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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  Ads are true - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Lumax - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my Touareg for about 3 weeks...I love it...great performance...great styling.

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  Very Expensive in Puerto Rio - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Cherry - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Here in Puerto Rico then VW company has a very hight rates in everything, but the local distributor (Autos Vega)that is the owner of VW Frinshise (Euroclass) have the new VW SUV at almost $ 68,000 and this makes it unbuyable for Puerto Rico VW Lovers.

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  4 thumbs up for Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By willerd - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This is an awsome suv... Its very nice on fuel which I kinda expected from VW... I doubted alot about this vehicle prior to purchasing because its VWs first take on an SUV in awhile and since I test drove it I knew it was mine! It impressed me, it didnt take it long to knock the doubts out of me...

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  best riding vehicle I have ever owned - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By gracie - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Best riding vehicle I have ever owned. Out rides the lexus suv.

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  Windshield problem - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By riobuenavista - September 26 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle is fun and comfortable, however we have a defective windshield. The glass is wavy and very hard to see through. Purchased on Sept. 30, it is now Oct. 22 and we have yet to get the replacement. Dual air controls are not working and check tire pressure light will not go out. Gets stuck in soft sand quite easily as well, had to get towed out. Cant wait to try it in water. Back hatch does not alway open with auto key, it takes many tries.

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  The Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By the sean - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Its fast and fun to drive!

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  Awesome SUV - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Morales2 - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is awesome. Its my first SUV, but I love it. It has everything you could imagine, the only extras we needed were to power seats!! I have been driving for about a month and love it more everyday. I have removed the headrests from the back seat because they are just in the way. Also, opening the hatch can be a pain, you must hold the button down for 3 seconds or it just doesnt respond. Its going to be a learning experience, the listing in the manuals wrong alot. Much of this to be expected with a first year of a car.

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  Great Job VW! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Bob,sue - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I have not had this Car long But I am Very Impressed with it! It handels Very well and I feel very safe in it.

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  never again will I buy a VW - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By michele in MA - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Bought my Jetta in Apr 02,by May I was in for service,the passenger door was rattling.In June my wiper blade had to be adjusted,it was hitting the side of the car.In July my ignition coil failed.In Dec. the ignition coil failed again.In Aug 2003,my passenger side window fell into the door.When the window was repaired they also fixed the engine coil again, since VW put out a campaign to install the new engine coils.Sorry VW you didnt fix the issue with the engine coils!By Sept the engine coil failed again.You definitely dont get what you paid for with this vehicle.My advice is buy a Honda they are better built.

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  04 Passat - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By GV - September 26 - 10:00 am

  So far, we have truely enjoyed this vehicle - considering that weve only have 180 miles on it. We are looking forward to a long road trip that we have planned for the Thanksgiving holiday!