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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  40 MPG plus Fun! - 2010 Volkswagen Golf
  By Dan - August 12 - 11:03 am

  We drove a Jetta TDI DSG, not bad but no sports car. The Golf feels much stronger getting on the highway and passing. It handles very well, and my other car is a 370Z. I love the 42 mpg on the first tank, 350 miles on the interstate. I drove an Audi A3 5 door diesel 6 speed Quattro S line in Germany, best rental I ever had, not available in the USA, but the Golf TDI is the next best choice. No blind spots for either a 6 or 52" driver. My wife loves the transmission. Diesel is a better solution than hybrids for excellent mpg numbers, the Golf TDI is fun, safe, economic and practical transportation

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  HOT HATCH!! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Smark A Myth - August 12 - 2:00 am

  I got to drive one of these yesterday and, truth be told, the car was sold as soon as I heard the exhaust note. This will be my forth GTI (84,96,01,04) and my third VR6. I had gotten used to the power and wanted something faster for a while, but could not justify spending the extra $$ on a BMW. This car has everything the 330Ci does, plus all- wheel drive and it is $20K less!!

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  German Build Quality! - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By GermanRocket - August 12 - 2:00 am

  Simply put, this car is amazing! the acceleration on this car is great, great torque in any location (watch the guy in the wrx try acceleration out of a turn....no power) the exterior of the car is beautiful and you cant beat stock 18" OZ rims, the rubbers rapping the wheels are equally amazing. the interior of the car is built with a fit and finish of a luxury car and then some! the seats are supportive the side bolstering holds you where you should be. The build quality on this car is amazing! shutting the door immediately tells you how solid this car is. and the best part, room for 5. An all around fantastic car

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  fun to drive - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By mrhank - August 12 - 2:00 am

  this is my 6th new VW and through the last three model runs mk2, jetta3 and now Golf GTI IV the improvement is outstanding not to mention the extra room and the refined interior and ergonomics,quality of trim and details like heated seats and traction control make this vehicle a class in its own. Only issues have been the ignition coil recall which I was able to crawl the car to the dealer and a loaner and immediate one day repair where provided,also pwer window mech failed but also was repaired on the spot maintenance has been 3 $50 services and so far 2 years into it that is all other than gas that Ihave invested in this vehicle

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  my touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By kbmiller - August 12 - 2:00 am

  compared to the volvo xc-90 this is a rocket ship. exceeds my expectatios

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  No words - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By shmuck - August 12 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle drove like a dream. The on road handling is fantastic and the immediate response of the power plant, ecceptional. The interior design is perfect, not over whelming with useless gadgets. Perfectly engineered to give you the all the comforts while adding award winning safety and fun the package. Awesome, dont you think?

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  Awesome TDI - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bri_hamm - August 12 - 2:00 am

  I wanted this car because it was the only one the currently offered a diesel engine. With the cost of fuel going no where but up, it was the right move to make. Even though the horse power rating is only 90, with the torqe of deisel and the turbo to boot, I feel no difference when driving this car. A plus is that it is German made which means a nice tight car.

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  The Best 4WD - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Gregory Chalet - August 11 - 10:06 pm

  The 2006 Volkswagen Touareg V8 is probably the most fun truck to drive. It rides very smoothly ( you dont realize you are driving 80 mph). It has no wind, road, or engine noise. It is very pacious and has a solid and luxurious feel. It has a lot of features that I really enjoy and that makes the driving experience a real delight. It is a German engineered ride at a lesser price!

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  1999 VW Passat GLS Wagon - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By sdyver - August 11 - 10:00 am

  We have had this car for over 3 and a half years with virtually no problems, until recently. While about 75 miles from home the timing belt broke at 79k (recommended change interval is 105k). The timing belt was replaced under warranty, but the dealership (not our local dealership) did sub-par work causing us to have it towed back to the dealer to fix all the problems. Other than this one incidence (which cost us less than $50) the car has been a pleasure to own and drive. Weve taken it on numerous long trips and the seats are superb. The car itself if very versitile, highly recommended.

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  Fun to Drive and Good Looking - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By saadtoufic - August 9 - 9:40 am

  This is a very nice and a beautiful looking car car. It is roomier than the previous generation Jetta. It is a good size car for family of four. Its trunk space is generous and it has plenty of room. I love driving this car. I have the 2.5L, 5-cylinder and I found it to have very good handling and to be very responsive.