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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  Not exactly "das auto" - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jonathan Streit - August 12 - 11:06 am

  When i first purchased this VW i only had the opportunity to drive it for 3 days until i was showing off the car to a friend when all of the sudden it wouldnt start due to a electrical ground connection. since then i have dumped over 8,500$ into this HOLE. repairs extremely expensive and often. i dont think i have driven for two weeks without the check engine light coming on for some god forsaken reason. If your buying VW think twice and really look at what your purchasing. have the car checked by a CERTIFIED VW mechanic or you WILL REGRET your decision. oh and by the way ever notice that strange... crayola crayon smell emitting from the air vents??. i moved on. you should too.

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  Groundbreaking car from VW - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By TREKGUY77 - August 12 - 10:00 am

  This car has so many excellent features, I dont know where to begin! The car is a pleasure to drive, day or night. I understand they only sold 900 nationally, so it is very exclusive, almost rare. I am getting 23.3 mpg on the highway, which is not much worse than my Chrysler 300M Special I traded in. Dealer has been good, but not up to Lexus standards.

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  garbage - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Beetlehater - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I had so many problems with this car. My air condition stopped working a few times, my window buttons fell off, headlights were always shutting off. The customer service was also pretty bad. Also its an embarrassing car for a guy to be driving. I thought the car was cool when I first got it because it was new and a fad. As the years went on started to loathe the car and hated when people would ask what I drove.

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  questioning my sanity - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By the me - August 12 - 10:00 am

  My first new car.I drove a 74 Beetle for 15 years and wanted another VW.I had the car 6 weeks when the on board computer went Dealer fixed for free after 2 visits. The rear breaks had to be replaced after 35,000 miles(I paid for that).There have been 3 recalls and last week the passenger window failed to go down or up .It also goes through 1/2 quart of oil a week.The dash lights for the A/C have gone out, the trunk will not open using the drivers console in the door, the drivers door will not always unlock with the key or clicker.many problems for a new car.

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  Nothing Beats a Volkswagen - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Passat Lover - August 11 - 6:30 pm

  Look, all cars can have issues. I supply equipment to automotive manufacturers and if you had any clue to how they operate you would understand cars having some issues now and then. I purchased this car used this past December (2009) and have put over 20,000 miles on it with no issues. I love the car and the reliability. All cars are going to have issues, its just which ones have the least. I am sold on Volkswagens and will continue to purchase them for they are WAY more superior than the American made cars today. I would highly recommend this car to anyone for I get comments everywhere I drive it. People that ride in it love it as well. Keep up the good work Volkswagen!

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  good value - 2012 Volkswagen CC
  By bquinn2715 - August 11 - 8:15 am

  Purchased on 1/16/2012 and have yet to stop at the gas station to fill up....that includes driving to work on daily basis (10 mi.) and doing light errands most evenings. The 2.0 turbo is plenty of power for this car. I had an 08 Jetta W-burg with same engine so I know its strengths. The car feels solid, comfortable, and I think it rivals the Infiniti G series, Acura TSX and other entry level Lux cars. The CC is essentially a Lux car without the typical Lux Badge like Audi or BMW. I think this car could probably sell for 3-4k more and still be a fair deal.

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  WOW!!! - 2011 Volkswagen Touareg
  By carguy114 - August 11 - 3:56 am

  My familiy and I have owned our 2011 VW Touareg TDI Lux for 5 months now and all I can say is what an incredible car. First off, we were OK with the 19 MPG city rating, and because we live in the hills, we were expecting less. BUT, we are actually averaging 23 miles per gallon without any highway driving. I would not be surprised if somone whos commute consists of 35-65 mph flat roads could average over 50 mpg. This really is an incredible machine. The overall build quality is very solid, you always feel safe! The interior has ablselutely no flaws and the panoramic sunroof is incredible. If you ane in anyway remotely considering the Touareg, you will not be let down. We love our Touareg TDI

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  Truly Enjoy This Vehicle - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Robert - August 10 - 2:46 pm

  Have had the Volkswagen Touareg V6 for six months, and have had absolutely no problems. The vehicle is quiet, comfortable, and handsome. I do have a problem with the chimes indicating that the seat belt is not being used, or that the door is open, etc. I find it downright maddening. When I leave the car running and my wife is waiting as the passenger, she has to buckle my seatbelt to stop the chimes. VW needs to overhaul the system and cut down on the decibles.

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  To Good-looking to resist - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By torpeau - August 10 - 8:30 am

  I had a 2003 Accord that was trouble-free and was planning to keep it for several more years. Then I saw the VW CC, read the reviews and comments and bought one.

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  Passat Review - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By David Jones - August 9 - 7:23 am

  I purchased a Passat after driving American made cars and felt I had to take the chance. The stability and control I have, have not been found in an American made vehicle. It is extremely comfortable and quiet and get better mileage than the Ford Focus I drove before. I have much more room, better mileage and look much more impressive in this vehicle.