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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  my m&m bug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By frannie - August 2 - 10:00 am

  i won this car she is tough

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  My 1st VW But not my Last - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By tomk - August 2 - 8:56 am

  I was looking for a nice car with good MPG. The Passat fits that bill to a tee, I travel 70 a day to go work and this car has been great for that use. Lots of confort good MPG and it gets going down the road when you kick in the tubro. It appears to wear also but I have only owned it about 8 months.

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  Just what I expected and more - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
  By drew - August 1 - 7:06 pm

  I dont really feel like typing out a long review, but Ive owned an 03 GTI before this and the jump from a previous generation to the current generation is so substantial that its as if they rebuilt the entire car from the ground up. The chassis rigidity is superb and the motor is definitely worthy of the awards it has been receiving, both for around the town and even on a track. While this may not be a performer like the STi or Evo, it holds its own quite well. If its stock performance really bugs you enough, there are many tuner choices for just a simple ECU upgrade that pumps the car up ~50 horsepower and ~80 torque. Ive no complaints with the car at all other than no lsd.

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  Fun, fast but thirsty - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By john - August 1 - 6:13 pm

  Great car, love the 4 wheel motion in the snow. Great pick up, but plan on only getting about 300 miles to the tank. You also need to use the 93 octane gas in the turbo version. Overall nice car.

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  2010 VW Jetta 2.5L SE - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By de_maximus - August 1 - 8:03 am

  I bought my 2010 Jetta in May 2010. It is my second Jetta and 4th VW/Audi product Ive owned. By far this is the best Jetta ever made. The 2010 includes many improvements over the 2009 and earlier models. The seats were given my cusion making them even more supportive. The lumbar is very good. User interface ergonomics are excellent. Interior build materials are on par with premium level vehicles. The Mk. V Jetta compares well against the likes of the Mercede-Benz C-230. The standard audio system is 8 speakers with excellent sound quality. Sunroof is smooth and quick. Everything is right where is should be in this car. It is a joy to drive or ride in around town or cross country.

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  Still gets a big smile - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Andi S. - July 31 - 10:00 pm

  Weve had the car for about 18 mos, a little over 22k miles. Not a single bug (no pun intended) with it in all these miles. Fuel economy is outstanding at 45 mpg overall (as low as 39mpg in NYC traffic, 52mpg highway). I can fit adults in the back seat for short trips (like taking client to lunch last week). Great fun to drive, and definitely does NOT fit the profile of the traditional diesel. If youve never driven one, you should try one out.

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  The SIngle Best Car You Never Knew About - 2004 Volkswagen R32
  By Kyle - July 29 - 1:16 pm

  My current Deep Blue Pearl 2004 R32, is actually my SECOND. In between, I drove a 2005 Audi S4 with a 344hp V-8 under its hood. I missed my 250hp (yes it DID HAVE 250 stock) uber-hatch. What can a person POSSIBLY FIND to complain about with this car, except perhaps the limited rear-seat legroom? Its faster (w simple tuning) than the Audi, has an Audi engine, Audi AWD, will stop faster than 99.9% of ALL CARS, will handle until YOU QUIT and comes with nearly all the luxury features the S4 did ( & some extra), plus its the only VW to be built by Porsche in Slovakia. 5,000 autobahn-intended machines imported at American journalists behest for the U.S. ONLY. FAST, FUN, PRACTICAL... GERMAN.

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  Love it so Far - 2010 Volkswagen Jetta
  By TDIinMD - July 29 - 5:40 am

  Just bought the car a week ago but I am really falling in love with it already. Only used one tank of gas but Im averaging 47MPG on mostly highway driving. Got the base TDI with no options except the Southern kit which is pretty much just extra floor mats and a trunk divider. Traded in a 06 Mazda3 and while the TDI is not as nimble on the road, it is much more compliant and comfortable for my commute. Amazing set of features for a "base" car: Touch screen satellite radio, ten airbags, heated seats and mirrors, and much more. Also like the VW 3 years/36,000 mile recommended services that are included. If the car turns out to be reliable it will be the perfect vehicle.

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  Great Car!!! - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jlarm3 - July 29 - 2:00 am

  We have 121,000 miles on 2000 TDI automatic. The car has truly held up well for us and we plan to continue driving at this pace for years to come. Only a few complaints. Front door windows fell inside doors (replaced under warranty). Was surprised about the need to change timing belt so often (40,000 miles w/auto trans). Front bumper cover too low-will pull off if you park too close to curb. Also a little crowded in back seat. Will buy another one!!!

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  A nice car and fun to drive. - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By AlphaAce83 - July 29 - 2:00 am

  The VW Jetta is a fun car to drive. It handels well in all road conditions. When the exstra power is needed, the car will give it to you w/o hesitation.