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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  Bad Car - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Brian Drown - February 5 - 1:00 am

  I bought my car in Aug of 2004 and have had it now for about 7 months. The car has been in and out of the shop about 10 times and for the most serious replacing the engine. It was a certified vehicle and everything was taken care of but I have missed so much work because of this car I would not suggest the Jetta to anyone looking to buy a car!!!!

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  Love my Rabbit - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By alicia - February 4 - 7:16 am

  Ive owned VWs for years and I love my Rabbit.

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  I love this car - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Don - February 3 - 10:36 am

  This is my wifes car. We test drove the SE, TDI and Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg won hands down. This car handles very nicely with the sport suspension. Its a tad rougher ride than the rest of the pack, but the performance is much better. The seats are very comfortable, the sound system is excellent. The DSG transmission shifts gears much faster than you could with a manual. 2000 miles so far. To me this car is like buying a BMW for half price. Its that good.

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  Excellent car - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By brian_h - February 3 - 7:44 am

  Good Fuel economy and roomy interior. Navigation, backup camera and onboard computer processor is too slow. I have had my eyes on this car for several years even before it was redesigned. Went with the 2013 Passat TDI SEL Premium mostly because it was the newest but also because it has the backup camera which was added safety for a home with small children. Unfortunately this is also the biggest disappointment as the processor in this car is so slow that I can start the car, put it in reverse, back out of the driveway and be headed forward down the street before the camera ever turns on to show me the street I am leaving behind. As a consequence this is Not a Reliable Safety Feature.

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  Bounce into a Rabbit! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By MisterB - February 3 - 4:36 am

  I bought my Rabbit at the end of the MY, and having driven it for 2000+ miles so far, I find that its an amazing car. Responsive, nimble, roomy, and stylish. I cant say enough good things about this car. If I had to buy a car all over again, this would be the car.

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  Best vehicle owned- out of 6 VWs - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By joeynick - February 2 - 10:36 pm

  Ive only had this car for 6 weeks, but already it has shown me the build quality VW is capable of, but has eluded them for years. The fit and finish are unparalleled in any vehicle Ive seen under $20,000. Its FAST. You just barely tap the gas pedal and it seems to want to take off and fly. The 170 hp engine (only have 2,500 miles on it thus far) just begs you to wind it out. It seems to have a remarkable similarity in torque to old-school GTIs. I paid only $15,900 for this vehicle (only option added was the $450 ESP program). Looking forward to many pleasurable driving miles.

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  Go for it ! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By peter - February 2 - 9:30 pm

  We purchased the vw passat in candy apple white, sport package w/18" wheels, what a great looking car! The ride is exceptional, tight and confident. This feeling rises in proportion with the speedometer reading. Personal taste is subjective, but I truly believe that the lines of the passat are best accentuated when presented in candy apple white with 18" wheels. A real head turner. Odometer is approaching 10,000mi and no issues. Go for it !

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  VW Jetta 2.0T If you looking - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Berney2000 - February 2 - 4:03 pm

  Ive had this car going on 10 months. I will say VW has done well with redesigning the Jetta, my previous car being one. I like the compact and but economical spaced aspects of the Jetta. For a compact sedan its overall amazing to drive and has neat features. The gas claims 30, Ive only seemed to get about 26. Interior is fun and somewhat comfortable. With todays gas about $2.71 per gallon its cost me only $30.00 which I do enjoy.

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  Great, But Not Perfect - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Lenny - February 2 - 4:13 am

  Love this car. Sporty, but versatile; I can just throw my mountain bike inside. I have the 24V version with 200 HP and its SWEET! Very torquey yet smooth; feels like a much bigger motor. ESP is great and has saved me many times as has the ABS. Stock suspension was way too mushy for me so I lowered the car with Eibach springs, and Koni Sport shocks. Now, handling is a match for the motor at the expense of ride comfort. Only complaints I have are interior squeaks and rattles, and the soft wheels. Already had to replace 2 because of potholes. My Monsoon has been great, but could use better bass.

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  TDI a pleasure - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By markneumann - February 1 - 9:19 am

  I bought the car 5 weeks ago and just took it on a 3,000 km trip to the Sierra Nevada mountains and Lake Tahoe. Amazing - this engine and tranny pulls exceedingly well. It climbed up steep grades at 50 km/h in 4th and 5th gears w/a full load. My only complaint was that fuel consumption was much worse than expected. Granted, I had a full car, but I expected - at the least - 35-37 mpg. I was disappointed as I barely managed 32-34 mpg. Not all of the trip was going up the mountains. I went down the same mountains and expected more. So far, the daily commute has been a joy, as the car itself is a total blast to drive (no, I havent been flooring it just so I could move quickly). So far, so good.