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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  au dDeezul - 2003 Volkswagen Golf
  By DeezulGolfer - February 28 - 2:00 am

  Have owned/driven new Swedish luxury cars for the past 14 years and recently crossed the line to VW Golf GLS TDI. It has surpassed every expectation. Many trips in excess of 1000 miles since November 2002 have been thouroughly enjoyed in this "fun to drive" etremely economical car. Flawless response in temperatures consistlently below -10 F and great road performance with 4 snow tires have made me an ardent fan.

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  2003 GLX great car! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Passatman - February 28 - 2:00 am

  Impressive car to drive, smooth, quiet and fast. Lots of very nice touches. Better than the Jaguars, lincolns, and other expensive cars I test drove. Love the layout inside the car, love the firm but smooth ride, the silky smooth v6 and auto trans are tops. Loads of nice options on the GLX.

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  Cool Vehicle - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Mr. Magoo7 - February 28 - 2:00 am

  Bug is fun to drive and handles very well. Plenty of power. I am getting 40 mpg in the city and Close to 50 mpg highway.

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  Great Car - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Nick R - February 27 - 10:33 pm

  We love this car. Acquired as a lease and will buy it at the end of lease. Havent had any problems with this car and its great to drive around in.

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  Happy new CC owner! - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Tallahassee Lassie - February 27 - 4:43 am

  Ive had my new black CC Sport/R-Line for about 2 weeks & JUST LOVE IT! I researched MANY cars to fit my needs as I travel by car extensively in my job. I drove all the high-end options including BMW, Mercedes, Infiniti & Lexus. I chose the CC because it looks great & gave me all the options I wanted with out the big price tag. The great mileage this car gets was the icing on the cake. I got 30.4 MPG on my first road trip & thoroughly enjoyed the ride! Now I actually look forward to going "on the road again"!

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  Dream Car - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By Joe - February 25 - 1:50 pm

  I had no idea how fun a car could be, until I bought the Volkswagen Eos. I cant stop driving this thing... It makes driving fun again. I should have purchased this years ago. The Eos has the same solid feel of your typical Volkswagon with the added luxury of being able to put the top down. The car is peppy, gets very good gas mileage and feels good to drive. Excellent sound system. My kids and their friends all beg for rides in the car. It has been a great experience!!!

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  Great Car - 2009 Volkswagen CC
  By Tigran - February 23 - 6:46 pm

  Best for the money, loaded, more extras than expected, rain sensor, auto lights, and so force, two tone leatherette is super nice and does not get dirty at all unlike the real leather, very practical way of spending, base model trully rolles!!

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  Wow - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By matt3319 - February 23 - 10:00 am

  I have been a GTI fan since my first one in 1986, but the whole package of this model didnt appeal to me until the 17 inch wheels where offered. My silver rocket with leather and roof and monsoon is top notch in most aspects from tons of low end torque to the whine of the turbo. my window clips broke on a rainy night, that sucked. Really no other problems expect those cup holders block the stereo.

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  great car , diesel or otherwise - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By chris Armstrong - February 23 - 12:46 am

  I have owned many european cars over the years.I chose to purchase a 2010 Golf TDI for the fuel economy and price point .To date it has exceeded my expectations.It is an enjoyable drive,great road manners.The cloth seats are very comfortable and supportive.The interior is thoughtfully laid out .TDIs get 40+mpg hwy. and 30+mpg city.A federal tax credit of $1300-$1700 dollars.

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  Still, the only car I want to drive - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Nate - February 21 - 12:23 am

  I was so happy to have the chance this car near the end of 2004. I enjoy driving it every time an errand or my work calls me. I enjoy its superior build quality over domestics and Japanese cars. The R32s were well thought out and built for more than economy savings. I cant stand the cheapo Japanese and domestic interiors. Tuning companies are quickly suppling everything an R owner could want. With those options, this car has few limitations. I can only imagine being more happy in a M3. But the M3 isnt my style, nor in my pocketbooks range.