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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  Value Packed - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By holenone797 - September 29 - 10:00 am

  We compared the Camry, Accord, and Passat. The VW had it all. Safety, performance, comfort, fit and finish,great looks, and in more recent years reliability. Keep the options to a minimum to maximize value. Couple the 1.8 turbo with the manual tranny for real fun. I feel like Im driving a luxury car-with the others I didnt. one negative-wind and road noise above 80mph.

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  Great Car - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Larry4motion - September 29 - 10:00 am

  I bought the Passat almost 2 years ago and now have 33000 trouble-free miles on it. Its a great value, essentially an Audi for thousands less. My wife wont admit it, but I think she likes driving it better than her BMW 528I.

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  Great car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Nicole H - September 29 - 10:00 am

  This is Jetta #3. The I have had some major problems with the eletrical system with the first two Jettas I owned. I have heard they had improved with the eletrical system so I decided to buy a 2001 Jetta. I have been very happy with this car and I have not had any problems yet. The car is great on gas and its fun and comfortable to drive.

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  Fantastic car and very nice lease! - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Salesguy07 - September 28 - 1:33 pm

  This is an overall very nice vehicle. The black on black is a sleak color choice and the standard cloth seats are wonderful. The heated seats are nice as well, and I rarely have mine turned off. nice standard features as well including the heated side mirrors! However I got the base model, and to my surprise...no floor mats??!! Yes, if you get the S model be prepared to accept delivery without floor mats. Youll have to order them seperatly which will run you about $120 for the cloth, 70 for the heavy duty rubber mats. I got the 5 speed manual and it is fun to drive. The standard stereo system sounds good for what it is and overall Im happy with my lease!

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  Camry? Why? - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Macaroon - September 28 - 5:43 am

  Ive always loved Passats, and owned 2 1993 VR6/GLX, a wagon for my wife and a sedan for me. I went to my dealer to check out the GTI 5-door (Ive been saying for years they needed one), but ended up driving off in this black beauty. Same engine/trans as the GTI make it nearly as fun to drive, but I got a proper grown-up car with a huge back seat for $5K less! I used to sell Toyotas, and there is no contest between this and a Camry (except, perhaps, in the long-term cost of ownership -- but with a 3 yr lease, who cares?) Hands down, the Passat hammers the stuffing out of the Camry! This car is simply WAY more: comfortable, feature-rich, fun to drive, fuel efficient and attractive.

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  Really do like this car!!! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By WDW - September 27 - 8:00 am

  Had an Avalon (a fine reliable vehicle). Anticipated buying an A6. Researched, test drove, opted instead for a loaded Passat. Only 3000 on the odometer, but so far "lovin dat car!"

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  Highly Recommended for travel in snow/icy roads! - 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By kc45 - September 24 - 10:07 pm

  I have had this car for about a month now and could not be happier. I had been searching for reviews on the Tiguan in the snow and failed to find any and I can now say from an owner of one that I highly recommend this vehicle for those specific conditions. I live on top of a mountain located at a ski resort so traveling on the access road had always been difficult with my FWD Jetta. The switch to the Tiguan has been exceptional, even with keeping the all seasons that it came with. It has had NO hesitation in these conditions at all, especially the icy driveway. Safety definitely gets an A+. I was rear ended the first day I had the vehicle with my dog in the back. I was left with very minimal damage from the crash, which was extremely impressive. There is plenty of space in the trunk for a medium sized dog(mine is about 65lbs). Not sure large dogs will be a great fit. I am also very pleased with the interior being leather for all base models.

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  Saved from a snowstorm - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By klpeel - September 24 - 7:40 pm

  The CC VR6 4Motion is a fantastic car indide and out that combines the favorite features of my past two (2005 Infiniti G35x and 2000 Passat GLX) and goes beyond them. It has the stability/solidity of the Passat and the driving fun of the G35x. ...and the best gizmos of each. I drove a ways from the MD burbs to the best dealer in the region (Lindsay), in VA. I arrived just as a snowstorm started. My drive back in now-blizzard conditions took 3 hours as cars were spinning out of control left and right. The CC was sure-footed the whole way. The VR6 isnt cheap, but its not much more than my old V6 Passat and the same as the G35x, and better than both. Id narrowed my search down to CC vs. A4.

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  The Eos Stands Alone - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Phil - September 24 - 3:06 pm

  I just picked up my new black on black Eos two days ago, so these are just my initial impressions. I consider the exterior to be stately and not flashy. The versatility of the roof is unique and fun! The interior is impeccable and well thought out, although it could use a few more cubbyholes for sunglasses, phones, etc. The interior storage becomes limited, when you opt for the navigation system, which moves the 6 CD player from the dash to the center console between the front seats. The Eos is very quick and responsive once the turbo kicks in. There is a slight hesitation from a dead stop, but once the turbo kicks in, youre in for a great driving experience.

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  Wow -- I want to drive all the time now! - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By Pasvancouver - September 24 - 2:00 am

  This car is a WOW!!! Talk about power, its got it, and then some! and the Leather and heated seats, add in the Computer Assisted Handling thats normaly on the $$$$ cars.. This GTI rocks!!!!!!!!!!!! -- One thing I couldnt beleive was the insurance was more then my SUV.. but all worth it! :)