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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  Tornado sport - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Maat953 - August 16 - 8:36 pm

  A great replacement for a Saab. We drove them for over 25 years. Sport w/ headlight steering package, 1.8 liter turbo has a lot of low-end torque. We just finished a 800 mile trip- w/ac on and averaged 36 mpg! Im 62"and my 510" daughter can sit behind me. We absolutely love this car.

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  Greatest car Ive owned - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By LovemyPassatGLX - August 16 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned my Passat for over two years, and have had no problems at all. It is fun to drive, handles well...only problem is paying attention to not drive too fast..

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  Wow - Its more than just a car! - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By TrappedOnEarth - August 16 - 10:00 am

  This car has personality. It is a sheer delight to drive. Style, comfort, and power, it has it all and more! Handles well. Great engineering. It appears bigger on the inside than one would guess from the outside. Very safe as well. A real car for the new millennium!

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  Best Car Ever - 2011 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Anonymous - August 16 - 2:00 am

  I have been driving for 50 years and have driven most makes and models from GM, Ford, MB, RR, Audi, BMW, Low budget to > $70k and this is the best vehicle I have ever driven! Solid, quiet and fuel efficient. The safety features are great, and the looks speak for themselves, understated elegance.

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  Exit Crossover or SUV - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Dick - August 15 - 2:00 pm

  We were looking for a replacement for our Volvo XC70. Wanted something not quite as large, but with lots of utility and better fuel economy. The Jetta TDI Sportwagon is the ideal size vehicle for us...room for our dog with the rear seats up and some hauling from time to time. Many crossovers dont have the room this VW Sportwagen does. But the real deal is the TDI engine. Our first trip was across Washington state and back when the car was new. Got 43 MPG overall and its getting better. The new automatic is so smooth you can only tell the shift points by looking at the tach. The seating positions are very comfortable for a long trip and the car is quiet with little road noise.

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  Rabbit on Rabbit - Pure Adrenaline - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Watson Martin - August 14 - 6:04 pm

  Go Rabbit go has been going for now decades. With its generational shift to mature adults who once X owned 80s Rabbits. Unfortunately, the unibody pick was not crossed over. More about that later. I live in Roanoke VA driving mostly along interstates or the valleys jurisdictional byways with plenty of ups downs and curves of all sorts. Car handles like a charm even more so on passes crossing dozens of ridge lines located along the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachia Mountains to the west. Its tight and krpt me out of the ditch approaching a downhill car - both balls to the wall - with dry leaves in tow. Fortunately I road the rail on the right edge of a steep unguarded cliff. Adrenalin should be this cars middle name. Love it but got to sale it cuz of growing family and desire for tech audio smart upgrades. Dodge Durango SX. Go figure. Taurague is not my deal as its much smaller for much more. American German dodge. Go figure.

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  I love Jack - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Dannie - August 13 - 6:56 pm

  Jack is the name I gave my 2007 Rabbit I bought 3 weeks ago. I LOVE my car. I looked at a Yaris, Civic, Fit, Corolla and was debating until my dad called me up and said I should test drive a Rabbit before making my decision. This car sold itself to me. I test drove it, pronounced this was the car I was getting and bought it! All my friends are jealous... in 3 weeks Ive gone from 17 miles to mid 700 miles and it still makes me very happy. I was looking for a 2 door manual transmission that made driving fun. I found it and more with everything it comes with. I strongly recommend this car to anyone!

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  Funin the Sun - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By newca11 - August 13 - 4:30 am

  This is my fourth VW, but my First Convertible. Have had three Jettas before this and the last was A GLI with all the toys. But I have never had as much fun driving as I do now. The roof is great and their is very little to no wind noise. I love having the security of a hard top on a convertible. Foe the Base model with auto I really think it has a lot of options. Like I was told when i bought my first VW. The only problem is you have to replace it with another.

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  Love my TDI - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By LUV It... - August 13 - 2:53 am

  I just recently bought a 2002 TDI. It was very hard to find a diesel. After several months finding one that I wanted and was willing to trade in my Chevy "gas guzzler" Tahoe, I purchased my Beetle. Since owning it, I have done nothing but enjoy the ride and the gas price. It is nice to have a vehicle that gets great gas mileage. I just got 34 mpg in the city. I would recommend a diesel beetle to anyone. The noise is minimal and well worth it. If you really cant stand the diesel noise, which is a lot quieter than the trucks, crank up the radio.

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  Excellent car, one of the best - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Izzy - August 12 - 4:10 pm

  I bought the TDI and sold a BMW 325 convertible looking for a commuter car. The TDI has delivered more than expected in overall ride, quality, fun, comfort, mileage. It is quiet on the road, perfect for phone meetings with bluetooth. I must admit, I didnt expect the fun part of the car, it is down right quick, not M3 quick, but a blast to drive fast by yourself or slow with Miss Daisy. Simply an amazing piece of engineering, my first VW and I am amazed both as an engineer and high performance driver who occasionally races