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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  2009 VW Rabbit with Manual Trans - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By HP - September 9 - 10:13 pm

  Quiet, competent, handles well, and is fun to drive. Great quality, fit, and finish.

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  TDI Sportwagen--WOW - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By VS - September 9 - 5:53 am

  3 months old now with 4400 miles. Very good mileage--34/35 city and 40+ on highway. TDI engine has great torque and good acceleration. Automatic is superb--shifts great and extremely smooth. Use the huge sunroof all the time. Tight handling and attractive interior. Sound system is very good. Lots of room--cargo space almost as big many SUVs and wagons. Solid build and tight tolerances on body work. Styling is pretty good too. Very impressed as cars for last 12 years have been Audi A6s, A8, S8. This wagon is a great car and very good value.

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  Love my TDI - 2002 Volkswagen Golf
  By Farfrumpumpin - September 7 - 12:36 pm

  Ive owned a VW Golf GLS TDI for four years and I have to say that it just may turn out to be the best car I ever owned. Ill let you know when it hits the 1/2 million mile mark, thats when I will be 100% sure. It has had no problems at all. Its quick, fun to drive, handles well, and gets great gas mileage, 50+ MPG! I first saw one in Ireland in 2002 while visiting. I was glad t hat I had this car when gas hit $3,00+ per gallon. I live in the northeast and have not had any cold weather problems, and you dont plug them in. They have a glow plug system that works. The car has no smoke and very little engine cabin noise. Buy one!

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  Great all around sprty car - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By GTI Fanboy - September 7 - 11:53 am

  After testing many cars (Fit, Mazda 3, Accord, Passat, Legacy, A3) I decided to go with the GTI 4-door. I dont regret my purchase in the least. The car is a lot of fun to drive and the seating position is great. The powertrain is fantastic, with torque available everywhere, and the DSG is flawless. The car has a nice compromise of ride quality and handling. The interior is ergonomically perfect except for cruise control, and is made out of high quality materials (and the plaid seats are a plus). The hatchback design is very versatile and manages to hold items that would just not fit in a sedan. Fuel economy is better than the 2007 EPA rating. 14K mi trouble free and only 1 minor rattle!

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  Love my car - 2010 Volkswagen GTI
  By dasboo - September 7 - 2:06 am

  I bought this car new in April of 2010, and currently have 36,500+ miles on it. One thing I love about this car is how practical it is. I can put the seats down and put my two black labs in the back. Yesterday I used it to transport shrubs for a landscape project. It is a blast to drive- I will take handling and driver feedback any day over power, and this car handles like a dream. A friend of mine has a 2008 STi, and while very fast and powerful, I do not find it rewarding and enjoyable to drive. The GTI is an all around incredible car- practical, fun to drive, and a joy to live with day to day. Also, MPGs are great. Currently have 420 miles on this tank.

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  Great Gas Mileage - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Bart - September 7 - 1:36 am

  No doubt the 2006 Volkswagen TDI will get over 40 miles per gallon on the highway even at speeds over 75. We have noticed that in town driving you have to be careful. Its so fun to drive you want to push the turbo. The worst mileage we had was 31 in the city but average just city no highway we get 35. Im tall and this Jetta is so much more comfortable than our 1998 Jetta. If you buy a 2006 model make sure you opt for the rubber mats. We went to Florida and having those were important the the truck has a mat also.

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  Havent Gotten a Complaint Yet :) - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sir Rob the Great - September 6 - 2:53 am

  Ive only had this car for about 5 months now, but I have only good things to say about it. I insisted on the "virtually" fully-loaded silver one and am glad I did. The turbo stalls the pick-up just for a moment, then the little "jet" wants to leave the road when it gets going. Fun to drive, especially with the tiptronic control. The only thing Im missing is the temperature indicator on the driver panel, but have we REALLY gotten so lazy we cant just stick our head out the window to tell?

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  A really fine automobile - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By rob_rocket - September 4 - 5:17 pm

  Original owner of a 2004 Passat GLS 1.8T, this has been one great car. Exceptional performance, handling and fuel economy. The VW/Audi 4 cylinder turbo engine is one of the most sophisticated production engines being built, and is easy to modify for even better performance and driveability. Mated with the automatic transmission, a reprogrammed VW turbo provides amazing low-end torque and acceleration. You can easily out accelerate a V8 powered machine off the line. I also have a 5 series BMW and honestly, this car is more fun to drive - more road feel, lighter, easier to put it where you want it on the road. But dont skimp on maintenance - this car requires regular, skilled car.

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  The German Sherman - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By mikecnz - September 4 - 2:10 am

  What a fabulous vehicle! I have a 3.2L V6 fully loaded in Light Blue and Gray interior. Without question this is the best handling SUV on the road and one of the most comfortable to drive on or off. Ive thrown this new vehilce around all kinds of corners and it just keeps on sticking. The V6 engine is slightly underpowered during uphill acceleration at 240 HP but this will be upgraded for 07 to 280 HP. Its gas mileage is well... very SUV. It has an annoying wheel balance/alignment issue which the dealership says shouldnt be fixed under 6,000 miles to avoid future problems. Otherwise this truck is perfect.

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  AWESOME vehicle for price and safety. - 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By darwinsti69 - September 3 - 9:31 pm

  The car is amazing, and as long as you keep all maintanance up, like all of us should, it will run forever!!! This was my dream car from 11th grade and I finally had a chance to get it and BAM!! Many hours of cruising at the beach, to Kentucy and on to Phillidelphia and back home to NC. Gas mileage was great! I would reccommend this vehicle over and over, just be aware, regular maintanence is important no matter what vehicle you own. You go to the Dr when you need a checkup, take your car regularly too:-)