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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  Switch from toyota - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By donnievalens - January 5 - 11:56 pm

  This car had the drivability to almost instantly take me out of the Japanese market over such brand as Honda and Toyota.While those cars are good the VW instantly sets itself apart with the performance and safety features you get as standard equipment, while with Toyota and Honda you have to pay extra for these features. Also the car seems to have a stronger feel to it, not just in the engine but overall the handling feels tighter, there is less road noise, even the doors feel like they actually have some meat to them.Thats probably why it does so well in the crash ratings.Overall I just feel like I got more for my money with vehicle and I look forward to my next one in another four years.

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  Great car, would buy another - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By galluscio - January 5 - 9:10 pm

  I boughtmy 2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6 in early 2004, at the time it had 38,000 miles on it. I now have 65,000 miles, and am pleased to report I am happy with this car. I did have the notorious coil pack failure a while ago, and the cold-glove-box issue, but other than these Ive only done routine maintenance (oil changes, etc).

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  Happy in VA - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Dick M - January 3 - 11:40 pm

  I love my Touareg! Ive had it a little over a month, and it does everything as advertised. Whatever problems VW had in the first year seem to have been solved. The V8 is great - nice growl when pushed and strong acceleration. Fuel economy is what I expected - 13 around town, 17 on the highway. For the price of a base Porsche Cayenne S you can get this one loaded. Easy purchase decision.

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  I love it!! - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By visinew - January 3 - 9:52 am

  I really wonder how smooth feel when driving. I had Infiniti and really happy to change it.

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  First time VW owner - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By jkhintx - January 3 - 12:43 am

  Never thought I would own a VW. Always drove Honda or Nissan vehicles. I love my Touareg! It handles better than anything from Japan and it is sooo tight. I have 61K miles on it and I am putting brakes on now. Rotors all okay the way around and having a friend put pads and wire sensors on both axles. It always pays to have a good friend who is a mechanic.

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  Another happy customer... - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Andrea - December 30 - 11:33 am

  I bought my 2010 Jetta about a week ago so its still very new, but I absolutely love it! It handles very well and is a very smooth ride. The interior is spacious and standard features (including heated front seats, heated rear-view mirrors, and digital dash display) are convenient. The only issue Ive had is that the gas gap is very sensitive and you have to really tighten it otherwise the engine light will come on. Other than that, I am thrilled with my VW! Would definitely recommend this car to friends and family.

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  Great Car for a Long Commute - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By S. Taylor - December 30 - 10:00 am

  I was not expecting to buy the diesel when I arrived at the VW dealership. I wanted the 1.8 T. The fule economy of the diesel made me curious so I took it for a test drive. I was amazed! It had a lot more power than had expected, and did not seem any louder than the gas engine. I bought the diesel and have had absolutly no regrets. I would recomend this vehicle to any commuter.

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  Very Good Car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By John - December 29 - 7:43 pm

  Ive had my Passat for three years, and for the most part, the car has held up wonderfully. Ive had a few electrical problems however. Ill focus on those. The headlights have burned out probably four different times, the relay switch for the turn signal broke once, ignition coils were replaced, the radio was replaced (for free, kept needing to be reactivated), and there was a check engine light problem, which has been fixed for some time now but caused a lot of frustration. One dealership couldnt solve the problem after 6 (yes, six) trips back and fourth for the same issue. Another dealership fixed it on their first attempt, so I dont blame the problem on VW.

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  Real Trooper - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By jon - December 29 - 3:46 pm

  Wonderful little car. Quick, agile, and the sound of the VR6 engine is just beautiful. Pretty solid; I ran it into a ditch pretty hard, tow truck pulled it out and I kept on driving it, ran brilliantly. Even after 150,000 miles it still feels far more solid than my grandmothers Ford Focus. Feels just as good doing 130 as it does 25. Not a head turner, but hey, its whats on the inside that counts.

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  GTi Heaven - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By Ted - December 29 - 3:13 am

  What a superb car! I have owned seven VWs and this one is the best ever! It delivers tremendous performance and handling. There is nothing out there that compares, especially at this price. Plus, VW only plans to sell 15,000 GTIs a year, so, it is a somewhat exclusive car as well. I smile every time I drive it and the deal with my dealer. Mine is a Black Package two car with leather and the 18" wheels - what a car!