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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  Nice combo of performance and comfort - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By thebassmohn - January 31 - 10:00 am

  Its a really nice ride. Its typical European firm but comfortable. Engine is strong. It runs so easy to 85 and 90 miles per hour you dont notice how fast youre going. Nice handling. Leather seats, firm, sporty, and very comfortable. Tranny isnt silky smooth...first gear spins the tires on demand. Traction control is very nice and so is the antilock brakes...Back seat a little cramped but not important for me. Really nice sounding stereo. Getting 23+ in city and 28+ MPG on highway going 75.

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  Age of Aquarius! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By tmeyedoc - January 31 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd New Beetle Convertible. 1st was 2.0L Tiptronic...too little power. Went to 2004 1.8L Turbo 5 speed...When you accelerate in this car you feel like the front is lifting off the ground! The turbo made all the difference. Plus, the retro look in the aquarius blue is icing! I love my car!

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  Better Bang For Your Buck - And Fun - 2011 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By mywagencan - January 30 - 4:55 pm

  20 years of Crown Victorias and Im loving my Sportwagen. 10000 miles in two months. Mileage is awesome, plenty of power - fun to drive. Comfortable seats and best equipped for the price. I couldnt be happier with my choice. On fairly level ground with cruise at 75mph and A/C on I was at 47mpg average over four hours! Drops in the mountains but still beats a V8 gas engine. Great looking car too. Thanks VW!

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  VW Routan is King! - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By James - January 29 - 2:53 pm

  We bought this van a month ago and have put over 2000 miles on it already. It rides and performs very well and I would recommend this to anybody. The rear entertainment system or VES as they call it is the best with two boys. The van is comfortable to ride and handles very much like a car. We test drove the Chrysler and then the VW and wow what a big difference. If anybody is looking for a minivan you must look at this. VW was offering some great rebates on the van as well and we saved over 10,000 dollars off MSRP!

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  The Best car that I have ever owned - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Lee Metcalf - January 29 - 10:00 am

  This car will grab you and make you drive all the time. It feels so good, I cant stop driving it. The engine is fast and smooth. The interior is great and functional. The Trunck is bib, I have put things in it that I thought would never fit. I love this car.

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  German Value - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By BMW-Black - January 29 - 10:00 am

  This is my wifes car.The new style Passat looks great. Its been trouble free. Quality is excellent for a car in this price range. I love the interior blue lighting at night and every button in the car lights up. Smooth and roomy with good power, I did expect better gas mileage than 21 1/2 mixed driving.

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  Turbo fun - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Pjacuzzo - January 29 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for 2+ years. I have had no problems what so ever! The car has been reliable and I have averaged 27.5 mpg around town. The turbo is plenty fast and reaches speeds in excess of 120 mph with ease. The after market for this vehicle is huge if you like to costumize your car. I have tuned my 1.8T for 200hp 240 tq with no problems what so ever!

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  My favorite car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Goffs - January 29 - 10:00 am

  Was actually looking at the Accord Coupe and Toyota Solara in a V6. Somehow ended up at a VW dealer. Needless to say, I ended up with a Passat GLS 1.8T with the 5-speed shiftable automatic transmission. Never thought I would buy a VW, but I am sure glad I did.

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  My Red Rocket - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Alex - January 29 - 9:20 am

  Ive had my Volkswagen R32 for eight months and will never get rid of it. I really enjoy driving to work and back and find any reason to go driving in it. Get lots of positive comments and surprise a lot of people. It handles great!

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  Fun - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jojo - January 29 - 1:46 am

  I love this car, fun to drive