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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  Great Purchase - No Regrets So Far - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By ATLDriver - July 10 - 8:50 am

  I have always been a VW fan since my 84 GTI that I never wanted to get out of. I owned a Jetta and Golf during the 90s while living in SF but moved away from the brand for about 15 years but found I needed something a bit more economical on the gas. I had gone in to look at the new GTI but found myself drawn to the CC. There really is no other car at this level in this price range. Ive read the reviews - about a million times - and am a bit confused that no one has mentioned the jumpiness coming out of first gear - or maybe thats just my car? Been to the dealer to see if I had a transmission problem but again - maybe my car is an anomaly? Will post another message if it needs to be fixed.

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  Wow what a deal - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By passatdrvr2 - July 9 - 6:46 pm

  As a 21 year old I was stuck between sport and luxury and since this was my first brand new car it was a very hard choice. I drove so many cars, and I was down to three cars, the Acura TL, Subaru WRX STi, and Nissan Altima SE-R, but none of these compared to when I decided to just go see the Passat. As soon as I saw the interior I was sold. When I drove the car, I was mesmerized, I love the sound of the turbo. It drives like a dream, they have this car almost perfect. My friends swear it looks just like an Audi and my friend who owns a Audi A6 says its identical in drive feel. This is the best choice that I could have made.

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  New VW Owner - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jayco11 - July 7 - 9:53 pm

  This car is really a pleasant surprise. Just came out of an Infinity M45. Had to downsize lifestyle and found the perfect car.This car drives great,and is big enough for a family of five. No car can match the features this car has for the money.

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  Cup Holder Design Flaw - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By DeborahV - July 7 - 10:26 am

  I bought my 2002 Jetta GLX last Sept. as a birthday present to myself. I LOVE my car, and am having a blast driving it. However, I never liked the cupholder design, but I never thought I would have a problem with them. Well, I had a cup in the holder that was nearly empty, but it dripped condensation on my climatronic control panel and completely SHORTED OUT the ENTIRE SYSTEM!! Thres nothing, nada, zip, zero. I am so bummed. Gonna go to the dealership and hope for the best.

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  Great Choice - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Luke - July 7 - 6:30 am

  This is essentially the perfect car. It has the power, the styling, the quality, and the design to justify its slightly-higher-than-the-competitors price. The safety ratings are excellent (which was a major point), and finally, a it is a cheap vehicle with standard stability control! It also handles decently considering the rubber its got and the fact that its really a family sedan. There has not been one quality misstep - nothings come loose, everything functions perfectly - all that despite the hard use it endures. The interior and trunk are much larger than one would be lead to think by looking at the exterior. If only you could get the wagon with a manual transmission.

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  Nice vehicle - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Karree McCarter - July 6 - 6:00 pm

  Great car, only draw back is living in a small town with limited Volkswagen mechanics.

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  My First Jetta - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By First VW - July 6 - 3:46 pm

  This is my first VW or import car for that matter. I am a huge fan of the New Jetta, I love all the features. It feels like I am driving a BMW that I paid 50 million dollars for. I purchased the 5-speed 2.5, and my only complaint is that my back gets sore from riding long trips. The seats dont provide much support and are pretty stiff.

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  awsome - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
  By Duke Gold - July 6 - 2:00 am

  BY FAR BEST CAR IN CLASS. I CANT GET OVER ITS AWD.

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  excellent value - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By touaregfan - July 6 - 2:00 am

  Its been a (happy) month since I got my Touareg. The initial built quality is excellent. It looks much better (inside and out) than X5 and is a real SUV when compared to FX35. No major complaints so far.

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  Jetta - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Sassy - July 6 - 2:00 am

  This car is way fun to DRIVE! I highly recommend in the 1.8T the manual transmission. IT FLIES!