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:

• 

  ryan 99 passat - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By rmj - September 24 - 2:00 am

  I have had my VW for six months and have put over 16000 miles on it. Its very reliable and for a 1.8 litre 4 cyl. sedan it is a very fun car to drive. Even with the turbo it is far from a racecar but does feel like a 6 cyl. I would definitely recommend the car to several different types of people.

• 

  NICE!!! - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GIOVANNI - September 24 - 2:00 am

  I KNOW CARS AND THIS CAR IS GREAT ITS FAST AND ITS JUST FUN TO DRIVE. ITS JUST A DIFFERENT FEELING WHEN U DRIVE IT.. I LOVE IT. VR6 IS GREAT

• 

  Great value car - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dook - September 24 - 2:00 am

  This is my first VW and I have been very impressed. Earlier years (1999 & 2000) had problems with build quality (window regulators, coilpacks), but I have had no problems. I think VW did a good job of working the bugs out. Love the monsoon stereo and sunroof. Really fun to drive. Great power and smooth ride. Good looking car that maneuvers easily. It is a pleasure to drive.

• 

  Great Wagon - Fun to Drive - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By mibo888 - September 24 - 2:00 am

  The GLX has probably more features than we really needed, but boy what fun it is to drive this car. Great engine, all the safety features you would ask for, and the 4WD was really nice in the winter. Appealing style from the outside with the 17" wheels, and IMO much better looking than the Audi solution on the same basis. Now if only the mileage would be better - so far only getting ~16MPG in mixed city/highway driving.

• 

  Great Economy car - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By firedwg1 - September 22 - 11:16 pm

  My Volkswagen Jetta GL TDI is very low maintenace and cheap to own. It gets great fuel milage. It is one of the best alternatives to Hybred Engine power! It has penty of power for long high speed driving. It can do 80 - 90 mph up hills. Plus, I can make a round trip to LA - Vegas on one tank of fuel!

• 

  Best Car I have ever owned - 2005 Volkswagen Golf
  By mikjh - September 22 - 1:00 pm

  The Golf TDI is the car of my dreams, since I first saw the Rabbit diesel in 1976. It is very comfortable, handles excellently, and gives great fuel economy (48 mpg average). I drive 152 miles a day to work on a variety of roads and it never fails to satisfy. VW quality is evident in every part of the car. I wish I would have purchased one earlier. I have driven this car 22,000 miles in nine months.

• 

  Great car! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By VWgirl - September 22 - 10:00 am

  We bought this car in March and we love it. We have had no problems at all with it. It does tend to burn a lot of fuel for the power you get, but that is the only complaint I can come up with.

• 

  Ride On - 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan
  By Leapin Larry - September 22 - 10:00 am

  Only thing they forgot were good cup holders, a CD player, and a real glove box. Everything else is supream!

• 

  Volkswagen Jetta GLX VR6 - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By brentes - September 22 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is very nice. It is very luxurious, and with the real wood trim, makes me feel like Im driving a BMW.

• 

  Poor mans BMW - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By JCHAG - September 22 - 2:40 am

  This car is a great value. It is supremely comfortable for folks over 6 tall, only Volvos have more comfortable seats. The interior is very upscale for a $23k car. The new audio and climate controls, and new gauge cluster are easy and add a touch of class. The power and handling are incredible too. I never thought comfort and performance could be had in spades, together in the same car. Averaging 30+ MPG combined driving with a lead foot. Love the thoughtful features like climate system going into recirculate mode when you use the windshield washer or go into reverse.. prevents fumes from entering the car. There is also tons or room for a car this size, and a 16 cubic ft trunk