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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  This Car Needs More Accolades - 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
  By Luke Miracco - May 27 - 11:21 am

  I have driven in Honda Pilots, Toyota Highlanders, Ford Explorer and GMC Acadia on the lower end and Range Rover, Audio Q7 and BMW X5. This car is priced like the low end but delivers like a high end model. Note I have the SEL and the 20 inch black wheels (a great look), but it really impresses with the sky roof , Apple Play and leatherette interior. What I love the most about the vehicle is the German engineering. The steering and suspension are so supple and responsive. It is a really large vehicle but drives like a smaller more nimble car. This car absolutely deserves more praise. I highly recommend..

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  More than my moneys worth! - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tom D. - May 27 - 3:56 am

  The car is even more luxurious inside than out. When I drive in to work heads turn wondering who is in it .I personally love VW cars and this time I wanted all the goodies, well I got them in this car! I spent more than I originally wanted to but Im not complaining now!

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By VeeDubber - May 26 - 10:00 pm

  I love this car. In the past I owned a 95 Honda Accord and a 98 Jeep Cherokee. The Golf has been a lot more reliable than either of those. It has plenty of horsepower for me. I drive 64 miles round trip to and from work and it gets great gas mileage. Ill definitely go with another VW when it comes time to get a new car.

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  The VW Bug has the whole package. - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By plumandthegreenthumb - May 26 - 3:23 pm

  Im a stay at home mom of a 3 yr old and have always driven a suburban, and we needed another car since gas prices keep rising, so we purchased a VW convertible last year and just completely love it. Its a perfect car for our family, when we just want to whip in somewhere fast and get out. Especially now that parking spaces are not striped large enough these days. The gas mileage is FANTASTIC, and its fun to drive too!! Thanks, The Morgan Family of Texas

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  Great Jetta - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BelAirCarGuy - May 26 - 1:10 am

  My 2009 Jetta SE Automatic is about 3 weeks old, with 2500 miles. Went on one trip of about 700 miles (2 days). Car is very comfortable, great seats, firm ride, low wind/road noise, and loved the Sirius satellite radio. Transmission is very smooth and going up and down hills on the interstate through upstate Pennsylvania (very hilly) did not upset this transmission or cruise control. Always smooth and had plenty of power, with no straining or slowing on the hills. All the controls are simple and easy to use without taking your eyes off the highway. This seems to be a trait that many car designers no longer seem to remember!

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  One month of pure Fahrvergnugen " driving enjoyment" - 2012 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By bygrace - May 25 - 1:59 pm

  As of today we have owned our 2012 Jetta Sportswagon TDI for one month. After owning large pick ups for most of my driving lifetime; I was skeptical about comfort. But it is not a concern at all. The seats & interior design make for a very comfortable ride; even long distance. My husband is 64" & about 230lbs & fits comfortably & says he has plenty of head & leg room. We both love the power of the turbo charged diesel. And the MPG is GREAT!!! We have not gotten less than 45 mpg & that was due to city driving & sitting still in a drive through for over 10 min. Otherwise, it has been getting between 47 & 55 mpg on the Highway. Havent changed any driving habits either.

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  why poor value? - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By batcycle - May 25 - 1:43 pm

  This is the most reliable car I have ever had. It has all the bells and whistles and then some (besides the lack of a cup holder), great comfort, great gas mileage (30+mpg), and now 63000 miles and counting. Why is it not retaining its value when it is so well rated?

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  cute and fun - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By mindfulone - May 25 - 2:00 am

  This car is a great! It is the only sporty convertible I could find that handles well in the snow. The electric top is convenient in that I do not worry about what is inside that someone might take. Another feature I looked for was enough space to pick someone up at the airport and have their luggage and my dog fit at the same time. The trunk is much bigger than the Miata or the BMW which were my other choices. The Cabrio is also much quieter than the others due to the multi-layered top. It is a lot of fun at a fair price

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  Jetta GLS 2.0 - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Gary2003 - May 25 - 2:00 am

  great car, fun to drive, had no problems so far have 53000 miles

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  So far so good - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Stephen Paczolt - May 25 - 2:00 am

  After 1500 mi., this vehicle has been good (keeping my fingers crossed). There are only 2 complaints. First, the sport seats are a bit snug, . My second complaint centers around the disingenuosness of Volkswagen. One of the selling points of this car was that it had a full-sized spare tire. The tire is full-sized all right, but it is a 16 inch tire while the other four tires on the wheels are 17 inch. I feel that VW should have been up front about this instead of giving the consumer the "stealth-silent" treatment.