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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  EOS Headaches - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By Sasha - July 30 - 1:30 am

  Loved vehicle, but came from factory with air conditioner condensation draining into cabin causing inches of water, mold, and stench. If you are considering buying this car, make sure the dealer checks this in their final inspection/prep. Transmission also needed work ~ 4,000 miles. Great car and gas mileage (avg 33.3 mpg highway) besides these problems. Comfortable for long distances...

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  fun to drive pain to fix - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By carmom22 - July 29 - 6:06 pm

  I love driving this car. It is stylish sporty for a sedan. Great leather interior. it is SO comfortable. However this car is haunted by electrical problems in the dashboard for many years.

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  DO NOT BUY - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By ziepniew - July 28 - 2:00 am

  DO NOT BUY UNLESS YOU REALY LIKE YOUR CAR IN THE SHOP!!

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  Love that TDI !! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tonymro - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I never considered owning a VW until reading the rave reviews for the TDI engine. TDI is quiet, starts quickly even in severe cold, plenty of torque. Fabulous fuel efficiency. Chose Jetta TDI wagon over more expensive Volvo V40. Acquiring the exact car I wanted was extremely difficult given that TDIs are on limited allocation and dealerships wanted to tack on unreasonable markup.

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  good car, needs more guts and 5 speed - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Spike - July 27 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car that is just a little to slow. Itd be nice to get a 5 speed w/ the 4 motion. Another 40 hp would be nice also. Dont know if Id pay $4,500 more for the W8.

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  Joe in S.A. - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Joe fernandez - July 27 - 10:00 am

  The Passat is a performance vehicle in desguise. Its styling is modern but unpretensious. Great family car for those really young at heart. Plenty of trunk space and ample driver & pasenger comfort. For those humble enough that do not want to be seen in A BMW but want to hang around the autobahn as equals.

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  Guys and Especially Girls Love It - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By batmanlasd - July 27 - 7:56 am

  I love the gas mileage that my Eos gets. I love the style, too. I havent passed the recommend 600 miles to fully step on pedal yet. I get lots of complements about it. I like how it is built in Europe. It has a very smooth ride, I hardly feel the bumps. I love the fact that the horn is not va VW sound.

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  2008 Jetta Wolfsberg Edition - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ilchqb11 - July 26 - 1:06 pm

  I bought my Jetta brand new at 0 miles and just yesterday I passed 100,000 miles and I have to say this is by far the best car I have ever owned; however, some people dont realize that owning and maintaining a VW takes a little bit of work. In order to make sure your vehicle lasts a long time it is vital that you stay up-to-date with recommended maintenance and NEVER get work done at a location other then a licensed Volkswagen dealership. If you follow those 2 simple rules you will be more than happy. Ive heard horror stories about people buying a Jetta and having terrible experiences with it; yet they never really took the effort to take care of it or take it in for routine maintenance.

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  New Owner - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Mike - July 25 - 10:13 pm

  We have recently purchased a TDI. After long consideration we went for it. Lookslike a lot of work was done at the dealer. Hopefully we missed the worst. At 110km they did timing and waterpump as we insisted due to previous warnings and info. A lot of fun (5 speed). I am not sure of the mileage quality yet that everyone boasts about. I guess it all depends on the type of driving. We tend to have a heavy foot.

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  Its a Chrysler Town and Country - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By Barb - July 23 - 10:13 pm

  I vowed to never own a Chrysler product have having 2 lemons. So far nothing major has gone wrong. The brake petal squeaks, the doors are creaky, and the back bumper panel is coming off. The entertainment center is top notch, one of the best I have seen. the storage is great. Gas mileage has been horrible, 14 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on all freeway driving. I am getting better gas mileage in my truck.