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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  Wowza. - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Wheels8716 - August 9 - 5:10 am

  Traded in my 2006 Subaru STI for my CC. Im a certified car nut, and have always loved the exterior design of the CC. I talked the wife into a test drive, and that was it. Where do I sign? The 2010 CC offers the famous VW DSG gearbox. I wanted the 6 speed manual at first, but the DSG really is the best of both worlds. The gear changes are THAT quick. There is not another car within $20,000 of the CC that oozes so much style. The interior not only works from a functionality stand point, but it is simply gorgeous. It glides down the road effortlessly. I was looking for great looks, decent gas mileage, and a comfortable interior. VW hit this one out of the park.

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  Great MPG and Fun to Drive! - 2009 Volkswagen GTI
  By Campbell - August 8 - 7:30 am

  We needed to upsize from my 2 seater to something our growing family. The VW can hold 5 for lunch or 2 adults and 2 kids comfortably. My commute is 35 miles each way, this thing is great for moving through traffic on the freeway. It has a quiet interior and solid feel. The ride is superb. While some of the competition is stiffer and rolls less, that is a very low percentage of the real world driving needs. It is fun to drive in a nicely composed package.

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  Great fun - 2007 Volkswagen GTI
  By Dan W - August 8 - 12:03 am

  Ive put almost 2000 m. on my GTI. The more I drive it, the more I like it. Its great fun. VW should be applauded for building a terrific car for reasonable $. There is really no competition for the GTI, except for its cousin, the Audi A3. The GTI is quick and handles great; it even sounds wonderful - similar to a Honda VTEC at high rpm and it has a low growl when you give it some gas at low rpm. The rest of the time, its quiet, as it should be. The build quality is excellent, too. The Civic Si, is no match for the VW in every day driving. The VW has much more low/mid range torque. Its a joy to drive and the Civic would be a chore. And, the GTIs hatchback design is much more practical.

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  TDI Power - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TDI13 - August 7 - 6:16 pm

  I purchased this car last year from the orginal owner with just over 100,000 miles on it. I have put 35,000 trouble free miles on it in the past year and I love it... Great power, reliability and cant forget fuel economy. At an aveage of 50 mpg it pays for itself. I have had no problems to speak of, and have only needed regular maintenance and had to replace the brake light switch, (common problem), and was a cheap fix.

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  R32 - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By demast - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I waited almost two years for this car to be brought to the states and it has not disappointed! This car makes you want to make up excuses to drive! The smile has not left my face since purchasing 2/04!

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  VW Golf TDI - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By NNGG - August 7 - 10:00 am

  This car came with all the options except leather. On a drive from Florida to Maine, it got 50 miles to the gallon. I can fit a racing bike in the back without putting the seats down. Tons of cargo room. Best value for the $.

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  Volkswagen Golf GL - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By Chris Flores - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Excellent car. Well thought out design, and ergonomics. Very good balance with engine size and size of the car. Excellent accelerating power. Compared to a Honda Civic, it handles much better on the road.

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  Safe, powerful, no mechanical problems, - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Felipe M Pait - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Drives very well, "dynamic safety" is the buzzword. Standard safety features do not tempt buyer to economize in the wrong places. Station wagons trunk spacious for car size. Engine has a lot of power, actually way more than needed. Fuel economy with turbo manual is _better_ than EPA rating; I get 30 mpg in my normal drive. No mechanical problems after 2 years, 25K miles, Boston winters. Quibbles: Windshield wipers noisy. Console in GLS model has to be in the up position, otherwise it interferes with stick shift, better not have one. Car was delivered without proper wheel balancing and alignment: dealer fixed at no cost, but still.

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  my vw jetta - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By punkstar220 - August 7 - 10:00 am

  The jetta (or any volkswagen) is the best car in the world I love the speed and beauty of the German engineering. I wil never buy another make of car as long as I live!

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  Got 53 MPG! - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Steve & Vicki - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought my new Jetta Wagon in July 03, In August we drove from Indpls,IN to Ocean City MD and averaged 48+ MPG.Its a 5 speed stick and now Im averaging 52 MPG. very pleased with the car the sound system is excellent,(monsoon) Its a very efficient little vehicle. I recomend it highly the best Milage Ive achieved is 57 MPG. I look forward to many years of fun driving ahead!