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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  Should I buy a VW? - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By pmichaelis - June 26 - 6:30 am

  I traded a pickup for the V6 Touareg and have been happy with the choice. Its equipped with premium pkg, Xenons, tow hitch, parking aids. So far mileage has been acceptable, 15 mpg local and 19+ on Garden State Parkway. Having read of workmanship problems with early release models, I was wary of purchasing. Currently, it has been trouble free and a very acceptable mode of transport. One of the reasons for my purchase was its towing capacity, 7000+ lbs. Everyone who has ridden with me has liked the ride, quality and handling. Acceleration is adequate for a V6 engine and braking is superb. My automotive points of reference, we also own a 2004 BMW 330Ci and a 1997 Porsche 993C2S.

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  Fast and Great Fuel Economy - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Dash9 - June 25 - 8:53 pm

  Fast and Fun to drive. Tiguan handles like a sports car. Turbo charged acceleration is great.Tiptronic transmission is fun to play with. Fuel economy on the first tank for city driving was 23mpg,looking forward to a road trip soon. Lots of cargo room with rear seats folded down. Ride is very comfortable and quiet.visibility is excellent, much better than anything I have test driven. Easily fits in my garage and tight parking spaces. Performance, Styling, features and fuel economy are what won me over.

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  LOVE IT - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By Geoff - June 25 - 1:53 pm

  I have a 2010 without badging and I get more stares, looks and questions about this car...there are none on the road. I went from a 08 VW Jetta Wolfsburgh which was fun and sporty but this is sexy and luxurious and drives like a charm and smooth!

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  Great car! - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Kaylene - June 25 - 12:13 pm

  I love this car. I drove a stick shift, and it was the best car i have ever owned. I would recommend this if you love going fast. GREAT CAR!

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  GB 2007 Jetta - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GB - June 25 - 7:06 am

  This car is surprisingly quick for a base engine with automatic. The six speed trans is very smooth and is programmed perfectly. Handling is excellent and performance in snow is very good. The interior is very good, but Im not sure I like the placement of the cruise control lever. Love the heated seats and chilled glove box. Sunroof is very well designed with little wind noise even at highway speeds. So far there have been no problems with any part of the car.

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  Awesome SUV - 2010 Volkswagen Touareg
  By HMB - June 25 - 5:20 am

  Its more than what I expected in an SUV. Ive owned GM all of my life, 4 to be fact, and I will never return to GM ever. This vehicle has so much power hidden under its hood. I purchased with the 19" Wheels in December and never worried about getting stuck in the snow, in fact it seemed that I had total command of the road driving in 6" of slush and never once loss control. I looked at the Arcadia, Q7, Cheyenne and CX90 and my VW has them beat hands down in Price, Performance and Fuel Economy. 28 to 34 MPG on the highway, but only 12 in the city. After 12,000 miles in just under 6 months the gas Ive saved while on the road has made a Huge impression on my GM Buddies.

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  A Super Car! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By bjbird2 - June 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is really a kick to drive. I actually look foeward to my commute to and from work since I bought the Passat.

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  Check out the Jetta GLI - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By shelly13 - June 24 - 10:00 am

  Looking for the fully loaded Jetta GLX but dont want to spend the money? The GLI is more reasonable priced than the GLX and the amenities you "sacrifice" are downright frivolous. Who needs power seats? Who needs the tint on the review mirror to adjust automatically for glare control? Shoot, this car has everthing you need, for less money than the GLX. Weve only had the car for 1 week, and most of the "nods" we get are from other VW owners! That should count for something!

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  Best Choice in Mid-Size Sedan Class - 2015 Volkswagen Passat
  By William - June 24 - 6:44 am

  Fantastic car in every way. Styling, ergonomics, performance and value. Bought my 2015 Passat Limited 5 months ago. Just clocked 6K on the ODO. This car is everything and more than expected in a reasonably priced German engineered sedan. Obviously, long term experience is yet to be seen, but so far its looking great. Overall Im getting an average 28MPG, and thats with a 60 mile round trip commute in heavy traffic five days a week. I bought this car brand new for $19,995 and drove it off the showroom floor. Ive owned several cars that cost 2x-3x as much and I am very pleased with the overall quality of the Passat. You cant go wrong with this one. It is also quite fun to drive!

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  Excellent performance with trade offs - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By mike - June 24 - 3:16 am

  The car has been very reliable and handles well. A small transmission fix and a console trim door replacement when new. Almost 3 years and 38K miles later and no other repairs. Ive fixed a couple rattles in the IP. Oil changes are expensive, about $80 every 7500 miles at the dealership but the service experience is excellent. Comfort seats even in leather are adequate at best but far from comfortable. Air conditioning is marginal, inadequate above 90, and I replace cabin filter annually.