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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  Classic Bargain - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By RMU - April 27 - 9:56 pm

  I bought this car at a very substantial discount, because nobody wants to pay a price the car deserves, being afraid of telling their friends that they drive a VW. This car is beautifully finished and engineered and a pleasure to drive. HI have not had any issues during the first 20,000 miles. As long as the dealership will support service, this is a keeper for a long period. I am not longing back to my three BMW 740ILs, which had substantial more quality and repair problems.

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  A Keeper! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Too Tall - April 27 - 10:00 am

  This wagon is an ideal vehicle for almost anyone. Itll carry four in total comfort, five in a pinch, and haul stuff in the rear that sedans cant match. And, with AWD, it does it in all but the worst blizzards. Performance-wise, it keeps up with all but the hottest performers on the road. The car is two years old, and Im still getting complements on how nice it is and admiring looks from other motorists.

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  such an awesome car!!!! - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By jessisd77 - April 27 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my GTI VR6 for 9 months and I love the ride!!! Its so much fun! The stick shift is so easy to use and I wouldnt give it up for any other car. I actually have one of the only ones made in cosmic green so it defintely calls atention. Everything is so great about this car, but if you drive a lot of people around, a two door might not be the best thing, but I manage anyways. So I hope you consider this car, you wont regret it!

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  Jetta GLS - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wmaxwell - April 27 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car. I owned a Jetta about 10 years ago and fell in love with it all over again. The handling is an absolute dream. And its sure footedness in the snow is remarkable. Gas mileage is very good.

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  Love the bug - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By mariabug - April 27 - 10:00 am

  The only problem with this vehicle is the front spoiler is low to the ground and gets damaged.

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  Japanes No more! - 2017 Volkswagen Passat
  By Wen - April 27 - 3:10 am

  Im not a rich person my youngest car is 12yrs old and oldest 20yrs so it’s safe to say I keep my cars till they actually just die on me aka-Nissan 2002 , when buying cars I usually go for price I can afford also reliability. i was looking at the Hyundai for the 10yrs plus warranties but dealer will not give me a deal?? so I was going home disappointed and there it was VW (R-Line) drove in and sales person just got me not because his got smooth sales talk but when he TOLD ME THAT VW HAS LIFE TIME WARRANTY (as long as you own your car) engine/trani plus $1000 cast back :0 is this true? Yes. Manager told me (its on paper) even if you have 3hundred thousand miles, if anything breaks (as long as you keep up preventive maint) bring it in and will replace it $0 dollar. O yes also the comfort and quite ride my wife loves this car. You know that cliché happy wife happy life!!

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  Great Car Fun Car 4 the Money - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Richard - April 26 - 9:23 am

  This car has been great no problems with anything Local Dealer is great for oil changes

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  New Passat TDI - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By conehead55 - April 25 - 8:05 pm

  I picked up my Passat TDI 6-speed manual a couple days ago from a dealer in Phoenix. Drove it home to Los Angeles. Thats 390 miles. When I got home, the "Remaining Range" on the tank showed 510 miles! Normally you associate 45-50 mpg with an econobox, or a hybrid. Not so here. This is a large, comfortable car. Yeah, there is a bit more noise at idle, which disappears when you rev it a bit. On the road, almost impossible to tell from gasoline power. Engine has plenty of torque, and cruises effortlessly at speed. If you remember the noise, vibration and smokey diesels of the 1970s and 1980s, theyve come a long way since then.

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  What a Blast! - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By Don - April 25 - 10:00 am

  VW has hit this one out of the park! Great looks inside and out in typical efficient German style. No wannabe racer boy look to the GTI although the 18" Detroit alloy wheels do scream "look at me". The six speed manual transmission is crisp and responsive. Handling is first-rate as well.

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  Solution to Interior SQUEEKS! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Nepsis - April 25 - 3:56 am

  First, I had to write just because several people mentioned interior squeaks in dash. YES, I had the same problem after a few miles and there is a simple fix. I purchased a can of silicone spray and using the spray tube simply lube all the seams around ctr console and wipe off excess. Can said safe for plastics and I had NO harmful effect to dash. Do this 2-3 Xs a week apart and be sure to get all the seems, even where black sidewall next to your legs meets ctr console. No more dash noise and silicone smell will fade shortly. On a side note I got 58,000 on original tires but did have cupping/noise also. MPG awesome w/35- 36MPG on my commute common. Otherwise A++++ mechanically.