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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  Love it... - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By BulldogFTL - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I test drove all the luxury SUVs...Lexux, BMW, Mercedes, even the Touaregs cousin the Porsche Cayenne and there was no comparison. Total luxury in the interior, hot, sexy, sporty on the outside.

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  Love My Passat Wagon! - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By mardimike - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Everything about it is great, bought it new in January 2004. My husband pulled a u-turn in it two weeks later (didnt see the oncomining car) which required front right body work. Boy, did he feel stupid! It drives just great, love the "bun warmers", blue lights in dashboard, visability, and comfortable seats. I am a realtor so comfort and ease of ingress and egress are important. Highly recommend it. Our other car is a Saab which is expensive for repairs and has had numerous problems.

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  So far, its been a blast - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Brozhnik - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I was looking for safety features, comfort, and handling in the low $20s range, and this car stood out. A year later, Im really pleased with it. Handles amazingly well, even in bad weather (the ESP helps too); great seats, so my back never gets tired; interior is quiet and pleasant to be in (I have a 120-mile round-trip commute, so it matters); more than enough power for my needs; lots of nice design touches that I associate with more expensive cars. 31-34 MPG on hway. No oil consumption at all. Dealer service has been reliable, honest and fair. In short: I have no buyers remorse.

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  The best way to buy one - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Samuel Turner - January 20 - 10:00 am

  The Volkswagen Jetta is one of the best they make, it has great handling,fuel economy, power/tourque. Even a base model GL is great.

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  a good friend to travel with - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By vwbugr1 - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Its just a great car in more ways that one: great gas mileage, dependable - not a problem with it since I have had it - sporty and smart - handles great on the highway - I live in PA and it has been terrific in the snow - I am getting ready to purchase a second one. I travel long distances with it and not once have I been let down - I never worry about getting stuck in a bad part of a town I dont know with this car - vw knows what they are doing - drive one youll see...

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  2016 VW Jetta - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Caroline Lucia - January 19 - 7:25 am

  I recently just purchased my first VW Jetta with Patrick at Volkswagen on Orange Blossom Trail. He gave the up-most professional service and was friendly! Very accommodating in getting the perfect car. I am in love with it! The technology is great and it is SO smooth to drive. The mileage is awesome as well, 40 MPG, it only takes less than $25 to fill up. The perks you recieve as well are great, the customer service at this dealership really know how to help you out!

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  Incredible amount of car for the money - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By The Todd - January 17 - 8:13 pm

  It was time for a new car as the lease on my Accord was up. I cross shopped the Camry, Altima and another Accord but was simply blown away at the performance and value of the Passat. Even in the VE you get an incredibly responsive turbo engine, Tiptronic 6-speed auto transmission, 6 airbags, and a host of very cool features. The car is FAST, agile, and extremely fun to drive. This was by far the best bang for the buck and easily the most rewarding driving experience of the cars I considered.

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  Small Car Big Performance - 2009 Volkswagen GTI
  By Dave - January 17 - 4:33 pm

  OK I have owned my 09 GTI for one week and find it not only a sharp and comfortable but great performer or run it smartly to get great gas mileage. Mine has the six speed auto and I find the shift petals on the steering wheel not only a great location but fast response from the gear box. My GTI came loaded with leather seats Satellite radio and many more features which makes for a very comfortable ride

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  So Glad I Bought It - 2016 Volkswagen Golf
  By Jay - January 16 - 11:09 pm

  This little car is awesome. Its zippy and handles the road like a champ. Plenty of flexible cargo space. Great visibility, plenty of "get-up," fantastic turn radius, great for city driving also good on the highway. Very fun to drive, definitely the best small car Ive driven. I was hesitant to buy a brand new car, but this turned out to be well worth it. I often get over 40 mpg on the highway cruising at ~72/mph. In the city I get around 25 mpg so it is a little worse than my cheap old hyundai in the city, but vastly better. The cargo space is not as big as the Jetta but its more flexible and the car looks a lot cooler. If you are bored by the Civic or Elantra and have an extra ~ $3,000 go for this.

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  36 miles per gallon in the city - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sam - January 16 - 9:36 am

  Ive never driven a diesel powered automobile before, but after a few months of driving my Passat TDI I have to say "I love it." Most if not all of the reviews I read before I purchased the car have been very accurate. Although Im paying a premium for diesel fuel ($2.20 per gal.) its nice to know Im averaging a little over 36 miles to the gallon (36.4 in the city). I cant think of anything bad to say about the car...the engine is a little bit louder in idle and not every gas station carries diesel fuel. Other than that...the car is wonderful!