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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  Love it! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dorene - May 8 - 4:16 pm

  I am very pleased with this purchase. Not too flashy, not too boring. Fun to drive. It comes at a bargain price with lots of features that would normally cost extra. It handles great, and feels safe and solid. I went into the whole car shopping process fully expecting to buy another Honda Civic, and this car is much better. My first VW, but probably not my last. No regrets here.

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  So glad I bought this car! - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By Jamie - May 8 - 4:36 am

  I love, love this car! It travels well, and provides great diesel mileage of course. I have had little problem with it. My only complaint is that it is designed so that a dealership has to do most of the basic maintenance.

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  More Than Expected - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Brandon - May 8 - 12:16 am

  After searching for a low priced second car I couldnt have been more pleased with my selection. The Rabbit is a powerful, well equipped, and fun to drive vehicle. The commute to work is somewhat enjoyable while zipping through traffic in my sporty new VW. After driving a Hyundai Accent, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and a Scion xA, I drove the Rabbit. Needless to say this car outperformed them all and had all the safety and convenience features included in the price. The Civic and the Hyundai had a/c available for an extra $900, what a deal! Im happy with my purchase and I feel safe driving my two young children in this car.

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  Awesome Ride - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By great car - May 7 - 7:00 pm

  Read all the negative reviews you want: this car is phenomenal for the price range. Sure there are the small problems (windows falling in doors, etc) but the warranty covers them all...buy it used, chances are the problems have already occured and been fixed. The car looks great, the interior feels like a high end model, and it is a blast to drive this lil guy. The monsoon sound system is great and all the interior goodies are awesome. I bought this with a little over $30,000, and man, it still feels brand new and a good amount of the warranty still remains. Highly recommend.

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  Good car - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jenn - May 7 - 2:56 am

  I love the style and feel of this car. Its very fun to drive and speedy. The only thing Im not crazy about is how noisy it is at first starting the car. Its much roomier then the old version with an upgraded sound sytem... I love it.

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  VW FANATIC - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By abdul nasir - May 7 - 2:00 am

  ANYONE INTERESTED IN MID SIZE SEDAN PASSAT IS YOUR BEST CHOICE.

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  Love This SUVW - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By ZurZur - May 7 - 2:00 am

  A great value for all the features, performance, and styling this vehicle has to offer.

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  My Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By K. Leonard - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Excellent ride. Very smooth and luxurious. All of the amenities of the luxury SUVs for $10,000 less. I am very impressed with my Touareg.

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  Cant beat the MPG - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ecr72 - May 7 - 2:00 am

  So far, so good. I have not had a single problem after 20K miles. The ride is nice and space is what you would expect from a small wagon. What puts it over the top is the 44+ MPG for the amount of space in the vehicle. The leather is a must, just compare the cloth and leather at the dealer and you will understand. The back seat room is small but with a 1 year old, it will be a long time before that becomes a serious issue. Ill move up to a Passat TDI by then. Purple & Red dash lights at night are a treat.

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  Left Honda et al in dust - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By koumenke - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Yes it is a little more expensive than comparable economy sedans, but it is more than worth it! The style, performance, and driving fun are fabulous.