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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  Yee-hah! - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By welby - July 30 - 10:03 am

  I spent a great deal of time shopping and researching before buying this car. I test drove Audis, Infiniti Gs, BMW 3 series, Volvos and others. The CC took the cake. And, in the end, only BMWs 335i felt more muscular. Aesthetically, inside and out the CC seems near perfect; mine is white and, simply put, only a Mercedes CLS looks better. Once you sit in this thing everything else feels cheap and gimmicky. In terms of performance, I love driving this car. Its brawny when you want it to be, but it can double as a comfortable commuter. Edmunds is ho-hum about the V6 4Montion, but I wouldnt have it any other way. The powerful engine and all wheel drive are well worth the extra money.

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  Luxo car in disguise (steal of year) - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By meesr - July 30 - 10:00 am

  The 2002 VW Passat, with 1.8T engine and manual tranny is a delight. Solid feel, responsive engine, smooth, creamy. I considered the Jetta, but backseat was too small. The new Audi A4, great car, but it felt claustrophobic. This car is a luxurious car in disguise. It has Audi A4 underpinnings, and it feels it. It is beautiful, gets looks (i had a couple in a late model 5 series point in stare in traffic the other day), and at $22600 including Luxury Package, quite the deal. My dealer has been taking care of me. Had some initial quality problems, but they are trying hard to please. Buying xperience was top rate, I ordered the car and it arrived two months later.

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  vw - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By cheeseychuck2002 - July 30 - 10:00 am

  the best car for the money in the world

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  Trust me youll love it - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bubba - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I Didnt want an SUV but I did want the flexibility to haul whatever I need to. My wife and I chose the manual and BOY does that Turbo have a nice kick to it! Definitely get the Monsoon system too it makes for great road trips. We have had absolutelty zero rattling sounds from this car. Cant understand what was up with the editors car. We had looked at the Nissan Altima as well but the interior materials do not compare and it drove like a Dodge Intrepid. (Nissan Sentra Spec-V now thats a different matter, but too small) We also looked at the Saturn Wagon which had cheap interior construction and ho-hum looks.

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  I love it! - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Lauren - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I got this car for my birthday and I love it! It is the most reliable and it is so cute! Well I love it and... It is a great car!

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  Is this what Ive heard so much about? - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By colosteve - July 30 - 12:31 am

  Ive owned my 2011 TDI about 4 months now and I like it. We immediately took it on a road trip (Colorado to Georgia) and it was comfortable and enjoyable. My normal daily driving is about 50 miles round trip. I drive on a curvy mountain road and it ahndles great. The inside is a little on the cheap looking side, but it is a lot for the money. I would have prefered to pay a little more and have a better quality inside. Other than not getting fog lamps it is equipped nice. Everyone Ive know swears they get 50 MPG in their older Jetta...what changed. The best Ive seen is 44, but it is usually closer to 40 mixed driving.

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  Fun in the sun with a taste of class! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By JAY - July 28 - 9:26 pm

  I have owned the Eos for a month, and it has made my 5 hr a day drive to work in comfort as well as smooth driving through the LA traffic. I enjoy the choices of a sunroof or top down. The engine is smooth driving as well as noise free. It is an attention getter that makes me feel like I am driving a Mercedes, Audi or a BMW. Wherever I go, it just fits in. This is my 3rd VW from a Cabriolet VW to a New Beetle. This Eos is what a great VW is all about. I am in the fashion field, and I basically feel like a rock star! Its worth the money for me.

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  Happy Camper - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dr. H - July 28 - 4:13 am

  I had a 95 Passat VR6, then 2001 New Turbo Beetle, now the New Jetta 2.5 with the 5 speed manual. The New Jetta is as large as my old 95 Passat (actually taller), and the 2.5, 5 cylinder engine is smooth and responsive. Not as powerful as the VR6 or 4 cylinder turbo, but I have no complaints. The quality of the interior is impressive and the instrument cluster and climate controls are very easy to navigate. Love the rain sensitive wipers. Huge trunk. My only complaint is not with the car but with the consistency of VW service. Ive had multiple experiences of bad service at both local dealerships. Ive just learned to be assertive.

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  Excellent practical car - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By shrifty - July 27 - 11:26 pm

  One year ago I purchased this car, and had it towed to the dealership for a Fuel Pump Relay issue 2 days later. 32K miles later and the car has been flawless, with excellent MPG at highway speeds. This car isnt the fastest/ most powerful, but it has an excellent balance of power/performance. In North Dakota at speeds of 75 - 80 we got about 41 - 42 MPG. Steering is responsive and the ride is quite smooth. First 3 services are free, and free inspections for the life of the car isnt bad either. The longer you drive the car the better it runs. Looking forward to the second year!

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  Having fun shifting again - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By RJM - July 26 - 11:30 pm

  Ive had the GTI for three months now and I can honestly say its a blast to drive, and with four doors, its very practical as well. This is my first manual transmission car in 18 years and Im really enjoying shifting on my own again. The car has plenty of power and very little turbo lag. Build quality is excellent and Ive had no issues with reliability. I was tempted to get a BMW 335i, but in Northern Virginia where I live it seems that every other car is a BMW 3 series so the GTI is a nice change and the price is extremely reasonable for what you get.