YOU NEED, MEMORY SEAT, HUGE TRUNK, LOTS OF PASSING POWER.

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  My Volkswagen Golf...here is a little... - 2005 Volkswagen Golf
  By notorious - December 18 - 10:36 am

  ...story. I have owned my car for the last four years. My car has been incredible on diesel mileage. I get in the city anywhere from 500 to 550 miles in the city and 550 to 625 miles on a tank. Within the first 3 years of my car, my transmission went! Could not believe it! The dealership had me pay approx $1200 to replace it. I was not happy about it at all. The dealership agreed to refund me half the amount I paid and asked I follow up the rest with Volkswagen International - No outcome from that. In the 4the year, seals and headlight bulbs replaced under warranty. Spill guard is not good for dark clothed interior. Dont replace air filter with after market unit! Dangerous!

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  phaeton to the rescue - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By brian mcnally - December 18 - 10:00 am

  after 20 years of declining Benz quality and unable to stomach the cosmetics counter styling of thier interiors it is a godsend that VW has rescued car buyers from having to drive the class favorite of orthodontists and garmentos. After 8 months and 25000 miles Im ready to order the wagon and coupe, if VW will just build them.