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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  Impressive Improvement - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By smcgaughey - June 4 - 12:23 pm

  Having gone from a 2003 Passat to a 2006 model I am impressed. The 06 models motor is more potent. It is quiet, comfortable, has great storage space in front, and is very well thought out and designed. I think this car is a superb town car and great on the road. I got much more than I thought I would be getting.

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  Lovin the Wagon - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dmill - June 3 - 9:20 pm

  My 2005 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon is fun to drive and comfortable. I have not had any problems with it. Its smooth ride is excellent on long trips.

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  Great car, for a good price. - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ahmad - June 3 - 3:48 am

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  This is a sweet car !!! - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By almegastar - June 2 - 9:03 pm

  I owned 38 vehicles since I started to drive, this is the ultimate car, It has attributes I ve been longing for , it has snappiness, comfort, 5 star safety, economy ( low 40 MPG), not to mentioned German engineering quality @ mid- $20K. I waited for this car ( Black on Black) for 4 1/2 months , but its worth the wait. Volkswagen USA , you will sell this like these cars like Hot cake !!!

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  Great Sportwagen! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Donnie Blue Eyes - June 2 - 5:46 pm

  I wanted an "adventure-mobile" to replace my beloved 1993 Toyota Corolla. I checked out the RAV4, CR-V, and Escape but they didnt do it for me. Then I found the VW Sportwagen. After four thousand miles it has performed flawlessly. It has a strong engine, solid build, ample cargo room and excellent MPG. The ride on the highway feels lush and well cushioned. The handling is very agile and responsive. My one real complaint is that the sunvisor is too short! They cut off three or four inches to accommodate a fancy ceiling console that I hardly ever use. Not a deal- breaker but it just seems kind of dumb to me. Tinting the windows should take care of it which I was going to do anyway.

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  LOVE the car! - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By gustik - June 2 - 2:03 pm

  i really love this car! it is my first one, and i absolutely adore it. learning to drive between a punchy audi and a huge suburban, this is the perfect car for me. it is a great size, its super nice looking, and its a very smooth ride.

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  i give it a tennnnnnnn a tennnnnnnn - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By johannes356 - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I have now had my gti for over a year and this is one of the most fun cars I have ever driven. Performance upgrades such as a chip and intake will take horsepower to 220 range and torque to 250 and gas milage is still at around 30 mpg. Its incredible. Simple addition of 500 dollars in aftermarkets and WRXs are in my rearview all day long. They never see it coming.

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  VWs best yet! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By J Bombay - June 2 - 10:00 am

  What a joy to drive. The optional navigation system was very useful on out-of-town drives. The only drawback; the 19" sport wheels will turn your Touareg into a hockey puck on winter roads. The 18 wheels with appropriate M&S tires were perfect for Chicago winters. Next for me in 2005? The V10 diesel!

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  Great little car - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By thomas6 - June 2 - 10:00 am

  This my first VW very impress with built quality similar to a BMW. The car handle great with lots of power and comforts. My only complaint was the service by the dealership. T he last time I took my car for service to replace my cup holder. I ask them to fill up the fuel tank, but instead filling it up diesel fuel the technician fill it with gasoline. Therefore the stopped in the middle of the street as soon as I drove it off the dealership.

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  Feel 18 Again!! - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By JDISCO18 - June 1 - 10:23 am

  I love this car!! Traded an IS300 for an 2007 Armada (Gas Pig). Traded for the 08GTI. This is the funnest car Ive ever had! Stock car is fast and handles great! Love the DSG. I Added a APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade and this little rocket now has 252 hp and 303 ft- lb of torque! I took a long road trip and averaged 28.2 mpg at 90 mph. Ive read about the VW having cockpit rattles, however I havent noticed any. As a 37 year old single parent, I wanted something sporty and family friendly and the GTI was the best fit. 6 Airbags, seating for 5, good leg room in the back. Added the rear storage shelf under the hatch. I feel 18 again and with the Stage 1 upgrade, I make up reasons to leave the house!!