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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  Great Car needs a few improvements - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By alyle - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Owned my Passat for a year and a half. Id wait for the style change coming in 2005. Need to have a the immobilizer chip in the door. My car was broken into and the alarm didnt go off. Only goes off if the window is broken. A professional can break ineasily. Parts are expensive and you must wait to get them from Germany. Broken lock costs more to fix than what was stolen out of the vehicle. Drive by wire causes a slight hesitation when you step on the pedal while computer is thinking. Brake dust makes the brakes prone to squeaking requiring freqent cleaning.

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  Great car but...... - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Axis - December 24 - 2:00 am

  To date I have put on 11,000 miles. Great features and style for the price, I also like the size when compared to 325 & A4. This car could use more grunt in the V-6, especially off the line. My only word of advice is to make sure that you have more than one dealer in your area to service the car. I noticed the car vibrating (at 7,500 miles) when braking from 60 mph and the first dealer I took it to stated that they couldnt reproduce the shaking, a bunch of bs. I took it to another dealer and they were able to notice and promptly changed the rear brake rotors free of charge, problem solved.

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  Love our family wagon - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By lovemywagon - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Purchasing the Volkswagon Passat Wagon was a compromise between me and my husband. We previously owned an SUV which I hated from day one. I wanted a comfortable sedan. He thought we needed more space. We were also in the market for a new car for him. He got the sedan at the same time. We love them both. There are a couple of pet peeves I have about the vehicle - the blinker doesnt shut off until the steering wheel is almost in a straigt position and I find the windshield wiper controls hard to maneuver - but minor details compared to everything else. The back seat is also a bit tight with two car seats back there.

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  Alternative to a gas hungry SUV - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Germans do it best - December 24 - 2:00 am

  This es a good looking well built vehicle with a lot more space than a sedan to haul things. It handles road iregularities and conors very well. You really feel like you are driving something that is going to last a long time when you are behind the wheel. The 4 cylinder Turbo engine coupled with the 5 speed automatic does a good job of moving along in any kind of traffic. Turbo lag is not really a problem and you can enter a freeway on ramp with confidence. Styling is very good from any angle, but especially from the rear. The taillights are not only attractive but very visable to drivers approaching from the rear.

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  The Good Life... - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By glxpassat - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Edmunds.com is a great site, it has helped me a lot over the past few months with all the information provided. I just purchased a 2003 Passat (GLX sedan) and I really have no complaints about it. I love everything about this car, I feel blessed to be able to drive a car with such luxurious features. The only thing Im not too happy about is the gas mileage, its quite poor (avg 15mpg) and living in NY, gas prices have been known to climb over the $2.00 pg mark. On the other hand, Im driving a very nice car. I will be submitting another review in about six months, hopefully my views wont change much...

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  Jetta 2003 Testamonial - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jharris - December 24 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car. Styling is sharp, finish is great, loads of features for the money. Why dont US carmakers make something to compete with this? Ive got the stick shift and its just that much more fun to drive, heated seats, sunroof, CD& cassete, what more can you get for this p

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  The most fun car on the road - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Luka82271 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I got my VW Convertible as soon as they were fairly available and I have to say, this is by far the most fun car Ive ever had. Top down or top up its zippy and styled so well. You would never regret owning this

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  Hey Honda, Dont Look In Now - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By majjikdick - December 23 - 10:00 am

  I have been driving a Honda Accord EX- V6 for the past 4 years and was pretty happy --- happy until I drove my wifes new Passat. This car is better than the Accord in every phase of the game (handling, performance, comfort, appearance, fit/finish). This car cost less than $27,000. Youll pay about $33,000 for a BMW 3 series (4 cylinder, no leather). If you buy one of these jewels, you will not be disappointed. The Passat is very impressive: quick, comfortable, fun to drive, built like a Chase Manhatten vault, and beautiful. If VW figures out what all the fuss is about theyll probably raise the sticker price by $5,000!!!

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  Van - 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By Drom - December 23 - 10:00 am

  This is an exceptional van. I have the weekend package on it, which is a must if you get the van. Take the kids fishing and camping on the weekend. Go to the beach and take 6 kids with you with lots of room.

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  GLX AWD - What a ride - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By flue_fisker - December 23 - 10:00 am

  Overall the GLX has been a great car..Ive used it on on long road trips to my short work commute...I enjoy driving it every time..great feel and definitely not a cheap feel..good solid German built auto..