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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  I Love this Car, Its a Great Value - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Aaron - May 4 - 12:53 am

  Three weeks and two tanks of gas later I can say I have loved every minute in this car (especially at night ... youll see). Although I do have to say its been a real challenge driving moderately to break in the engine. Three weeks without redlining or driving full-throttle is absolute torture in this car. You can get up to 50 mph in second gear (and its hard to keep it under that speed). Im happy to report that the cars gas mileage is better than expected. The first tank of vigorous city driving achieved 24.7 mpg. The second tank I drove moderately (which equals somewhat aggressive driving to me), about 30% / 70% city / hwy driving. I achieved 30.3 mpg. This car has solid handling, performance, and a reasonable price.

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  Hate to Park It - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By andi - May 3 - 5:33 am

  I love the turbo because it gives this car the kind of guts and power that I was looking for. Its also sophisticated, but doesnt feel stuffy or buttoned-down at all; the perfect blend of classic styling and an understated cool. Smart features like miles remaining on tank of gas, satellite radio, even umbrella storage... someone thought of details here.

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  Love It, Love It, Love It - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By mypassattdi - May 3 - 2:46 am

  I have had my Passat for a full year now and I love it even more today than I did the day I drove it home. The car is so fun to drive, so comfortable and who can complain about 36 MPG back and forth to work and 43 MPG on the highway? I absolutely love this car and it is not bad to look at either. Pretty much the only things I would change is that I would add more cupholders throughout the vehicle and the ability to completely turn off the headlights without shutting down the engine (I have to go through a guard gate to get to work and the guards yell at me all the time because I have my lights on in their faces).

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  Excellent Car - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By reducatione - May 3 - 1:06 am

  I just bought a new 2006 Volkswagen GTI. I came from a 2001 Audi TT. This car is very spacious, has quick exceleration, and comfy seats.

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  Exceptional SUV that wont let you down - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By touareg13 - May 2 - 11:28 am

  I dont like SUVs or "crossovers." Theyre slow, handle poorly and are simply boring to drive. This was my mindset until my wifes A4 broke down for the last time and the dealer gave us a Touareg loaner. I hadnt been familiar with the latest Touareg, but I was impressed immediately so we bought one. It looks great and is highly capable off road and in bad weather. We take ours for long roads trips around New England and its proven to be comfortable in Vermont blizzards, Maine logging roads and long stretches of interstate. Some may scoff at the high price for a VW but the fit and finish of the car is on par with any high end German car. Its a solid vehicle thats up for adventure.

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  EXCELLENT - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By SVK - May 2 - 6:10 am

  EXCELLENT VEHICLE TO BUY OR RIDE

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  Not Bad for a Wagon - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Craig - May 1 - 8:06 pm

  I recently bought this vehicle after years of driving a mid-size SUV. I couldnt be happier with the performance and fuel economy. Theres plenty of room for cargo once you put the back seats down. The instrumentation is great. The stereo is great, I just wish I would have the option of XM instead of Sirius. I am hoping for a long and beautiful relationship with my new Passat.

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  Great Gas Mileage - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By hezekiah - May 1 - 4:23 am

  I got 44 mpg on my first tank and did not drive like a granny. The car has good freeway power. The power from a stop seems sluggish until you learn how to drive it correctly. Its amazing how easy it is to smoke the tires from a roll in first gear.

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  Nicest car Ive owned - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By EchoBlu - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Although we bought this car used, its still in fantastic shape and a dream to own. Very powerful (love that Turbo!) yet I feel perfectly comfortable and safe. Ton of features -leather heated seats, moonroof, power everything, floormats that lock into place-I love that! Very pleased with the purchase.

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  New Beetle Turbo S - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By LuvBuggy - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Everyone told me that it had limited cargo space ... well I was able to transport a new Toro Snowblower 2450 GTS for a friend 80 miles for a Christmas present ... Couldnt do that in any other compact car!!!